Over the past week, Penn State Students for Life displayed a window in the HUB basement stating, "He who saves one life, saves the world entire." Although the quote was taken from the Talmud, it was not meant in anyway to offend or attack the Jewish community. We have the utmost respect for their beliefs and apologize for the misunderstanding. Since the disagreement was over the context of the passage, we feel we should clarify our position on the subject.

Simply stated, we believe all human life is valuable and should be protected. The quote we used does not contradict this idea. After the controversy erupted, we searched for the passage via the index to the Talmud, and found a similar version of it in the book of Sanhedrin under the listing: "Life; sanctity of." The context describes the implications of taking a life unjustly, and the rewards for preserving life, citing its effect on the future generations.

Nothing can parallel the abortion issue closer. Abortion means ending the life of a baby and its future generations, while doing possible physical and emotional harm to the mother. At the same time, choosing to bring a baby into the world will become a reward in and of itself.

All moral codes and religions follow the philosophy that life should be protected, and the passage we used confirms that principle. But, because we believe life begins at conception, the unborn baby must also be protected. The issue is not whether abortion is equated with murder in the Jewish thinking. Instead, it is about the importance of saving all life -- both the mother and the child.

We attempted to draw an analogy between a very powerful statement and our generation's responsibility to protect the future. We must do everything we can to stop this current holocaust from continuing. And we must thank those mothers who have chosen to bring another beautiful life into the world.