NCJW CEO Sheila Katz Addresses the Rally for Patients’ Rights in Front of the US Supreme Court

As the U.S. Supreme Court heard oral arguments in Medina v. Planned Parenthood South Atlantic, National Council of Jewish Women (NCJW) CEO Sheila Katz took the stage at the Rally for Patients’ Rights to deliver a powerful and deeply personal call to action. “Access to health care is not just a policy issue. It is a matter of human dignity,” she said, warning that the case could have devastating consequences for millions who rely on Medicaid for essential services like cancer screenings, contraception, and prenatal care.

“This is not just a legal case,” Katz declared. “This is a moral moment.” With urgency and moral clarity, she laid bare the stakes of the case: a coordinated effort to deny care to low-income women, LGBTQ+ individuals, and communities of color under the guise of policy.

“It’s about political control, not care. What kind of cruelty is that? How small — how morally bankrupt — do you have to be to try to make it harder for someone to get a mammogram?”

Grounding her message in Jewish tradition and the upcoming holiday of Passover, Katz reminded the crowd that “liberation is not a moment in history — it is a responsibility.” NCJW continues to lead with compassion and courage, fighting for a future where everyone — regardless of income, identity, or ZIP code — has access to the health care they need to live with dignity.