Introductions

[Eliran Sobel]

Hi Everyone!

I was wondering if we should introduce ourselves a little more. I've been seeing these names in the emails, but I don't know who you all are! Also, for those new here, this could be a good place to start posting.

Some basic things to include in your introduction would be-
1. Your name, your city/town, and any other basic info you feel comfortable sharing like gender, age, occupation.
2. Where you are Jewishly (Orthodox? Reform? Another background? Feel free to be as specific as you want/need here).
3. Where you are on the vegetarian/vegan spectrum? (vegan, vegetarian, veg-curious, whole-food-plant-based, raw till 4, etc.).
4. How do you connect your Judaism to animal rights/welfare issues?
5. Anything else you want to add about yourself.

I hope this helps us feel more like a community here.

Best,
Eliran

[Richard Schwartz]

Shalom all,

With the thought that it might encourage others to respond also, I am interspersing my responses below:

1. Your name, your city/town, and any other basic info you feel comfortable sharing like gender, age, occupation.

Richard H. Schwartz, now living in a senior citizens center Prorea Hills, in the Shoresh area of Israel, after living 46 years in Staten island, I just turned 83 years of age. I am a professor emeritus of mathematics at the College of Staten Island, where I created a unique mathematics course, “Mathematics and the Environment,”and taught it for ever 20 years to try to motivate liberal arts students.

2. Where you are Jewishly (Orthodox? Reform? Another background? Feel free to be as specific as you want/need here).

Modern Orthodox, believing that Judaism is a radical religion, in the best sense of ‘radical,’ with teachings on justice, compassion, peace, sharing, and environmental sustainability, that should be applied to help shift our imperiled planet onto a sustainable path.

3. Where you are on the vegetarian/vegan spectrum? (vegan, vegetarian, veg-curious, whole-food-plant-based, raw till 4, etc.).

Vegan, 

4. How do you connect your Judaism to animal rights/welfare issues?

I consider it very strongly, as can be seen by the books I have written, as seen in my signature below, as can be seen by the fact that all three of which have “Judaism” in their titles.

5. Anything else you want to add about yourself.

I have over 250 articles and 25 podcasts and the complete texts of my books, “Judaism and Vegetarianism” and “Judaism and Global Survival” at www.JewishVeg.org/schwartz, and I encourage people to build on my writings and to use them to help promote veganism and animal rights.

I am the assistant producer of the acclaimed very pro-veg and animal rights video, “A Sacred Duty: Applying Jewish Values to Help Heal the World”

I strongly believe, based on an abundance of evidence, that the world is approaching a climate catastrophe and a major decrease in the production and consumption of meat and other animal products is essential to efforts to avert it.

 I also believe that we should be respectfully urging rabbis and other Jewish leaders to stop ignoring or downplaying the many ethical and halachic issues related to animal-based diets.

Looking forward to learning about others on this listserv and continuing to work with this great group under Rav Shmuly’s inspiring leadership as long as God gives me the strength to do so.

kol tuv,

Richard

===========

Richard H. Schwartz, Ph.D.
Professor Emeritus, College of Staten Island
Author of Judaism and Vegetarianism, Judaism and Global Survival, Mathematics and Global Survival, and Who Stole My Religion? Revitalizing Judaism and Applying Jewish Values to Help Heal Our Imperiled Planet, and over 250 articles at JewishVeg.org/schwartz
President Emeritus, Jewish Veg, for merly Jewish Vegetarians of North America (www.JewishVeg.org); President, Society Of Ethical and Religious Vegetarians (SERV):
Associate producer of A SACRED DUTY (www.aSacredDuty.com);
"Like” Jewish Veg on Facebook at www.facebook.org/JewishVeg

I hope this helps us feel more like a community here.

Best,
Eliran

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[Eliran Sobel]

Hello,

I guess you beat me, Richard.

My name is Eliran, I use he/him/his pronouns, and I'm a 19-year-old college student at Goucher College, which is near Baltimore, though I grew up in Teaneck, NJ (NYC suburb with a large Jewish population) and go back there for summer/winter breaks.

I'm all over the map Jewishly. In a phrase, I'd say I'm "Egalitarian Modern Orthodox with a Reconstructionist-ish theology." To start unpacking that a bit, my actions are often similar to that of someone who would say they're Modern Orthodox, like keeping shabbat according to halacha, needing kosher certification on food (unless the restaurant/factory is 100% vegan, in which case I'll avoid anything with grapes but be fine with it otherwise), etc. That said, I also believe in egalitarianism within Judaism, so mixed seating at t'filot, people of any gender can lead t'filot, read Torah, get smicha, etc.

While I practice traditional Judaism like this, I find it very difficult to believe in a personal G-d as described in Tanach, who listens to my prayers, etc., and rather see HaShem as a force in nature. I see divinity in all of the patterns in nature (fractals in trees, Fibonacci sequence in flowers, etc.). G-d is the force that holds the universe together. While it may sound silly, this is not too different from how The Force is described in Star Wars... it's also not too different from the theology behind the Reconstructionist movement, if I understand it correctly. I also see the Tanach as being a work of human authors over half a millennium as opposed to a book given directly to Moshe Rabeinu on Mt. Sinai (look into the Documentary Hypothesis if you're interested in more about this).

I follow a vegan lifestyle, so besides not eating anything that was a sentient being or a byproduct of a sentient being, I don't purchase these items for reasons other than consumption as well (leather, wool, etc.). Particularly, I tend to follow a whole-food-plant-based vegan diet, which essentially means that I try to eat unprocessed foods as much as possible (for health reasons), though I can be more lenient on Shabbat and Yom-Tov.

I get a lot of meaning from my religious observance, and given the traditional Jewish sources essentially promoting veganism, I see the two as inherently linked. Because Judaism commands us to treat animals properly, and this is certainly not the case with the modern kosher standards of meat, dairy, AND eggs, I see veganism halachicly important from an ethical standpoint. Judaism also has this idea of Tikun Olam, or repairing the world, and since the animal agriculture industry is so harmful to the environment, I can't claim to care about our planet without being vegan.

Other than that, I'm just a normal nerdy college student... I like Star Trek and Star Wars, hope to major in Linguistics (learning about languages), and other things like that.

Kol Tuv,
Eliran

[Suzie Muchnick]

Sent from my iPhone

On May 22, 2017, at 1:54 PM, Eliran Sobel <eliran...@gmail.com> wrote:

Hi Everyone!

Hi Eliran

What a brilliant idea !

I was wondering if we should introduce ourselves a little more. I've been seeing these names in the emails, but I don't know who you all are! Also, for those new here, this could be a good place to start posting.

Some basic things to include in your introduction would be-
1. Your name, your city/town, and any other basic info you feel comfortable sharing like gender, age, occupation.

Suzie Muchnick 

Naples,FL

Female

66

Educator

2. Where you are Jewishly (Orthodox? Reform? Another background? Feel free to be as specific as you want/need here).

I was raised conservative in BAYSWATER, NY. I attended Prozdor  at the Jewish theological seminary when I was in high school.attended 2 summers at camp beacon on lake George at my hazan's camp. I attended 2 summers at camp Ramah in Wingdale, ny when wolf blitzer attended. Graduated with a degree in judaica and Hebrew at Hofstra university. 

My husband is a Jew by choice. 

I resonant with reconstructionist or Jewish renewal but no such congregation within 200 miles 

3. Where you are on the vegetarian/vegan spectrum? (vegan, vegetarian, veg-curious, whole-food-plant-based, raw till 4, etc.).

I have been Vegan since 1996. 

4. How do you connect your Judaism to animal rights/welfare issues?

I do personally. What's more compassionate them following a lifestyle respecting life?  I witnessed too much hypocrisy associated with religion. 

5. Anything else you want to add about yourself.

I've been investigating and studying VeganIsm and health for 50 years. 

I hope this helps us feel more like a community here.

Suzie

[Suzie Muchnick]

Something I forgot. 

I volunteer as a foster mom for the Humane society for cats. 

Life member of the Jewish vegetarian society for 20 years. 

Sent from my iPhone

[Rachel Landau]

Hey

1. I am Rachel Landau (pronounced the biblical way.) I live in Toronto, canada.

I am currently a student, majoring in Public Policy (co op) and International Development Studies, minoring in anthropology.

This summer I am on my co op work term, working with the  Ontario Ministry of Education.

2. I really hate these boxes. To the frum person I appear to be  not frum, yet to the not frum person I appear Orthodox. I definately grew up fully orthodox.

3. I am vegan, but struggling and have been grappling with the idea of vegetarianisim.

I have been vegan since 2015 and vegetarian since 2014.

It was a completely ethical decision on my part.

4. Initially it was not connected to my Judaism. However, overtime I have xome to believe that contributing to factory farming is antithecial to halacha. However I have no rabbinic ordination, and this is not my area of study, so I dont really have a say in the halachic aspect of this.

5. You can ask me anything. I have been shy in this group thus far, but if prompted, i would love to share more.

Other current topics I am passionate about within the Jewish community.

-the Israeli Palestinian conflict and human rights in the Palestinan territories.

-LGBTQ rights in Jewish and speciifcally Orthodox circles.

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[Matthew Readdick]

What a FANTASTIC IDEA!

1. My name is Matthew Rafael-Readdick, I am 23, and in San Francisco. Occupation? None, yet! I just finished my graduate degree and I am currently looking for a job. 

2. I like to say I am just "Jewish", though I am observant for sure, and daven with MO people. 

3. Vegan for sure, no exceptions for travel, used clothing, etc. I am not the healthiest eater, but whatever!

4. I actually became vegan to keep kosher more easily, in Northern California finding observant Jews is rather difficult and so kosher food was harder to find. After about three days of being vegan in high school, and frantically looking up recipes, it became clear to me that veganism was an obvious choice, for all people, but especially Jews.

5. If you are ever in San Francisco, come say hi and get food with me!

Matthew

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[Amy Halpern-Laff]

1. Amy Halpern-Laff. Berkeley, CA and New York, NY

2. Culturally Jewish.

3. Ethical Vegan.

4. Jewish values (a verb, not a noun) include animal rights activism.

5. NY Regional Director Factory Farming Awareness Coalition. All-around social justice activist and student of social movements. Lawyer and mediator by training and experience.Mom.

Amy Halpern-Laff

amyh...@gmail.com

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[Jacob Labendz]

Hi all,

1) Jacob Labendz, 39, moving to Ohio in a few weeks to teach Jewish history at Youngstown State University.

2) Culturally Jewish, anti-nationalist, atheist.

3) Animal product free with the exception of insects, used clothing/shoes, and rarely when traveling. I have also come around to believing that it is ethically acceptable to eat sustainably farmed bivalves. I don't do that often for a lot of reasons.

4) Working with Shmuly on an edited volume about Jewish veganism. I appreciate the manifold ways that Jews have incorporated veganism into their culture and how some even believe that it is a Jewish imperative. Being vegan makes me feel more Jewish and vice-versa.

Best,

Jacob

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[Suzie Muchnick]

Eliran. 

I feel hopeful about the preservation of our world when I meet people like you. 

I'm sure you will all notice how succinct I was in my bio. I've been supporting this life style for many years sometimes feeling that I was all alone and frustrated that I'd never make a difference. I don't look back so I didn't know that there were many behind behind me. 

Richard might remember my email to him about a brother who had rejected me asking for advice on how to contend with that rejection.  I've always been ahead of the 'pAck'. That sometimes alienates others. 

Thanks for being one of the 'pack'

I also think of g-d in nature which is why I'm so upset by the way others disrespect our environment. 

Suzie 

Sent from my iPhone

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[Adrienne Krone]

Hi Everyone,

1. My name is Adrienne Krone (she/her/hers). I'm 34 and I live in Meadville, PA where I am Director of Jewish Life and Assistant Professor of Religious Studies at Allegheny College.
   
2. As an individual, I am a practicing, agnostic, reform Jew and as spiritual leader of the Jewish community of Allegheny and Meadville, I am committed to creating a welcoming Jewish community that is open, diverse, and pluralistic.
   
3. I went vegan in 2015 after going vegetarian in 2011. 
   
4. I am contributing a piece on Jewish vegan identity to the volume on Judaism and Veganism that Jacob and Shmuly are editing and my academic research focuses on contemporary religious food justice movements in the United States. At the moment, I am in the middle of a multi-year study of the Jewish Community Farming movement. So, I am better at explaining how others connect their Judaism with their veganism than how I do, but here goes. I grew up as a reform Jew and as such, my Judaism is deeply tied to a sense that we as Jews have a responsibility to move the world towards justice. I have been involved in social justice movements across the spectrum since college. After processing the Abraham Joshua Heschel archive while completing my graduate work at Duke, I began to take my social justice work more seriously and my research also moved in that direction. My Judaism and my activism are intertwined and they are central to who I am and what I do.

All the best,

Adrienne

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[Jennifer Mizrahi]

Hi All,

Jennifer Mizrahi, 41 years old.  I am an attorney (City Attorney of Desert Hot Springs, and Assistant City Attorney in Rancho Mirage).  Live in Los Angeles, but most of my work is in the Palm Springs area. Married to THE BEST criminal defense attorney on the planet.  We have an awesome 3 year old son.

I discovered Judaism in my adulthood.  Both parents are Jewish culturally, but never really brought it into the home much. As a child we went to my aunt's house to celebrate holidays, but that was about it.  My father is an atheist, does not like any kind of organized religion; my mother, nearly the same.  At round 35 years old, I started taking Judaism classes with my husband.  Both of us loved it, and wound up taking various classes for 4 years. We are somewhat observant - the home is Kosher since I primarily keep a vegan home but for KOL meat bought for my 3 year old. 

I relate to veganism.  This is my second round.  I was vegetarian/vegan for 6 years (from 15 -21).  Went back to eating everything, and then went vegan around 3 years ago.  I WILL at time eat eggs from my chickens, or my cousin's chickens, so some might consider me dairy free vegetarian.  I do not buy silk, leather, fur, and products made with animals, to the extent possible. 

As for Judaism and animal welfare...the religion has a long way to go.  To me, it is difficult not to read the TNK as advocating for anything other than a vegan way of life.  However, animal slaughter and consumption is so engrained, that I see it as being difficult to separate it from Judaism.  I do not know enough about Jewish law, but to me, it would reason that slaughtering and eating animals would be against Genesis (especially the way that 95% of the slaughter is done today, with the cruelty of factory farming).  The link between slaughter for consumption and illegality under Jewish law needs to be strengthened greatly.   This proves tough in a world in which basic decency and respect is dwindling by the minute.  But alas, we are all here to fight the good fight.

Be well and nice meeting you all.

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Kind regards,

Jennifer Mizrahi

 

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[Howard Katz]

Hi everyone,

       My name is Howie Katz. I will be 67 this coming Thursday (May 25th). (A hard core Gemini!). 

Recently retired from 37 years of IT and am now moving -no, rushing!- to do what I really love fulltime- teaching yoga and meditation.

I am fully vegan.

Jewishly, I am a member of a wonderful Jewish Renewal congregation in NY. I have tried numerous times to fit into various Modern Orthodox communities; none of these attempts ever worked largely ( although not entirely) because my 1968 progressive politics, which survived intact,are not compatible with Modern Orthodoxy, to put matters as politely as possible.  Thus, although ritually and liturgically I would be most comfortable in an MO setting, the political/cultural divide is too great.Hence, I am in a wonderful Jewish Renewal community, although I do not entirely fit in.

Since I am Jewish, I think it important for me to try and spread veganism in Jewish communities. My perspective is that everyone should be vegan and I will do what I can.Although, as others have mentioned, Judaism at this stage is not an  especially vegan-friendly religion,  veganism is not prohibited (except in the most extreme Haredi circles) and we should do what we can to make it more acceptable to Jews as, again, I believe the adoption of veganism to be a crucial global imperative.

On May 22, 2017 5:31 PM, "Jennifer Mizrahi" <jennife...@gmail.com> wrote:

Hi All,

Jennifer Mizrahi, 41 years old.  I am an attorney (City Attorney of Desert Hot Springs, and Assistant City Attorney in Rancho Mirage).  Live in Los Angeles, but most of my work is in the Palm Springs area. Married to THE BEST criminal defense attorney on the planet.  We have an awesome 3 year old son.

I discovered Judaism in my adulthood.  Both parents are Jewish culturally, but never really brought it into the home much. As a child we went to my aunt's house to celebrate holidays, but that was about it.  My father is an atheist, does not like any kind of organized religion; my mother, nearly the same.  At round 35 years old, I started taking Judaism classes with my husband.  Both of us loved it, and wound up taking various classes for 4 years. We are somewhat observant - the home is Kosher since I primarily keep a vegan home but for KOL meat bought for my 3 year old. 

I relate to veganism.  This is my second round.  I was vegetarian/vegan for 6 years (from 15 -21).  Went back to eating everything, and then went vegan around 3 years ago.  I WILL at time eat eggs from my chickens, or my cousin's chickens, so some might consider me dairy free vegetarian.  I do not buy silk, leather, fur, and products made with animals, to the extent possible. 

As for Judaism and animal welfare...the religion has a long way to go.  To me, it is difficult not to read the TNK as advocating for anything other than a vegan way of life.  However, animal slaughter and consumption is so engrained, that I see it as being difficult to separate it from Judaism.  I do not know enough about Jewish law, but to me, it would reason that slaughtering and eating animals would be against Genesis (especially the way that 95% of the slaughter is done today, with the cruelty of factory farming).  The link between slaughter for consumption and illegality under Jewish law needs to be strengthened greatly.   This proves tough in a world in which basic decency and respect is dwindling by the minute.  But alas, we are all here to fight the good fight.

Be well and nice meeting you all.

On Mon, May 22, 2017 at 11:54 AM, Eliran Sobel <eliran...@gmail.com> wrote:

Hi Everyone!

I was wondering if we should introduce ourselves a little more. I've been seeing these names in the emails, but I don't know who you all are! Also, for those new here, this could be a good place to start posting.

Some basic things to include in your introduction would be-
1. Your name, your city/town, and any other basic info you feel comfortable sharing like gender, age, occupation.
2. Where you are Jewishly (Orthodox? Reform? Another background? Feel free to be as specific as you want/need here).
3. Where you are on the vegetarian/vegan spectrum? (vegan, vegetarian, veg-curious, whole-food-plant-based, raw till 4, etc.).
4. How do you connect your Judaism to animal rights/welfare issues?
5. Anything else you want to add about yourself.

I hope this helps us feel more like a community here.

Best,
Eliran

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Kind regards,

Jennifer Mizrahi

 

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[adamfrank38 .]

Nice idea....

1. Your name, your city/town, and any other basic info you feel comfortable sharing like gender, age, occupation. 

Adam Frank.  I am 50 yrs. old and live in Jerusalem with Lynne and 3 kids (13, 12, and 8).  I moved here in 2001.  I serve as rabbi of the Conservative synagogue in downtown Jerusalem.

2. Where you are Jewishly (Orthodox? Reform? Another background? Feel free to be as specific as you want/need here).

I label myself a serious Jew.  

3. Where you are on the vegetarian/vegan spectrum? (vegan, vegetarian, veg-curious, whole-food-plant-based, raw till 4, etc.).

I have been vegan since 2003 (caveat: I eat eggs from chickens we have in our yard).  I do not purchase any product that comes from animals except those religious items that mandate animal products (tefilin, mezuza parchment....)

4. How do you connect your Judaism to animal rights/welfare issues?

When I was in rabbinical school in 1996, I received a letter from my brother.  He was reading a book written by Temple Grandin. She described her work in a kosher slaughter house.  He wrote to me that if Jewish tradition (specifically the rabbis) allow shackle and hoist practices, then he has no reason to trust the tradition in other areas of life either.  My education and activism in the area of animal welfare started the moment I got that letter.  My brother and I were responsible for the Conservative Movement's Committee on Jewish Law and Standards unanimously passing the teshuva (halakhic opinion paper) that S&H is a violation of Jewish law in 2000.  The recent news re Israel's elimination of import of S&H kosher meat is gratifying.  (a bit of the journey of my brother and I and the OU can be found here)

5. Anything else you want to add about yourself.

Come help be part of the vegan revolution that is sweeping Israel.

Adam

Rabbi Adam Frank
Congregation Moreshet Yisrael
Jerusalem, Israel
02-625-3539
www.moreshetyisrael.org 
www.adamfrank.typepad.com

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[Geoffrey Claussen]

Hi friends,

I'm Geoff Claussen, 38, living in Greensboro, NC along with my spouse, Katy, and our daughters Eliana and Talya.  I'm a professor of Religious Studies at Elon University, and I coordinate Elon's Jewish Studies program.  I'm also a Conservative rabbi.  And I've been committed to a vegan diet for almost seven years.

Like Adrienne, I'm happy to be contributing to the forthcoming volume on Jewish veganism edited by Jacob and Shmuly.  My contribution to that volume focuses on how the legacy of the 19th century Musar movement has shaped my own veganism and might help to inspire others as well.

I'm glad to have joined this listserv and look forward to the continued conversation.

Geoff

-- 

Geoffrey Claussen

Associate Professor of Religious Studies

Lori and Eric Sklut Scholar in Jewish Studies

Elon University

gcla...@elon.edu

336-278-5253

www.geoffreyclaussen.com

[Shmuly Yanklowitz]

Shalom Friends! 

My name is Shmuly Yanklowitz. I was born in Toronto, Canada, raised in New Jersey & Chicago and after living many other places now live in sunny Scottsdale Arizona (entering our 5th year here). My wife Shoshana and I have 3 kids (ages 4, 2, 5 months) and we're foster parents. 

I'm a Modern/Open/Progressive Orthodox Jew & Rabbi. A lot of my work is in the Progressive Orthodox world, but most of my work is in the Pluralistic Jewish world since I truly value the diversity of identities, values, and perspectives. Pluralism is not merely a pragmatic approach for me but an epistemic approach. My work is mostly: 1. Teaching Torah, Writing, & building Jewish community  2. Social Justice activism (I include our vegan work here even though, sadly, its marginal to the social justice mainstream community still). 

Shoshana & I became vegans on our wedding day to solidify the kind of compassionate home we wanted to build. While there is a strong health & environmental component to this commitment for us, the dominant force in our commitment is an ethical one (animal welfare). While we advocate for veganism on an interpersonal level, on a systemic level we prefer to use the language of "animal welfare" over "animal rights" since we strive to reduce suffering (as fast as we can!) through patient step-by-step relationship-building, campaign-building approaches. We want to be radical but even more we want to be strategic and really achieve wins to reduce suffering. We very much respect those who take an "animal rights" approach but have found an "animal welfare" approach to go MUCH further in affecting change in the mainstream Jewish community. It is important to have different groups/leaders playing different roles and I value the different approaches different folks take that work best for them. 

As a theological panentheist, I believe that G-d is within everything and especially sentient beings - I want to support the liberation of the crying Divinity within each being. I view the primary goal of the Torah as providing a sustainable way for us to reduce suffering & in the process release the entrapped holy sparks. 

I'm grateful to be in this Shamayim V'Aretz community where I feel like we can talk/learn/collaborate/strategize together while honoring & including our deepest Jewish values, identities, and spiritual commitments throughout. Religion has been such a force for division and hate in the world but I believe in its potential to also be the strongest force for love & compassion and feel Judaism has a deep role to play in bringing redemption (and also deeply value others here who embrace cultural rather than religious Judaism). 

May the day come when we can all be together hand-in-hand singing, dancing, laughing under the radiant celestial light celebrating that the revolution has won! That compassion and love is pervasive in every corner of the world !

Many blessings!  In gratitude,  Shmuly

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[Paul Shapiro]

It’s an honor to be among such wonderful people!

 

1. Your name, your city/town, and any other basic info you feel comfortable sharing like gender, age, occupation. 

 

I’ve lived in Washington DC for 37 years and was fortunate enough to go to school with the great Geoffrey Claussen, who I embarrassingly didn’t even know was on this list until now! Among other things, I’m now known as the guy who this month got slaughtered on a Jerusalem ping pong table by both Rabbi Adam Frank and his ~14 year old son…

2. Where you are Jewishly (Orthodox? Reform? Another background? Feel free to be as specific as you want/need here).

 

I was raised in a reform household and in college minored in religion (and majored in peace studies).

3. Where you are on the vegetarian/vegan spectrum? (vegan, vegetarian, veg-curious, whole-food-plant-based, raw till 4, etc.).

 

I became vegan in 1993 and it still ranks as one of the smarter decisions I’ve made in my life, among many stupid ones.

4. How do you connect your Judaism to animal rights/welfare issues?

 

Jews are disproportionately represented in the animal movement, I think, because of a historical connection to oppressed groups.

 

5. Anything else you want to add about yourself.

 

My life’s devoted to advancing animals’ interests, and I very much hope to work with all of you to wage and win campaigns for them.

 

Thank you, Rabbi Shmuly, for bringing us all together!

 

Paul Shapiro
Vice President of Policy Engagement
The Humane Society of the United States
HumaneSociety.org – 202-309-1646 (cell) 
Follow at http://twitter.com/PaulHShapiro

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[Wilhelmina Waldman]

I echo Paul’s words – it is an honor to be a part of this inspiring group.

 

1. Your name, your city/town, and any other basic info you feel comfortable sharing like gender, age, occupation. 

 

I currently live in Glen Ridge, NJ and commute daily to NYC.  I was born and raised in Baltimore, MD, went to college in Washington, DC, and taught English in Hong Kong before landing in NYC in 1997.   

2. Where you are Jewishly (Orthodox? Reform? Another background? Feel free to be as specific as you want/need here).

 

I was raised by a “Jew-Bu” mother who became a vegetarian (and thus so did the whole family) when I was 8 years old.  I would consider myself a non-practicing reform/social justice Jew. I am deeply committed to tikkun olam and Jewish culture as relates to food and humor.

3. Where you are on the vegetarian/vegan spectrum? (vegan, vegetarian, veg-curious, whole-food-plant-based, raw till 4, etc.).

 

I am a vegan.

4. How do you connect your Judaism to animal rights/welfare issues?

 

I believe that Jewish tradition calls upon us to seek justice and protect nature – and animal welfare is thus our duty.  As American Jews, we have a proud history of being at the forefront of so many social justice issues – the labor movement, the fight for women’s rights and civil rights…. We have stood among others who have been disenfranchised and call out injustice when we see it.  This movement is no different.

 

5. Anything else you want to add about yourself.

 

I have worked in tzadaka my entire career and have never seen advocates for any other issue as passionate and self-sacrificing as those who work for animal welfare.  I am proud to work in the space and live my life with these values.  I have been amazed to see the sea change in awareness and attitudes toward veganism and have been more hopeful in the last few years about our movement’s success.

 

 

Wilhelmina Waldman

Vice President  | Philanthropy

520 Eighth Avenue | 7^th Floor

New York, NY | 10018

 

P: 646.706.4745

C: 917.699.3725

 

We are their voice, you can be their Hero.

 

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[rmm635 .]

1. Your name, your city/town, and any other basic info you feel comfortable sharing like gender, age, occupation. 

Risa M Mandell Ambler, PA  clinical social worker and play therapist; an example of my work follows:

https://ifpe.wordpress.com/2014/05/03/double-catch-writing-reverie-in-motion/

2. Where you are Jewishly (Orthodox? Reform? Another background? Feel free to be as specific as you want/need here).

I was raised Reform, became Orthodox as an adult and now, as a senior identify myself as Just Jewish (JJ).

3. Where you are on the vegetarian/vegan spectrum? (vegan, vegetarian, veg-curious, whole-food-plant-based, raw till 4, etc.).

Vegan with weak-willed slips in the presence of free pizza at work.  I rationalize that I didn't pay for the suffering.  

4. How do you connect your Judaism to animal rights/welfare issues?

When I affectively imagine what living through WWII would have been like, to have been medically experimented on, would I believe, been more horrific for me to experience than the gas chambers -  for this reason, I'm particularly supportive of orgs which advocate using other methods rather than animals for medical research or education.  Ends not justifying means is an important principle for me, and it's my bias that all good things (and I believe this principle is a good thing) have a Jewish root, although I've yet to find a definitive Jewish source for this.  (hint, hint)

Five years after moving from the frum community, I fostered and adopted a dog - looking back I view that as part of a reclamation project, reclaiming a warded off aspect of myself - love of (other-than-human) animals.  Sidney's sixth yahrzeit is approaching and I'm developing a one-act play, Doggie on the Couch, inspired by him.

5. Anything else you want to add about yourself.

I write brief pieces for the Humane Herald, online journal of the HumaneParty.org; e.g., https://humaneherald.wordpress.com/2017/02/12/the-commodification-of-personhood/

I'd like to put together an online reading group for Avivah Zornberg Gottlieb's The Murmuring Deep Reflections on the Biblical Unconscious (Schocken, 2009) as well as her writings on the Chumash and extend the invitation to all on this list -

With regard,

Risa

 

Risa M. Mandell, LCSW   
rmm...@gmail.com   
215.475.2583

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[Sandra Elvin]

Thank you for this opportunity to share a bit! It is a pleasure to "meet" everyone! For my answers:

1. Sandra Elvin, I am from Toronto, Ontario, Canada, but now living and working in the Washington DC area. I (female) am a wildlife biologist, I guided expeditions (mostly in search of polar bears, panda bears, Asiatic black bear, beluga whale, and snow leopard) for 8 years before settling down a bit. I completed my PhD in Environmental Studies from York University in Toronto. I am now working at an organization that I am very embarrassed to mention since it did not turn out to be the animal welfare and conservation organization I thought it was. I am desperately seeking another position, perhaps a return to academia, I'm not sure. I just need to get out! 

2. I grew up mostly Conservative and I am currently in flux. I am not sure where I stand on any given day; being a scientist but liking the community aspect of Judaism. I had an amazing progressive and interesting rabbi for my wedding, and I am continually impressed with the new ways of thinking that are emerging. My parents were immigrants from Turkey to Toronto (yes, they speak Ladino!) and I grew up with Sephardi traditions. 

3. I am vegan, and I am recently married to a wonderful man who has decided to follow in my footsteps and became vegan as well. This was without pressure from me! I believe each person needs to take their journey into questioning food and food distribution and I am so proud of him. 

4. I am learning all about connections to Judaism and animal rights through this listserv which I am very grateful for. 

5. In my spare time, I am a Krav Maga instructor at my local gym. Passing the instructor certification was one of the most intense things I have ever done (aside from my PhD defense, of course!). 

​

[al...@stampcenter.com]

A short intro:

1. Alex Birman, I live in Baltimore, MD.  Age 63.  Have worked previously for anti-hunger charities. First director of the Pittsburgh Community Food Bank.  Public relations for Shaare Tzedek Hospital in Jerusalem.  First president of the Jewish Vegetarian Society Chapter in Jerusalem.

2.  Graduated Yeshiva University in 1975.  I belong to a modern Orthodox synagogue in Baltimore.  I have been a vegetarian for over 30 years, and two years ago,  became vegan.

3. I am a member and contribute to a number of animal welfare groups, environmental groups, and organizations promoting social justice and anti-poverty agendas.  (Canvassed in New Hampshire for Bernie!)

I am very impressed with the great work that Rabbi Shmuly and the Shayim v'Aretz organization is doing! The membership and activism is just terrific.

/

[Rabbi Robyn Fryer Bodzin]

Hello!

1. Your name, your city/town, and any other basic info you feel comfortable sharing like gender, age, occupation.

My name is Robyn Fryer Bodzin. I live in Queens, NY. I am a rabbi at a Conservative synagogue. Somehow, I am 43 years old, although I don't look it :) nor do I feel it. 

 

2. Where you are Jewishly (Orthodox? Reform? Another background? Feel free to be as specific as you want/need here).

I am an egalitarian halachic Jew. I identify as  Conservative and pluralistic. Unless you are intolerant of me, I am sure we will get along.    I wrote a piece in The Jewish Vegan about how my synagogue leadership and Sisterhood ladies aka those in charge of kiddush have reacted to my eating lifestyle. Thanks Shmuly for placing it near the front. It took a while for the kiddush makers to come around, but now, in addition to tuna, egg and cream cheese there is always a vegan option for me. Sometimes it is just hummus and salad and other times they make the PETA Passover mock chopped liver, which is delicious.

 

3. Where you are on the vegetarian/vegan spectrum? (vegan, vegetarian, veg-curious, whole-food-plant-based, raw till 4, etc.).

Five years ago, all of the chagim (Rosh Hashana, Sukkot, Shemini Atzeret and Simchat Torah) were attached to weekends. So it was three days of big lunches and dinners, mostly meat and chicken.  I felt sick. So, my husband and I decided to go vegan until Thanksgiving. We knew if went vegetarian we would eat cheese and ice cream the entire time. It was not hard. I live in NY. There are so many vegan and hechshered options available, aside from beans and lentils. I started buying Nava Atlas cookbooks and was cooking well. It was still CSA season, but the produce was turning more and more into tubers.  During this time, my body stopped making noises and I felt better. I kept it going after Thanksgiving. Then I bumped into Mayim Bialik, who I knew from UCLA, and she recommended that I read the book The China Study. That was it for me. With heart disease and cancer prevalent in my family, I determined at that moment that this would be my lifestyle.

I would say I am 98% vegan. If I find myself at my parents home (which rarely happens as they live in another country), and some of the desserts from my youth are being offered, I might have a piece of mandlebroit. If I don't see the animal, then I am able to  do it. Each time I enjoy eating it, but then I feel guilty as I am not being honest with myself.  But this happens so rarely--maybe twice a year. And, I added back honey to Rosh Hashanah.

My husband and I started this journey together, but he is pescetarian outside of the home now.

We have a two year old. She is vegan inside of the house and vegetarian outside of the house. She goes to school where three kosher meals a day are served. They don't feed her fish, meat or poultry, but everything else I said is ok. At home  we talk about loving animals and not eating them. I still have two sets of dishes in my home. I am not sure why. With the exception of one day when I craved green olive pizza and gave in to it, I was completely vegan while pregnant and my daughter came out perfect.   

Thankfully because I am vegan, I don't eat all of the cakes and cookies that are always available at my synagogue.

 Again, being in NY it is really easy to keep a vegan diet.

4. How do you connect your Judaism to animal rights/welfare issues?

Really simple.Tza'ar Ba'alei Chayim. Don't harm animals. There is no need for me to harm another living thing that has parents and a face so I can eat it. Because I host many Shabbat meals, my community is learning about how to eat amazing food that is not meat.  

 

5. Anything else you want to add about yourself.

I love reading emails in this community. I tweet a lot about vegan stuff. Follow me @shrobyn.

 For Shavuot, I use a lot of recipes from Mayim's cookbook (her kugel and mac and cheese are divine) and Nava Atlas' Holiday cookbook. 

--

______________________________________________________

RABBI ROBYN FRYER BODZIN, MSW

 

Check out our new video on youtube

http://tinyurl.com/93msxsf 

 

Israel Center of Conservative Judaism

167-11 73rd Avenue

Flushing, NY 11366

www.iccj2004.org

Main Phone Line: 718-591-5353

Study: 718-591-5610

Follow me on Twitter @shrobyn

[Sandra Elvin]

​Hi Everyone

I am terribly sorry, I forgot to mention in my earlier post a few hours ago that I am 37 years old, soon to be 38 years old in a couple of weeks. 

I hope everyone has a wonderful day, and the sun is shining wherever you are! 

Sandra​

[rmm635 .]

i'm delighted to hear of your interest,  Beth - i'd definitely like to proceed and am hereby asking the facilitators whether it's okay to create a separate list, Shamayim V'Aretz Reading Group (SARG - yet another acronym for our already acronym-rich lives) so that folks who aren't interested don't have to be bothered with opening emails - if that's okay'd, we could send quarterly reminders that there is such a group and somehow let people who are new to group know about it when they sign up.

On Thu, May 25, 2017 at 1:11 PM, Beth DeRicco <bder...@gmail.com> wrote:

Hi -

Saw your intro on the list - I will do my own soon - 

I would be interested in the book club.

Let me know if you'd like to proceed.

Thanks for the offer!

BDR

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Beth DeRicco
401-954-0225

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[Allen]

1. Your name, your city/town, and any other basic info you feel comfortable sharing like gender, age, occupation. 

Allen Purvin.
Male pronouns

Flushing, NY

Partnered.

During the year I work as a teacher of the blind and visually impaired.

During the summers I typically go to Camp HASC, an orthodox camp for special kids/adults in the Catskills

2. Where you are Jewishly (Orthodox? Reform? Another background? Feel free to be as specific as you want/need here).

Orthodox

3. Where you are on the vegetarian/vegan spectrum? (vegan, vegetarian, veg-curious, whole-food-plant-based, raw till 4, etc.).

Vegan since August 21, with the occasional slip-up. Who new Nutella was dairy?

I try to be whole-food plant based but am not there yet. Try to save processed for Shabbat, Yom Tov and special ocassions.

4. How do you connect your Judaism to animal rights/welfare issues?

It's a reflection of compassion that I try to instill in may daily actions. Since the vast vast majority of animal products come from a factory farming situation, and the animals there clearly suffer, I have halachic (Jewish law) and ethical concerns eating those products. From a health, animal welfare, and environmental standpoint, I believe vegan is the best way to eat, and most in sync with Jewish values. Since being vegan, I actually feel good and proud and of my food choices.

5. Anything else you want to add about yourself.

Ok, my current non-crisis dilemma. There is a place in Israel, in Jerusalem, in the shuk, called Marzipan that makes the yummiest of yummiest chocolate rugalech. I always joked, though am completely serious, when I say that the when I go to Israel, the way I prove my love to Hashem (G-d) is by going to The Kotel, before Marzipan. But now that I am vegan, and assume that their rugalach has egg in it, what to do?

[Rabbi Jonathan Klein, Faith Action for Animals]

Fine, I'll bite, lovely idea:

Some basic things to include in your introduction would be-

1. Your name, your city/town, and any other basic info you feel comfortable sharing like gender, age, occupation. 

Rabbi Jonathan Klein, 48 y.o., living in Los Angeles.  I run a nonprofit called "Clergy and Laity United for Economic Justice," or CLUE, and we "educate, organize, and mobilize the faith community to accompany workers and their families in their struggle for good jobs, dignity, and justice" here in Los Angeles and now Orange County.  It inspired me to create "Faith Action for Animals," which essentially educates, organizes, and mobilizes the faith community to protect animals from suffering and artificial contexts for premature deaths.

I am married with three kids, the oldest going to UCLA next year.

2. Where you are Jewishly (Orthodox? Reform? Another background? Feel free to be as specific as you want/need here).

I am a Reform-ordained rabbi with more traditional practices and some heresy mixed in.

3. Where you are on the vegetarian/vegan spectrum? (vegan, vegetarian, veg-curious, whole-food-plant-based, raw till 4, etc.).

Ethical vegan.  Will eat honey from rescue hives that are allowed to swarm and in which the queen is not replaced.  No leather/animal product purchases, but still have some leather items from when I was a vegetarian, eight years ago.

4. How do you connect your Judaism to animal rights/welfare issues?

A longer conversation.  Judaism is speciesist, which some would say is incompatible with animal rights.  I am an animal rights person and appreciate Judaism's commitment to animal welfare...in other words, I'm more committed to animal rights than Judaism and have come to accept that.

5. Anything else you want to add about yourself.  Nope. Shabbat Shalom!

Rabbi Jonathan Klein

Director, Faith Action For Animals

https://www.facebook.com/FaithActionForAnimals

Faith Action for Animals is a coalition of faith leaders and activists who advocate and take action on behalf of

animals who are exploited, abused, tortured and slaughtered for food, research, fashion and entertainment

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[Jessie Duke]

Hi everyone,

Shabbat shalom from Tzfat! 

1. My name is Jessie (she, her, hers) and I'm 22 years old. I'm from Mahwah, NJ but currently live in Santa Monica, CA. I recently graduated from USC film school and have decided to stay, at least for now, on the west coast, although I'm spending the summer in Israel. I arrived on May 22nd and will be in Israel until August 10th! (Here in tzfat till tomorrow morning, Jerusalem for a few days and next Shabbat in mitzpeh Roman before spending a week in Eilat and then Tel Aviv from June 14 on). Working in TLV for Anonymous Challenge 22+ helping people transition to veganism). I have no idea what I will be doing as far as employment when I am back in Los Angeles but am hoping to put film aside and work in either the plantbased/animal welfare movement, Holocaust education, or Jewish community. 

2. I am a secular Jew and not sure if my beliefs categorize me as Reform or Reconstructionist. I am culturally and spiritually connected to being Jewish. It almost feels wrong to say I was raised reform as I feel like that is an overstatement, but after birthright I got very involved in the Jewish community in college. I never realized what a priviledge it was to be a Jew. My yoga teacher training and going vegan brought me more deeply connected with being Jewish as I realized how the values that drew me to my other interests were brought out in the spirit of being Jewish.

3. I went pescetarian in high school after my mom went vegan. In college I was diagnosed with Crohns Disease and went vegan shortly after for health reasons. It wasn't until I went whole food plant based and eliminated processed foods and most importantly for me, oil, that I was able to improve enough to feel like I had a life again. After starting to feel better and  essentially moving out of survival mode, I was able to engage myself in the ethical side of veganism and now consider myself a 100% ethical vegan, passionate about animals, health, and the environment. I'm grateful for getting sick because I am healthier and more compassionate now than I ever could imagine (and off of all of my medication which is why I am able to be in israel, using food as medicine).

Since I lead a vegan lifestyle, I do not buy leather/suede or any animal products, and try to research all purchases to make sure they are ethically made as well as buy furniture and other things off Craigslist instead of buying new as often as possible.

5. I am lucky to be part of a community who cares deeply about tikun olam. I am constantly trying to expose myself to wisdom and education to help me grow (whether it's coming from yoga philosophy, Jewish learning, feminism, or talking with other people) and am always questioning and grappling with ethics and the way to be better and the way to just be (typical post-grad feeling a little lost but okay with it). 

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[Ilana Braverman]

Good morning!

Thanks so much to everyone who has made introductions so far. To anyone who hasn't introduced themselves yet, please feel free to do so if you would like! Here are the questions again:

1. Your name, your city/town, and any other basic info you feel comfortable sharing like gender, age, occupation.

2. Where you are Jewishly (Orthodox? Reform? Another background? Feel free to be as specific as you want/need here).

3. Where you are on the vegetarian/vegan spectrum? (vegan, vegetarian, veg-curious, whole-food-plant-based, raw till 4, etc.).

4. How do you connect your Judaism to animal rights/welfare issues?

5. Anything else you want to add about yourself.

Thanks,

Ilana

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[Low Hertz]

While I replied, it was a separate posting and not part of this string.  

I'm Bob Comarow, 62, in Davis, CA, a progressive outpost in the conservative Sacramento Region of Northern California. I'd love to meet like minded people,

or simply Vegan Jews in my part of the world.

On Monday, June 5, 2017 at 6:45:57 AM UTC-7, Ilana Braverman wrote:

Good morning!

Thanks so much to everyone who has made introductions so far. To anyone who hasn't introduced themselves yet, please feel free to do so if you would like! Here are the questions again:

1. Your name, your city/town, and any other basic info you feel comfortable sharing like gender, age, occupation.

Bob Comarow, obviously 62, living in what I consider the most progressive town in the nation, Davis.   I'm semi retired, worked in the computer industry

but these days I teach and play jazz and classical music.   I love teaching serious music.

Davis, while progressive and a heaven for Vegans does have an anti Zionist movement which I wonder how to fight.

We do support tolerance.

 

2. Where you are Jewishly (Orthodox? Reform? Another background? Feel free to be as specific as you want/need here).

I was raised as a Reform Jew, I would say I am a progressive Reformed Jew, loving learning about our history, culture and throughs of the ages,

and seeking to find the meaning in 2017.  I see Judaism as a living, growing set of beliefs and values, with to me the center of Judaism 

is Tikom Olom, to heal the world  as opposed to being Faith in the supernatural.

 

3. Where you are on the vegetarian/vegan spectrum? (vegan, vegetarian, veg-curious, whole-food-plant-based, raw till 4, etc.).

I've been a Vegan for 41 years, and was a Vegetarian before that.  I wanted to be a vegetarian since I was 6.  Even as a young child it was

the obvious moral choice.

 

4. How do you connect your Judaism to animal rights/welfare issues?

Very easily.  

Judaism is foremost about making the world a better, more holy place.

The prohibition about no unnecessary cruelty to animals is clear, and there is no reason to 

eat or use animal products in this day and age.

And creating and using animal products is cruel, unhealthy, and harms the earth.

And to me, it harms the "soul", of the person that engages in these practices.

Ethically one must embrace a Vegan, peaceful lifestyle.  That does not mean one does

not believe in self defense.

 

5. Anything else you want to add about yourself.

I would love to meet other people in my area. I'd be happy to serve any Jewish organization

as a musician.

[Shmuly Yanklowitz]

Hi Friends, 

We have 225 members on this listserv and yet only around 25 have shared introductions so far. 

Our hope is that every member will provide a short intro to the group. 

Thank you!  Shmuly

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[Ilana Braverman]

Hi everyone,

Here's David's introduction:

On June 7, 2017 at 4:48 PM David <meor...@gmail.com> wrote:

1. Your name, your city/town, and any other basic info you feel comfortable sharing like gender, age, occupation.

Rabbi David Sears, Brooklyn, NY
Male, 66 (born 1951)
Married, father and grandfather.
Occupation: Translator (from Hebrew), author, artist, illustrator, photographer
My wife Shira is a Special Ed teacher in a yeshiva elementary school.

2. Where you are Jewishly (Orthodox? Reform? Another background? Feel free to be as specific as you want/need here).

Orthodox / Chassidic (Breslov)

3. Where you are on the vegetarian/vegan spectrum? (vegan, vegetarian, veg-curious, whole-food-plant-based, raw till 4, etc.).

100% Vegetarian, whole foods as much as possible. I have been a vegetarian on and off for years at a time. About 20 years ago, I used to eat chicken or turkey on Shabbos and Yom Tov, but was vegetarian the rest of the time. Then when the Rubashkin scandal happened in 2006 (if I remember correctly), I decided that I wanted to have nothing to do with the meat industry ever again. I have been a full vegetarian -- close to vegan, but not quite -- since then and intend to remain so.

For many years I have been a member of the Jewish Vegetarians of North America. I also have a page of my translations of Jewish sources on the Jewish Veg website.

https://www.jewishveg.org/DSindex.html

4. How do you connect your Judaism to animal rights/welfare issues?

Deeply concerned with animal welfare and tzaar baalei chaim issues both in Jewish life and in the world. I wrote a book on these issues: "The Vision of Eden: Animal Welfare and Vegetarianism in Jewish Law and Mysticism: (Orot 2003; revised CreateSpace 2015). I have also co-authored several articles with Dr. Richard Schwartz.

5. Anything else you want to add about yourself.

Since 1997 I have been director of the New York Breslov Center.

http://breslovcenter.blogspot.com/

I am also concerned with ecological issues and have contributed various writings to Canfei Nesharim and Jewcology.

I also have a "secret life" as an abstract painter -- "secret" because of the difficulty of showing my work!

I paint two nights a week at the Art Students League of NY.

Nice to meet you all.

[Batzion Shlomi]

B"H

Shalom Friends!

I'm so happy and privildged to be part of this group.

I've enjoyed reading people's self-descriptions up till now.

Here's mine:

I'm Batzion Shlomi (nee Dolgin), born in Israel to a Zionist-orthodox family that made aliya from L.A. to Jerusalem in 1967, hence my name which means "Daughter of Zion".  

I work from home translating and editing in English and Hebrew. Studied music and anthropology, and later also editing.  I live in Afula (Northern Israel) with my family which is pretty good about veganism most of the time but less strict than I, especially my husband... :) . We live in a cute small house with a nice yard so the kids have a tree house, and we have a friendly rooster running around, and cats and kittens.. 

I'm active in the vegan organization in Israel named "Anonymous" and also in the Israeli and world movements to STOP SMART METERS which are plaguing us with anti-democratic forced wireless radiation, invasion of privacy, cyber vulnerability, Shabbat desecration problems, rising prices and more.  A year ago I participated in a meeting in the Israeli parliament (knesset) about SMART METERS, but the utility companies are still forcing these meters so I'm trying to create as much public pressure as possible by asking many people to write emails and speak out about this to decision makers as well as to the media.

I've been vegetarian since age 13 and vegan for the past 6 years. When I was 3 years old I saw Kapparot , and became vegetarian. (Of course my grandmother tried to camouflage meat and chicken so that I should eat them, and partially succeeded until I was 13.  At that point my older sister (who now lives in Miami Beach Fl.) went to the army, and on kitchen duty saw large pieces of meat and instantly became vegetarian. I followed and so did my mother. 

Over time I learned more about the terrible abuse of animals on farms etc.  Studied macrobotics, various healthfood thoeries and practices, and implement a mixture of that with raw food. Basically - plant-based whole-food.   I also love to practice yoga.

Judaism and veganism go perfectly well together as I see it, 

I love and believe wholeheartedly in what Richard (Prof. Richard Schwartz) writes and what Rav Shmuly and all other wonderful people here express about Tikun Olam through veganism and more. I try to share this information with everyone, on the street, in my extended family, at every opportunity. I think we must and hope we can, with G-d's help, save the world.  I do have some family members who resent this and asked me to stop sendig them this sort of information, and of course I respect thier wishes though it's hard for me to see people WANTING to disregard others' pain and suffering.  But I feel I have so much to learn in this respect from Richard and Rav Shmuly who know how to present these challenging issues with utmost respect of everyone.

You are all invited to visit us in Afula if you come on a visit up north to our environs! 🐓 🐈

All the best,

Batzion

  

2. Where you are Jewishly (Orthodox? Reform? Another background? Feel free to be as specific as you want/need here).

I was raised as a Reform Jew, I would say I am a progressive Reformed Jew, loving learning about our history, culture and throughs of the ages,

and seeking to find the meaning in 2017.  I see Judaism as a living, growing set of beliefs and values, with to me the center of Judaism 

is Tikom Olom, to heal the world  as opposed to being Faith in the supernatural.

 

3. Where you are on the vegetarian/vegan spectrum? (vegan, vegetarian, veg-curious, whole-food-plant-based, raw till 4, etc.).

I've been a Vegan for 41 years, and was a Vegetarian before that.  I wanted to be a vegetarian since I was 6.  Even as a young child it was

the obvious moral choice.

 

4. How do you connect your Judaism to animal rights/welfare issues?

Very easily.  

Judaism is foremost about making the world a better, more holy place.

The prohibition about no unnecessary cruelty to animals is clear, and there is no reason to 

eat or use animal products in this day and age.

And creating and using animal products is cruel, unhealthy, and harms the earth.

And to me, it harms the "soul", of the person that engages in these practices.

Ethically one must embrace a Vegan, peaceful lifestyle.  That does not mean one does

not believe in self defense.

 

5. Anything else you want to add about yourself.

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[kalani...@gmail.com]

1. Your name, your city/town, and any other basic info you feel comfortable sharing like gender, age, occupation.

Kalanit Chappell, St. Louis, MO. Female, 47 years old, married, 3 children. I own a forensic engineering firm, do side work in print and social media marketing, and am chairperson of programming for Nishmah (volunteer position). I recently hired someone to do the day to day management and oversight at my forensic engineering firm so that I can work from home and homeschool my youngest. Our family participates in a community garden which I have incorporated into our homeschooling. Although I started with me, work, then family... I saved the most important for last! Family is my love.

2. Where you are Jewishly (Orthodox? Reform? Another background? Feel free to be as specific as you want/need here).

I don't like to categorize so much because I believe we are One Jewishly, and we are One humanly, and we are One speciesly (quite sure that isn't a word but I wanted to be consistent with the "ly"). That being said... I belong to the unique and awesome Bais Abe which is a progressive Modern Orthodox shul. I also participate in Ashreinu, a city-based Chavurah that meets once a month for Kabbalat Shabbat, and at other times monthly for a brunch and learn, and to sing and learn nigguns together. I am Shabbat observant, kosher in the home, eat vegan out, and enjoy davening.

3. Where you are on the vegetarian/vegan spectrum? (vegan, vegetarian, veg-curious, whole-food-plant-based, raw till 4, etc.).

Macrobiotic, plant strong vegan for health, world view, and ethically motivated reasons.

4. How do you connect your Judaism to animal rights/welfare issues?

Animal welfare issues to me are addressed Jewishly through halacha, ethics, justice, compassion, the charge to care for the Earth and Universe.

5. Anything else you want to add about yourself.

I am a deeply spiritual person who loves ritual, has a strong sense of right and wrong, and who believes in radical inclusion. I love poetry and chanting as much as I love text study. I am a hard worker and a horrible housekeeper. I find renewal on the river, walking to shul, and being around positive people. My current goals this year are to continue to reduce what we have and need (I call it zenifying) and to continue learning American Sign Language.

[Daniel Weber]

My introduction below:

1. Your name, your city/town, and any other basic info you feel comfortable sharing like gender, age, occupation.

 Dan Weber, Eugene, OR. I am a 37 year old male. I am an administrative assistant at Temple Beth Israel (TBI), though with my heavy technology background, I have become an IT manager as well.

2. Where you are Jewishly (Orthodox? Reform? Another background? Feel free to be as specific as you want/need here).

I am relatively new to Judaism. My Mother was Jewish, my Father is not. We did not learn much or practice at all in my household growing up. I have been learning about Judaism and connecting more deeply for about 6 years. I would consider myself a Reconstructionist Jew.

3. Where you are on the vegetarian/vegan spectrum? (vegan, vegetarian, veg-curious, whole-food-plant-based, raw till 4, etc.).

I am Vegan, and have been fully Vegan for about 7 years.

4. How do you connect your Judaism to animal rights/welfare issues?

I believe my veganism opened me up to the possibilities of spiritual depth and animal (human AND non human) connectedness. In that way, I have been able to "find" God and explore spirituality, and understand my relationship with myself, others, and the world in a spiritual context. I firmly believe that had I not become vegan, I would still be self centered and unable to relate to "other" outside of my own lens.

5. Anything else you want to add about yourself.

I am eternally grateful to be part of this group and have the opportunity participate in discussion with so many heroes!

L'Shalom,

Dan 

[lara]

Hello everyone!

1. I am Lara Smallman from London, England. I am the Director of the Jewish Vegetarian Society - everything we do is vegan, and we are reviewing the name (which dates back to the mid 1960s). 
2. Quite hard to pin down where I am Jewishly, I would say traditional, and have recently become a member of a shul for the first time in my life, and it is Masorti.
3. Vegan and coeliac - which means I cook every day, sometimes twice a day!
4. Through my work at the JVS

Lara

On Monday, May 22, 2017 at 7:54:17 PM UTC+1, Eliran Sobel wrote:

Hi Everyone!

I was wondering if we should introduce ourselves a little more. I've been seeing these names in the emails, but I don't know who you all are! Also, for those new here, this could be a good place to start posting.

Some basic things to include in your introduction would be-

1. Your name, your city/town, and any other basic info you feel comfortable sharing like gender, age, occupation.

2. Where you are Jewishly (Orthodox? Reform? Another background? Feel free to be as specific as you want/need here).

3. Where you are on the vegetarian/vegan spectrum? (vegan, vegetarian, veg-curious, whole-food-plant-based, raw till 4, etc.).

4. How do you connect your Judaism to animal rights/welfare issues?

5. Anything else you want to add about yourself.

[Avital Kaplan]

1. Your name, your city/town, and any other basic info you feel comfortable sharing like gender, age, occupation. 
2. Where you are Jewishly (Orthodox? Reform? Another background? Feel free to be as specific as you want/need here).
3. Where you are on the vegetarian/vegan spectrum? (vegan, vegetarian, veg-curious, whole-food-plant-based, raw till 4, etc.).
4. How do you connect your Judaism to animal rights/welfare issues?
5. Anything else you want to add about yourself.

Hi all. I'm Avital, originally from Teaneck, NJ but now live in Jerusalem. Female, 25, have a BA in Linguistics from NYU and am now finishing my law degree at Hebrew University. I decided to study law because I want to work in Animal Rights, and I hope that my degree will help me make national, policy-level changes in that field.

I grew up Modern Orthodox and if I had to describe where I stand today with an existing label, it would probably be somewhere on the spectrum from Liberal/Open Orthodox to Centrist Orthodox. But I think of myself more as shomeret Halakha because I don't feel that the sociological norms of the various Orthodox communities really fit me.

I'm vegan and that's deeply informed by my Judaism. Besides values of animal welfare and mercy, I think a sober reading of the Torah (5 books of Moses) shows clearly that a plant-based diet is the ideal, and an animal-based diet is very much a plan B, a capitulation to human weakness.  My veganism is definitely based on care for animals, but it's also quite clear to me that the environmental aspect is also deeply tied to Jewish values.

Any other Jerusalemites on the listserve- it would be great to meet up!

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אביטל קפלן

ابيطال كافلان

[mlornstein]

Hello, all!  I'm a bit Google-illiterate, so if I've done this incorrectly - many apologies!

 

1. Your name, your city/town, and any other basic info you feel comfortable sharing like gender, age, occupation.

 

           Melissa Ornstein.  Born and spent my childhood in South Carolina - where my mom is from.  But I'm now in Jenkintown, PA (Philly suburb) - around where my dad is from-  and have lived here for about 12 years. 

           I turned 28 (yikes!) on May 1st - Taurus!

           I work at a company that does background checks.  It's... a job :)  Wish I could find something that allows work from home as I help take care of a bedridden grandmother, but alas... they won't let me!

 

2. Where you are Jewishly (Orthodox? Reform? Another background? Feel free to be as specific as you want/need here).

 

          This is kind of complicated, and I apologize in advance if this bothers anyone.

          I'm the product of an interfaith marriage.  I have a Jewish father and a non-Jewish mother.  I was raised to think I was always simply Jewish.  Taken to synagogue (Reform), celebrated some holidays.  

          As I grew into adulthood, I learned that halachically (is that the word?) I'm not.  I know some handle this fine, but I was devastated and spiraled into a bit of an identity crisis. 

          My father thinks I'm being "old-fashioned" and still insists that I'm Jewish.  Easy for him to say - he's Jewish no matter what!  

          Anyway, I started looking into a formal conversion as I slowly incorporate observances into my daily life.  My dad was raised in a Conservative synagogue as a kid in Philly, so I felt that would be more appropriate.  

          But I've also recently contacted a rabbi at a Jewish education center to learn more about Orthodox. 

          I was interested in going to a Young Israel (Elkins Park) nearby, but I can't move any closer to it at the moment, so I figure it's a moot point. And I'm just a bundle of nerves, so.. ha

 

          If my current status means I should leave the group, please let me know and I will!  No hard feelings.  I still feel like I'm Jewish, but I know technically I'm not, so I'll understand!

 

3. Where you are on the vegetarian/vegan spectrum? (vegan, vegetarian, veg-curious, whole-food-plant-based, raw till 4, etc.).

      

         I'm currently a two-year vegetarian.  I do believe that veganism is not only the healthfully (did I just make up a word?) superior diet when done correctly, but ethically as well.  I'm a work in progress :)        

           

 

4. How do you connect your Judaism to animal rights/welfare issues?

 

          My instinct is that as Jews, it's a requirement to show holiness to the world.  Animals are to be cared for and cherished just as any other of Gd's creatures <3  To say they don't suffer because kosher slaughter is "humane"... I think is being naive.

 

5. Anything else you want to add about yourself.

          I'm extremely interested in visiting an animal sanctuary, but can't seem to find any nearby.  If anyone knows where one is close-ish to the Philly area, lemme know :)  Not too far please.  I hate driving.  It's scary :(

[shimonshuchat]

1. My name is Shimon Shuchat, I am from Brooklyn NY, and I am a student at Cornell University

2. I originally come from a Hasidic family but I now identify as a secular Jew

3.I am vegan

4. I think that the most important parts of Judaism are not those relating to rituals or worship but rather those that involve character development and I think that treating animals with respect and kindness is a big part of this. 

On Monday, May 22, 2017 at 2:54:17 PM UTC-4, Eliran Sobel wrote:

Hi Everyone!

I was wondering if we should introduce ourselves a little more. I've been seeing these names in the emails, but I don't know who you all are! Also, for those new here, this could be a good place to start posting.

Some basic things to include in your introduction would be-

1. Your name, your city/town, and any other basic info you feel comfortable sharing like gender, age, occupation.

2. Where you are Jewishly (Orthodox? Reform? Another background? Feel free to be as specific as you want/need here).

3. Where you are on the vegetarian/vegan spectrum? (vegan, vegetarian, veg-curious, whole-food-plant-based, raw till 4, etc.).

4. How do you connect your Judaism to animal rights/welfare issues?

5. Anything else you want to add about yourself.

[Andrew Hostettler]

1.  My name is Andrew (Yaaqov Asher), I am from Northern California near Redding.  I am a massage therapist.

2.  I am currently holding in the Sephardi Modern Orthodox/Interested in Renewal/Hippie area of Jewish practice.  Converted Orthodox 7 years ago.  Was born into a christian baptist family.  My father (OBM) was a baptist pastor.

3.  Been vegan in the past, then oval lacto vegetarian, then back to meat occasionally...and recently back to vegan.

4.  Judaism teaches a lot about kindness to all life.  It is very connected to issues we face today with regard to animal rights/welfare issues...as well as health.

5.  I almost got off this list because I was eating meat and didn't want to read it for a while.  But today I am glad I stayed on.

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[Shelly Schwartz]

1. Shelly (Sheldon) Schwartz

    Herndon, VA -- Suburb of Washington, D.C.

    (Originally from Erie, PA)

    TV Director - Freelance

    59/M

2. Reform.

    Shul only on High Holidays

    Observe Passover (vegan-type)

    

3. Vegan for the last 5 + years.  Vegetarian for additional 27 years before that.  

     First 27 years of my life I ate a Standard American Diet.

    Went vegetarian cold turkey, so to speak, after hearing a radio show about animals.  No contemplation of it before that.  Thought I'd try it for two weeks, but have never gone back.  Ate seafood for the first six months, then gave that up, too.  Completely vegan for past 5+ years.  No new leather or silk or wool, etc.

4. I think that Judaism teaches things that lead you naturally to a vegan diet.  Those are the ethics that I hear, anyhow.

5. The radio show was one on a Sunday night, when they used to have public affairs/public service programming requirements.  The guests told a story of a company in France which wanted to order about 1,000 horses from a farm in the U.S., to use as horsemeat.  That part was a little off-putting, being horses, but it wasn't too objectionable since I was a meat-eater... just a different kind of meat (cow).  That part of it was just live and let live to me...  I eat cows, they eat horses.  

But, the second part of the story is what got me.

It takes some time to breed and raise 1,000 horses to a point where they are ready and grown enough to be ready to profitably slaughter.  I don't know... maybe 2 years, I'm guessing.  Well, the order was placed, but in the intervening years, the company in France went out-of-business.  The farm in the U.S. now had 1,000 horses with no buyer.  The horses were slaughtered anyhow because the farm could not afford to keep them.

So, it struck me that these horses would not have even existed if it were not for the human induced breeding, and now they were being killed for no reason other than they were too expensive to let live.

Everyone here gets it.  I wish everyone else did.

On Mon, May 22, 2017 at 2:54 PM, Eliran Sobel <eliran...@gmail.com> wrote:

Hi Everyone!

I was wondering if we should introduce ourselves a little more. I've been seeing these names in the emails, but I don't know who you all are! Also, for those new here, this could be a good place to start posting.

Some basic things to include in your introduction would be-
1. Your name, your city/town, and any other basic info you feel comfortable sharing like gender, age, occupation.
2. Where you are Jewishly (Orthodox? Reform? Another background? Feel free to be as specific as you want/need here).
3. Where you are on the vegetarian/vegan spectrum? (vegan, vegetarian, veg-curious, whole-food-plant-based, raw till 4, etc.).
4. How do you connect your Judaism to animal rights/welfare issues?
5. Anything else you want to add about yourself.

I hope this helps us feel more like a community here.

Best,
Eliran

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[Susan Bazarsky]

1.       Susan

San Fernando Valley, CA

(New York born and raised)

Resource Development – Non-Profit

 

2.       Raised Conservative

Observe High Holidays – Host Passover

 

3.       Vegan for 4 years Vegetarian for 30

I was raised in a home with healthy food but as a Teenager my Mother was diagnosed with Breast Cancer and our food took on level of a truer understanding of the impact it can have on one’s health.

I hated the circus and the zoo, as a child, and I’m told after going to both at around 6 I never went again (and my daughter has never been). I have felt connected to animals all my life and decided, at a very early age, that I never wanted anything to suffer to feed me. I didn’t cook a lot in my 20s but read somewhere (sorry don’t remember the source) that true health of mind and body comes when you’re as happy to cook for yourself as you are cooking for others and my education on healthy cooking began. This education is an ongoing process and I loved it. I have raised my daughter (now 15) vegetarian and she is the reason we went vegan, a few years ago.

  

4.       My connection to Judaism is on a more spiritual level. I guess some would say I’m not a “practicing Jew” although I work for a University in Israel and feel extremely connected to the country, our people and our faith.

My veganism and activism is my religion to me because it’s based on respect and kindness towards all beings. I’m proud of being Jewish and love the Holidays because it is a way to bring family and friends together. That said, the holidays were challenging for a long time, as I didn’t have other family or friends eating my way. What made it easier, over time, was me learning to bring something vegetarian, now vegan, to the holidays are understanding this was not a slight to my host but essential better for my soul and well-being. Of course, it’s always wonderful that everyone ends up eating whatever I bring, and loving it, which I believe opens their hearts and minds. For the past 8 years, I’ve hosted Passover, my favorite holiday, and for several of those years cooked something non-vegetarian for my guests. Then we moved to someone bringing something non-vegetarian as I would no longer cook for them and this year was proud to serve a completely vegan meal. My non-vegan friends were not 100% on board but they came, they loved it and everyone left with a container or two of left overs.

 

5.       One day, a few years ago, my daughter and I were visiting an animal rescue and heard a story about a dairy farm. I always knew a bit about dairy farms but I kept myself comfortably ignorant for my love of cheese. Hearing the story, while sitting with a beautiful cow laying in my life was a life changing moment. The move from vegetarian to vegan didn’t feel huge but it has been. We feel healthier than ever and proud of our commitment. I do believe that veganism is a process and that the knowledge of how to eat properly is essential to it being a healthier way of life. I do not preach about our lifestyle but always happy to share. I used to be surprised by the questions and discomfort of those around me but I’m not any more. I teach my daughter about compassion for all and that includes our meat eating friends. It warms my heart that the world has caught on and moving in a more compassionate direction.

 

 

 

From: <shamayi...@googlegroups.com> on behalf of Shelly Schwartz <shelly...@gmail.com>
Date: Monday, July 24, 2017 at 6:17 AM
To: Eliran Sobel <eliran...@gmail.com>
Cc: Shamayim V'Aretz Institute <shamayi...@googlegroups.com>
Subject: Re: Introductions

 

 

1. Shelly (Sheldon) Schwartz

    Herndon, VA -- Suburb of Washington, D.C.

    (Originally from Erie, PA)

    TV Director - Freelance

    59/M

 

2. Reform.

    Shul only on High Holidays

    Observe Passover (vegan-type)

    

3. Vegan for the last 5 + years.  Vegetarian for additional 27 years before that.  

     First 27 years of my life I ate a Standard American Diet.

    Went vegetarian cold turkey, so to speak, after hearing a radio show about animals.  No contemplation of it before that.  Thought I'd try it for two weeks, but have never gone back.  Ate seafood for the first six months, then gave that up, too.  Completely vegan for past 5+ years.  No new leather or silk or wool, etc.

 

4..

 

5. The radio show was one on a Sunday night, when they used to have public affairs/public service programming requirements.  The guests told a story of a company in France which wanted to order about 1,000 horses from a farm in the U.S., to use as horsemeat.  That part was a little off-putting, being horses, but it wasn't too objectionable since I was a meat-eater... just a different kind of meat (cow).  That part of it was just live and let live to me...  I eat cows, they eat horses.  

But, the second part of the story is what got me.

 

It takes some time to breed and raise 1,000 horses to a point where they are ready and grown enough to be ready to profitably slaughter.  I don't know... maybe 2 years, I'm guessing.  Well, the order was placed, but in the intervening years, the company in France went out-of-business.  The farm in the U.S. now had 1,000 horses with no buyer.  The horses were slaughtered anyhow because the farm could not afford to keep them.

 

So, it struck me that these horses would not have even existed if it were not for the human induced breeding, and now they were being killed for no reason other than they were too expensive to let live.

 

Everyone here gets it.  I wish everyone else did.

 

 

On Mon, May 22, 2017 at 2:54 PM, Eliran Sobel <eliran...@gmail.com> wrote:

Hi Everyone!

I was wondering if we should introduce ourselves a little more. I've been seeing these names in the emails, but I don't know who you all are! Also, for those new here, this could be a good place to start posting.

Some basic things to include in your introduction would be-
1. Your name, your city/town, and any other basic info you feel comfortable sharing like gender, age, occupation.
2. Where you are Jewishly (Orthodox? Reform? Another background? Feel free to be as specific as you want/need here).
3. Where you are on the vegetarian/vegan spectrum? (vegan, vegetarian, veg-curious, whole-food-plant-based, raw till 4, etc.).
4. How do you connect your Judaism to animal rights/welfare issues?
5. Anything else you want to add about yourself.

I hope this helps us feel more like a community here.

Best,
Eliran

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[belafidel]

Name: Bela Fidel

Born: Sao Paulo, Brazil.  Lived in Israel from 1965 to 1974 minus 1973 which I spent back in Brazil.  Graduated from the Hebrew University in Jerusalem.

Religion "status" - Conservative plus.  Attend orthodox shul two or three times a month, keep holidays, don't work  (commercially) on shabbos but don't keep it perfectly.

Have been a vegetarian for about 7/8 years now.  It bothers me to still eat fish and eggs but I don't yet feel ready to quit, despite feeling like a hypocrite very often.

I stopped eating all kinds of flesh cold turkey (is this a pun?) after seeing an undercover video.

I have a HUGE problem with my Judaism and compassion for animals.  I always try to understand the issue of animal sacrifice in the Temple; have had  a few lengthy conversations with my rabbi about slaughter of animals vs. tzaar baalei chayim, (compassion for animals).  None of his answers were minimally satisfying or convincing.  I try to compartmentalize; otherwise I'd have to leave the religion and I cannot and don't want to do that.  This subject keeps my mind busy a great deal of the time.

I have been an activist for animals rights and animal welfare since the early 90's.  I make calls to officials, write letters to them or CEO's, etc.; demonstrate in the streets; try not to buy anything tested on animals although that's difficult because it seems that almost everything is tested on animals.  (I have the Leaping Bunny app on my ipad).  As much as possible I support organizations that fight for animals rights and welfare, both wild and domestic.  Until a few months ago I used to volunteer at my local shelter.

As an artist, I spent six years working on a series called "Endangered, Threatened and Exploited Species".  I currently show my work at various venues and teach painting at my studio in North Scottsdale.

[Lisa Whitney]

1. My name is Lisa whitney, I'm originally from Niskayuna, NY and now reside in El Segundo, CA. I'm 29 y/o, F, and work as an outside sales rep for a paper company 

I grew up in a mixed family (father didn't convert) we celebrated the main holidays, but very reform. I now am more observant, keep Passover, fast on Yom Kippur etc.

I've been vegetarian for 7 years, no eggs/fish. I originally started cutting out red meat per a doctor's advice due to inherited high cholesterol that I've had since a child. Then decided to cut out all meat for a healthy livestyle. While I don't think cutting out meat for me necessarily changes my cholesterol(due to genetic component), I initially lost 25lbs that I've kept off this whole time. I remain a vegetarian largely due to the belief that animals shouldn't suffer.

I think my belief in not harming animals stems from learning about the holocaust/Jewish suffering at an early age. I've always had a strong feeling against killing, but didn't necessarily link it to Judaism. In my day to day life, I think of not wanting living beings to die, but I think my early experiences in learning about human suffering in the Holocaust have shaped these beliefs.

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[Nicole]

Hi All, I'm Nicole Kritsin, from Tel Aviv, Israel.

I grew up in a secular Jewish family, and I guess this is how I identify myself today. 

I've been a Vegan for almost 8 years now, and for the past 6 years I've been a part of the Israeli org. Anonymous for Animal Rights.

To post to this group, send email to Shamayi...@googlegroups.com.

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ניקול קריצין   www.anonymous.org.il | 03-6204878  אנונימוס לזכויות בעלי חיים

[rachelvegvaizer]

1. Your name, your city/town, and any other basic info you feel comfortable sharing like gender, age, occupation.

Hi everyone ! I'm Rachel vegvaizer, 33 years old. I live in Stockton, CA. I'm a doctor of physical therapy, specializing in home health. Though currently I'm on maternity leave enjoying time with my new baby.

2. Where you are Jewishly (Orthodox? Reform? Another background? Feel free to be as specific as you want/need here).

I'm not a huge fan of the labels , but I would consider myself a traditional Jew. I celebrate the holidays, we have a strict kosher kitchen and attend the local Chabad

3. Where you are on the vegetarian/vegan spectrum? (vegan, vegetarian, veg-curious, whole-food-plant-based, raw till 4, etc.).

Whole food plant based

4. How do you connect your Judaism to animal rights/welfare issues?

Honestly I haven't put that much thought into it, but I'm very interested to see what judasim has to say about it ! But after what I've been learning how the meat industry treats the animals , I can't imagine Judaism should support that..
5.

Anything else you want to

I've only been WFPB since April of this year. I did it because I was doing research on how it can help people with auto immune diseases. I had lupus and sjogrens
Just one month after going WFPB my sjogrens and lupus Symptoms were gone and now my blood work is reflecting that as well. So now my husband, daughter and son are following this way of eating !

[dawntana]

Hello everyone!

It's exciting to be invited to this group after meeting Rabbi Shmluy at Limmud 2017 in  Cape Town 2 weeks ago where he gave wonderful talks including one on Ethical Consumerism. At this conference I was promoting Jewish Veg of North America and supporting a local philosophy professor, Elisa Galgut, with her presentation on ‘Veganism: A Jewish Imperative’ which examined whether the consumption of animal products is consistent with our ethical obligation as Jews.

 

1. Your name, your city/town, and any other basic info you feel comfortable sharing like gender, age, occupation.

My name is Dawn Macfarlane (nee Lieberman)

Occupation: I’m trained in Natural Hygiene at the American College of Life Science as a vegan nutritionist focusing on eating for the love of animals.

I live in Cape Town, South Africa

Age: 57

 

2. Where you are Jewishly (Orthodox? Reform? Another background? Feel free to be as specific as you want/need here).

Traditional orthodox with an interfaith marriage.

 

3. Where you are on the vegetarian/vegan spectrum? (vegan, vegetarian, veg-curious, whole-food-plant-based, raw till 4, etc.).

Vegan for close to 30 years

 

4. How do you connect your Judaism to animal rights/welfare issues?

I feel that as a Jew with a history of persecution and enslavement, we should be championing the safety and protection of the most innocent and vulnerable on our planet.

 

5. Anything else you want to add about yourself.

I started the facebook page ‘Jewish Vegans’ in 2014 which I am using as a platform to try and raise awareness of our vital role in standing up for animal rights. My husband Ian and myself also founded the NPO Ubuntu Touch where we take free plant-based PCRM (Physicians Committee of Responsible Medicine) training to vulnerable South African communities.

 

I look forward to sharing and developing the Jewish Vegan community globally together with you all.

 

 

[Firozah Najmi]

Hi everyone! Excited to be a Shamayim fellow this year and to be a part of this community.

Introduction template!

1. I'm a senior at NYU Gallatin School of Individualized Study, concentrating in art theory and museum studies (though I don't have a catchy title for it yet, as many individualized majors do). My end goal is curatorial or museum education work; possibly arts writing as well. I'm also working as a peer writing assistant at NYU.
2. My family's Jewish identity is a bit unorthodox (no pun intended). My dad is a convert to Judaism; and because my mother grew up in the Soviet Union, she wasn't able to discover her Judaism until she came to the States. As a result, we don't really have a place on the Jewish "spectrum"--though our congregation is Reform. We've nearly always kept kosher and Shabbat has been an important cultural institution in bringing the family together, but I suppose we've never categorized ourselves as one type of Jewish or another.
3. I have been vegan for almost 2 years now, for ethical and health reasons. I have been an animal lover all my life, but it took me almost 20 years to face the cognitive dissonance that is being an animal-loving "carnist." My life has changed overwhelmingly for the better since going vegan: no more food-related guilt, and my health has improved as well.
4. To me, the connection is pretty straightforward. My being Jewish means that it's my duty to set a standard for ethical living. Veganism is one of the simplest changes someone can make to live a more ethical life--so my transition to veganism was a no-brainer once I connected the dots.
5. I love cooking and would love to share vegan recipes with others--especially with the holidays coming around. My go-to for feeding large groups of guests is a vegan lasagna made with almond or tofu ricotta (which is easy to make from scratch), faux meat crumbles, and a mix of veggies. Would love to hear about everyone's best dishes!

On Monday, May 22, 2017 at 2:54:17 PM UTC-4, Eliran Sobel wrote:

Hi Everyone!

I was wondering if we should introduce ourselves a little more. I've been seeing these names in the emails, but I don't know who you all are! Also, for those new here, this could be a good place to start posting.

Some basic things to include in your introduction would be-

1. Your name, your city/town, and any other basic info you feel comfortable sharing like gender, age, occupation.

2. Where you are Jewishly (Orthodox? Reform? Another background? Feel free to be as specific as you want/need here).

3. Where you are on the vegetarian/vegan spectrum? (vegan, vegetarian, veg-curious, whole-food-plant-based, raw till 4, etc.).

4. How do you connect your Judaism to animal rights/welfare issues?

5. Anything else you want to add about yourself.

[steinberge]

Hi my name is Emily Steinberg and I live an hour and a half away from Pittsburgh.  I live near a small town called Sewickley, Pennsylvania.  I am 19 years old and a Sophomore at Allegheny College.  I am still undecided about my major,  but I am thinking of majoring in either Theater or International Studies with a double minor in Dance and Chinese Studies.

I grew up as a reform Jewish background with a very small Jewish community.  I was like 1 out of maybe 5 Jewish people at my school.  There aren’t that many jewish people live in the area that I live in.  

I also used to be a student assistant/volunteer at my synagogue, and I would help the younger kids with their hebrew.  

I am on the vegan spectrum of mostly whole-food plant based lifestyle.

I would have to say that I would connect Judaism to animals rights, by the fact that I would have thought that G-d would have wanted the Jewish people to eat more of a vegan/vegetarian lifestyle, and G-d would also not have wanted for the animals to be sacrified for some ritual.

A fun fact about me is that I was adopted from China and I’ve lived out in California for about 2-3 years, and I am also in to Harry Potter and Musical Theater. I am also continuing to learn the Chinese language because I think that it is a fun language even though it can be hard at times.

Dancingly,

Emily 

[Sarah Hoffman]

Hi Everyone, I am excited to begin this school year as one of the new Shamayim college fellows. Here is a little bit about me:

1. My name is Sarah Ruth Hoffman and I am a 4th year doctoral student at UNC Chapel Hill, studying/practicing Epidemiology.

2. I was part of a conservative congregation for a number of years but now I am moving into Reform, as I feel more accepted there.

3. I am vegan (16 years and counting).

4. I've always sort of compartmentalized my Jewishness and my veganism, as the Jewish world that I knew for so long was not vegetarian friendly (let's change that, okay?). Both identities evolved in parallel. I know that they are/were deeply connected for me, but it's not yet clear to me how. I look forward to learning more.

Sarah

[barb...@gmail.com]

Hi,
Last week I was fortunate to have the opportunity to hear Rabbi Shmuly speak at a local temple. I told him of my interest in Shamayim Varetz, and he connected me with this group.

My husband and I live near Long Beach, California. We have three grown sons. We belong to a conservative synagogue.

I was vegetarian for over 40 years, but 4 years ago my eyes were opened to the cruelty of the egg and dairy industry, so I removed them from my plate. My only regret is that I didn't do it sooner.

I am a registered dietitian. I work
In a dialysis unit. I have taught vegan cooking classes at the local JCC, and recently became a certified Food For Life instructor. I'm looking forward to spending more of my time combining my passions of animals welfare and nutrition.

Barbara Ravid


Sent from my iPhone

[mizdaae]

Hello everyone! 

So excited to be a Shamayim college fellow this year. I'm a junior (aspiring) film student at USC (socal, not s. carolina) from Las Vegas, NV. I was raised in a reformed synagogue where I still attend services occasionally when I visit my family. After my Bat Mitzvah, I fell out of touch with my Judaism for a while until college when I began participating in Hillel/Chabad events. This summer I participated in Onward Israel, a post-birthright summer internship program in Israel, and I was amazed by the vegan presence in Tel Aviv; this made me want to learn more about the connection that can be made between Judaism and veganism.

I went vegetarian at 11 for health reasons, but gradually learned about the animal and environmental impact and went vegan around 13/14. Along the way, I converted my parents and brother to vegetarianism, and many close friends to veganism! Vegan cooking is one of my greatest passions, so if anyone needs a recipe (or wants to share) please reach out! I look forward to being a part of this big Jewish vegan community with all of you. :)

Micaela Shulman

[Richard Schwartz]

Hi Micaela,

Great to see your increasing interest in veganism. I cordially and resectfullyinvite yu and others who, like you, ‘want to learn more about the connection between … Judaism and veganism,” to:

freely read the 3rd edition of my book, “Judaism and Vegetarianism” (which really promotes veganism and also some of my over 250 articles at www.JewishVeg.org/schwartz.

and to watch the JVNA-sponsored, acclaimed documentary, “A Sacred Duty: Applying Jewish Values to Help Heal theWorld,” at www.ASacredDuty.com, 

and then to use these resources to help promote veganism.

Shana tova,

Richard

============

Richard H. Schwartz, Ph.D.
Professor Emeritus, College of Staten Island
Author of Judaism and Vegetarianism, Judaism and Global Survival, Mathematics and Global Survival, and Who Stole My Religion? Revitalizing Judaism and Applying Jewish Values to Help Heal Our Imperiled Planet, and over 250 articles at JewishVeg.org/schwartz
President Emeritus, Jewish Veg, for merly Jewish Vegetarians of North America (www.JewishVeg.org); President, Society Of Ethical and Religious Vegetarians (SERV):
Associate producer of A SACRED DUTY (www.aSacredDuty.com);
"Like” Jewish Veg on Facebook at www.facebook.org/JewishVeg

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[Ilana Braverman]

Hi everyone,

Here is Chaim Scheff's (sche...@yahoo.com) introduction to the listserv:

1. Your name, your city/town, and any other basic info you feel comfortable sharing like gender, age, occupation.

 Prof.¹ Chaim Scheff BSc² MSc³ PE⁴ Patent Attorney⁵  --- in Jerusalem :)

¹ Adjunct Professor (retired) – “Patent Management” & “Intellectual Capital”- Hochstein School of Industrial Management

² B.Sc. Science Engineering & Technology (Industrial Engineering, Physics, and Computer Science) – Northwestern University

³ M.Sc. Applied Mathematics & Computer Science – Weizmann Institute of Science

⁴ Professional Engineer (since 1991 - "Interdisciplinary" License No.93704) – by: Israel Bureau of Architects & Engineers 

⁵ Patent Attorney (since 1998 - License No.130) – by: Israel Patent & Trademark Office

2. Where you are Jewishly (Orthodox? Reform? Another background? Feel free to be as specific as you want/need here).

Feel sort of "FlexaDox on the outside -and- CryptoFrum on the inside" - In my youth, I was a part-time student at the Yeshiva in Skokie, and then intermittently (predominantly - virtually simultaneously) with HaRav Zalman Schachter, Rosh Yeshiva Yisroel Zeev Gustman (Netzach Yisroel), Gaon HaDor Chaim Zimmerman, and Dudaim Basadeh of the Mordechai Sharabi Academy (Nahar Shalom). Simply stated, I was an unworthy student of each of them; and an inconsistent chevrusa of HaRav Dr. Tzvi Faier, of Tsadik Mesod Bengio, and of Professor Joseph Levinson. - My most recent Halacha "orientation" can be seen at https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL22812471E71D5449

3. Where you are on the vegetarian/vegan spectrum? (vegan, vegetarian, veg-curious, whole-food-plant-based, raw till 4, etc.).

I am always remembering my Grandfather holding a Torah position that a vegetarian is a most respectful category - being a person who is afraid of sin -and- HaRav Chaim ZImmerman holding that  eventually everyone (in the Torah/Mitzvot "world") will be vegetarian - by reason that people of this generation are no longer on a spiritual level to be able to elevate the sparks of holiness of the animal (based foods). Myself - most often vegetarian - but not particularly out of concern for the animal.

4. How do you connect your Judaism to animal rights/welfare issues?

I do not feel that the Halacha world has really come up to speed regarding factory farming, agra-business, food additives, food processing, or even appreciating spices as a pharmacopeia (not to be overdosed - according to taste - as if an ordinary nutritional ingredient). 

 

5. Anything else you want to add about yourself.

I would vary much like to enter into a professional collaboration with a Halacha-savvy biochemist or chemical engineer. 

[rachelkann]

Hi All, my name is Rachel Kann, and I am new to the list, glad to be here! I live in Los Angeles. I am holding Jewishly somewhere in a Venn Diagram of Renewal/Mystical/Feminist/Earth-based with a deep love of Torah. I am currently vegetarian with a leaning toward vegan. I say currently because this has been a shifting thing for me throughout my life and I am in a place of listening to my body and honoring what it is needing to the best of my ability. 

Thanks to everyone!

Best,

Rachel

[roberta schiff]

Rachel (and to others who have not yet gone all the way to vegan)

Yes, there are many reasons to become and stay vegan for our health. For me, it was no more arthritis, dark circles under my eyes or sinus headaches - they went away in 1993 and have not returned. Not surprising as milk meant to grow a calf from 30 to a thousand pounds is not suitable for humans.

 But the reason to stay vegan is to stop supporting the cruel exploitation of cows' reproductive systems for our own use. When cows are artificially inseminated on the 'rape rack' (the industry term for it), then they are pregnant and lactating at the same time and then the newborn calf is forcibly taken away from his or her mother and the mother's milk use just for humans and she is manipulated to give 10 times as much as normal. This wears her out so at four years (normal lifespan of twenty) she is sent to slaughter - her flesh is not pretty but is fine for use in schools, prisons and hospitals.

Judaism teaches us 'tsar bael chayim'   to avoid unnecessary suffering to animals.

Yet most Jews with their obsession with cream cheese regularly violate this and many get angry and defensive if you try to discuss this, even in a gentle manner.

hint: take vegan cream cheeze, add minced red onion, celery, and carrot, mix well - now it tastes really good. Bring some to your synagogue.

Take a look at Jewishveg.org   support them

Roberta Schiff, Hudson Valley Vegans

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[Rachel Kann]

Hi Roberta,

I totally agree.

My personal journey involves the fact that I also struggled with eating disorders in my youth and am now a fitness instructor teaching 2 hrs/day.

I have to show kindness and empathy to animals and also to myself.

Thank you for sharing your journey.

Best,

Rachel
http://rachelkann.com

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[Shira Kaufman]

Welcome, Rachel!

I too believe in listening to our bodies and always making sure we are getting the necessary nutrients - kudos to you for your awesome efforts and journey!

I wanted to share some vegan doctors and nutrition bloggers I like who collect the scientific research on vegan diets, and really drill down on what supplements vegans should take.*

The first is Dr. Michael Gregor at NutritionFacts.org. Because of him I now take 3/day of the Nordic Naturals Algae Omega (to get enough long-chain Omega 3s).

The other is "Mic the Vegan" on YouTube - a nutrition and science vlogger. He's one of the people who convinced me to strive for veganism, and because of him I supplement my B12 (which actually doctors recommend all Americans do anyways).

I also supplement Vitamin D, which all people north of certain latitudes should do. Lastly, I try to avoid concentrated sugars (of all kinds including agave, etc) and stick to whole grain flours, which helps control all cravings and for overall health.

There should be no reason a human would need animal products to get perfect nutrition and optimal health. So keep doing what's right for you, but just flagging that there may be a real nutritional deficiency that, if addressed, could help you on your journey.

*(Note the need for supplements does not suggest that veganism is somehow unnatural or not how we evolved to eat. Many of these supplements would not been needed by our ancestors, but are today because of so many lifestyle changes in the modern era - for example running water means we no longer consume trace amounts of soil, and therefore no longer get B12 (made in soil) - in fact most factories supplement the B12 in the animals too. And fish don't make Omega 3, they get it from eating sea plants, which we likely did as well, etc.)

Would love to know what supplements or vegan websites others have found useful!!

Shira

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[Suzie Muchnick]

And capers

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[Shira Kaufman]

And can I pose another question to the group, on a similar issue? I'm interested in improving and have to be honest about my problems in order to improve.

I've been striving for vegan since September, and I realize it's a journey and process. I don't struggle when cooking or shopping for myself/my home. But I have been struggling when eating at other's homes, and sometimes when hosting - both of which are a huge part of my life! I would welcome any advice that has worked for others!!

I try to eat before going to other's homes, and I offer to bring something - but sometimes  I just get starving as the meal goes on, or other times I don't want to offend the host. How do others navigate that, especially with the Jewish values of shalom bayit and respecting elders, like when it's my in-laws or parents' friends, etc.? Do you tell them in advance and offer to bring your own food? Do you just say nothing and push the food around on  your plate then secretly scarf almonds in the bathroom so you don't starve? And how strict are you - like do you not take a bite of challah if there's  eggs inside? What's best for navigating this, while making veganism seem awesome to those you're with? I don't want to play into the "vegans are just so extreme" meme out there, which I think is actually so harmful because it prevents a lot more people from adopting it than otherwise might.

The other challenge I have is when cooking for others. For example this weekend we're hosting 11 people for a 3-day cabin getaway, and I bought 95% vegan foods, but caved and bought a little real cheese, some eggs, and some wild fish. I don't want to force veganism on my friends for 3 days, plus there's pregnant women coming and I don't want them to feel anxious about food (vegan is of course way healthier for pregnancy, but Americans are told the opposite).  I want my guests to be happy and well-fed. 

(I've thought about asking others to bring non-vegan items, but then what's the point, because my goal is to reduce animal product consumption overall, regardless of who buys it. And if I buy, at least I know I'll buy the more "humane" versions, and I'll buy just a little and not too much.)

I'd really like to improve on this. Over time it will be easier as I gain more confidence. But I'd like to move a little faster, and would welcome any advice for how others handle these situations, especially in the Jewish world, where sharing meals is so important. You can reply all or message me privately.

Thank you and happy new year everyone!

Shira

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[Matthew Readdick]

I have nothing particularly profound to say, just my own two cents.

In my experience, being firm about your vegan lifestyle while being polite and respectful to others is a great combination.

When I respect other people’s choices, while maintaining a strict way of eating, others tend to be more open minded and ask me questions.

My ultimate goal is to convince others that veganismo is a normal and compassionate choice - in order for me to gain people’s trust I need to treat them normally and compassionately.

Being wish-washy makes people dismiss your choices further. I’d rather suffer through jokes than confuse people and participate in something that I think is wrong, but the social pressure to eat animals is so strong and many new vegans feel overwhelmed when under that pressure.

I wish you good luck with figuring out how to  figure out the always tricky situation of eating with non-vegans. Perhaps only allow vegan food in your home for starters? Make it a rule that you tell people who invite you over that you are vegan, and you’ll get used to it in no time. :)

Shabbat shalom everyone, and happy new year.

Mat

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[Eliran Sobel]

Hi everyone,

I'm not a moderator of this group, but I'd rather see this thread dedicated only to introductions. If someone who is a moderator could, could you move the posts to their own thread? This is a fascinating discussion and I hope to (but can't guarantee that I will) reply to it after Shabbat, but I feel like these last few posts have gone outside the type of posts for this thread. Of course feel free to start your own threads on this so people will know where to see it.

Shabbat Shalom LeKulchem,

Eliran

Eliran Sobel

(201) 755-2386

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[Shira Kaufman]

Totally understandable - can we get some guidance on what this thread should be about? I thought it was just Jewish vegans supporting other Jewish vegans

Thanks!

Eliran Sobel

(201) 755-2386

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[Ilana Braverman]

Hi all,

The listserv is definitely a place where Jewish vegans can support other Jewish vegans! Eliran is just saying that this specific thread is supposed to be only for introductions, so that if someone new joins they can look back and easily see all of the other intros together in one space.

If I want to start my own thread (new message topic), I would send a message to the listserv with a new subject line instead of responding to someone's intro email. This 'Introductions' thread is only for introductions. If you are confused on how to start a new thread, please email me in a separate message @ il...@shamayimvaretz.org

The introductions thread is for new members to answer the following so we can get to know everyone!

Link to the thread to write your post or read others' posts: https://groups.google.com/forum/#!topic/shamayimvaretz/Og5nSN5SHUM

Click 'Post Reply' and then you can answers to the following questions:

1. Your name, your city/town, and any other basic info you feel comfortable sharing like gender, age, occupation.
2. Where you are Jewishly (Orthodox? Reform? Another background? Feel free to be as specific as you want/need here).
3. Where you are on the vegetarian/vegan spectrum? (vegan, vegetarian, veg-curious, whole-food-plant-based, raw till 4, etc.).
4. How do you connect your Judaism to animal rights/welfare issues?
5. Anything else you want to add about yourself.

Thanks & Shabbat Shalom,

Ilana

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[rachel kann]

Hi Shira,

Thanks for sharing your thoughts.

Happy New Year!

Best,

Rachel

rachelkann.com

[Bob C]

Hello

I have been a Vegan for 40 years and take NO SUPPLEMENTS.  My organic, unsweetened soy milk does have B12.

But, I also eat fresh organic veggies from a garden and I DO NOT WASH them.  I drink a LOT of coffee with 50% soy milk.

I eat no solid foods until after I exercise except fruits.

I run in the sun with my shirt off.  I get all the D we need naturally.

I'm 63 and feel like a teenager.  I run 5 miles most days and work out with weights 2 or 3 times a week.

That said, about B12, it is hard to absorb it, and my father, who was not a Vegan, he ate fish he caught

and other animal products needed B12 shots as a senior.

Bob

Best,

Rachel

rachelkann.com

Shira

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[kjsalkin]

Shavua Tov!

1. Your name, your city/town, and any other basic info you feel comfortable sharing like gender, age, occupation. 

I'm Kerry, 30. I live in Fair Lawn, NJ, with my husband. I'm an attorney.

2. Where you are Jewishly (Orthodox? Reform? Another background? Feel free to be as specific as you want/need here).

I probably would identify as Conservative, but with Reconstructionist leanings. When my husband and I eventually settle on a shul, it will be Conservative. I did a stint in the Orthodox world while I lived in Jerusalem years ago. I was raised culturally Jewish. 

3. Where you are on the vegetarian/vegan spectrum? (vegan, vegetarian, veg-curious, whole-food-plant-based, raw till 4, etc.). 

I'm a vegetarian,  and I buy vegan clothes, shoes, and other products when possible

4. How do you connect your Judaism to animal rights/welfare issues? 

I feel that my Judaism is closely tied to my passion for animal rights and welfare. As many others stated, Judaism's command to live compassionately is one of the many reasons I feel a vegetarian/vegan lifestyle is ideal.

5. Anything else you want to add about yourself.

I have two dogs, Schmutz and Sasha. I love to cook in my spare time. 

I look forward to getting to know everyone! 

Kerry

[Valerie Knowles]

I tried to post a question and got the bla bla bla that I don't have permission to post.

There have been request to post our “stories” which I have not done yet.

I have been in this group since August 2017 when I signed  up at the HAZON Food Conference.

Why can’t I post a question?

I have these following e-mail addresses.

Please add them.

selah...@mac.com

selah...@me.com

cleanfoo...@mac.com

cleanfoo...@me.com

Shalom,

Valerie 

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[Dawn Macfarlane]

Sorry think I posted this in the wrong place-first time in a google group!

On Thu, Aug 24, 2017 at 9:47 PM, dawntana <dawn...@gmail.com> wrote:

Hello everyone!

It's exciting to be invited to this group after meeting Rabbi Shmluy at Limmud 2017 in  Cape Town 2 weeks ago where he gave wonderful talks including one on Ethical Consumerism. At this conference I was promoting Jewish Veg of North America and supporting a local philosophy professor, Elisa Galgut, with her presentation on ‘Veganism: A Jewish Imperative’ which examined whether the consumption of animal products is consistent with our ethical obligation as Jews.

 

1. Your name, your city/town, and any other basic info you feel comfortable sharing like gender, age, occupation.

My name is Dawn Macfarlane (nee Lieberman)

Occupation: I’m trained in Natural Hygiene at the American College of Life Science as a vegan nutritionist focusing on eating for the love of animals.

I live in Cape Town, South Africa

Age: 57

 

2. Where you are Jewishly (Orthodox? Reform? Another background? Feel free to be as specific as you want/need here).

Traditional orthodox with an interfaith marriage.

 

3. Where you are on the vegetarian/vegan spectrum? (vegan, vegetarian, veg-curious, whole-food-plant-based, raw till 4, etc.).

Vegan for close to 30 years

 

4. How do you connect your Judaism to animal rights/welfare issues?

I feel that as a Jew with a history of persecution and enslavement, we should be championing the safety and protection of the most innocent and vulnerable on our planet.

 

5. Anything else you want to add about yourself.

I started the facebook page ‘Jewish Vegans’ in 2014 which I am using as a platform to try and raise awareness of our vital role in standing up for animal rights. My husband Ian and myself also founded the NPO Ubuntu Touch where we take free plant-based PCRM (Physicians Committee of Responsible Medicine) training to vulnerable South African communities.

 

I look forward to sharing and developing the Jewish Vegan community globally together with you all!

 

 

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[bethkramermazer]

Hi everyone!  So glad to have learned of this group!  I will be happy to answer the guiding questions posted here, and hope to learn a lot about each of you, too!

My name is Beth Kramer-Mazer.  I live in Rockland County, NY (New City) and work in Bergen County, NJ as a Rabbi-Educator in a Reform synagogue.  I'm 46 years old, married to Ross and have two teen aged daughters, Shoshana and Jordana.  Shoshana is a freshman at the University of Rochester and Jordana is a junior in HS, so we are now in the process of figuring out college options for her.  We are busy!

Jewishly - I grew up in Sudbury, MA in a vibrant Reform community led by Rabbi Larry Kushner.  Although "technically" Reform, in retrospect, our version of Reform was extremely unconventional - it was really a wild mash-up of many denominations, with streaks of Chassidism and Renewal throughout our practices.  My life has been filled with Jewish experiences that have spanned the Jewish spectrum, including non-denominational Jewish summer camp, a M.A. degree from JTS, rabbinical school at Academy for Jewish Religion (pluralistic), and involvement with other pluralistic organizations such as Rabbis Without Borders, Hartman Institute and Davvenen Leadership Training Institute.  I consider myself a pluralistic Jew and rabbi, although as a rabbi and educator I have mainly served in the Reform community.   While I surely appreciate the value of denominations to an extent, part of me would rather just get rid of the labels and borders and see more integration among the Jewish communities.

I grew up on the Standard American Diet (very SAD indeed), with all of the traditional Jewish holiday foods in constant rotation.  Eventually, I found y way to vegetarianism and then veganism.  I lament that I was late to the party - oh, how I wish I had discovered the world of veganism sooner!  But, I am here now.  I first came to WFPB way of eating through an interest in the health benefits.  Then, only within the last year, I began to connect deeply with the animal-welfare issues in our food supply system.  I learned and learned and learned...and my heart broke many times over about what we as a society are doing to these precious living creatures.  I have become a voracious reader and student of all things veganism with special interest in the arena of animal-rights.  I will be participating in the Main Street Vegan Academy in NYC this June, mainly so I can learn more about many aspects of veganism and the impact that each person can have through personal lifestyle choices.  

For me, avoiding animal consumption is deeply connected to my Judaism.  Jewish ethics and teachings explicitly point us toward compassion, respect for other living beings, not to mention concern for our natural environment AND our physical health.  Now that I am a vegan rabbi (I'm still practicing saying that!), I realize more and more how deeply intertwined are my inner Jewish life and my outward, daily choices.  Veganims has become part of my inner spiritual practice as a Jew - and part of my daily "practical-practice," too.   Becoming vegan and sharing my passion for concern for non-human animals has enriched my life as a Jew and as a rabbi.

As is true for all of us, I am sure, my Jewish path has been filled with various twists and turns, highs and lows, and many surprises along the way.  The most recent chapter of my Jewish journey has included the joys and pains of veganism - the joy of knowing that I can change my ways, and can make Jewishly-informed, compassionate choices every day, and the pains of realizing how millions of animals are tortured and killed for our hedonism...and how I was complicit to this suffering for more than 40 years.

I hope this is a helpful introduction.  I hope to connect with many of you and to learn more about this amazing organization.  Kol hakavod to each of you for doing this sacred work!

With blessings,

Beth

Rabbi Beth Kramer-Mazer

On Monday, May 22, 2017 at 2:54:17 PM UTC-4, Eliran Sobel wrote:

Hi Everyone!

I was wondering if we should introduce ourselves a little more. I've been seeing these names in the emails, but I don't know who you all are! Also, for those new here, this could be a good place to start posting.

Some basic things to include in your introduction would be-

1. Your name, your city/town, and any other basic info you feel comfortable sharing like gender, age, occupation.

2. Where you are Jewishly (Orthodox? Reform? Another background? Feel free to be as specific as you want/need here).

3. Where you are on the vegetarian/vegan spectrum? (vegan, vegetarian, veg-curious, whole-food-plant-based, raw till 4, etc.).

4. How do you connect your Judaism to animal rights/welfare issues?

5. Anything else you want to add about yourself.

[plantbasedlianna]

Hello! Happy to join this list and hope to meet many of you soon. By way of introduction...

1. Your name, your city/town, and any other basic info you feel comfortable sharing like gender, age, occupation.

Lianna Levine Reisner, in the Upper West Side of Manhattan, pronouns are she/her/hers, age 33. I have many hats including as a mom of three, and as a freelance consultant on matters related to organizational development and change, currently working mostly with NYC metro area synagogues through a partnership with UJA-Federation of New York. I also serve on the board of my synagogue, Congregation Shaare Zedek, in Manhattan, on the middle school design team of Beit Rabban Day School, and on other boards and teams.

Just a few months ago, I took up the leadership of the Manhattan Plant-Based Wellness Network, which is an independent member organization of PlantPure Communities, building the grassroots movement to raise awareness of the health-benefits of a whole-food, vegan diet.

2. Where you are Jewishly (Orthodox? Reform? Another background? Feel free to be as specific as you want/need here).

Observant and egalitarian, probably fitting best with the Conservadox label.

3. Where you are on the vegetarian/vegan spectrum? (vegan, vegetarian, veg-curious, whole-food-plant-based, raw till 4, etc.).

Whole-food, plant-based

4. How do you connect your Judaism to animal rights/welfare issues?

Most simply, Judaism gives us the language and practice of compassion, and I see it as our obligation to progress as a society and as a Jewish community toward greater wellness and welfare for all, whether human or animal. I am still growing in my awareness and "philosophy" toward animal welfare, as I came to veganism through the health door only 7 months ago!

5. Anything else you want to add about yourself.

I would love to meet anyone local and welcome those of you who have an interest in promoting the health benefits of veganism to join the network I lead.

Very much looking forward to the support and insights of this community,
Lianna

Lianna Levine Reisner

Group Leader, Manhattan Plant-Based Wellness Network

c: 804-380-5963

Join the Manhattan Pod on Facebook!

[alexandracorwin22]

1. Your name, your city/town, and any other basic info you feel comfortable sharing like gender, age, occupation.

Alexandra Corwin, Chicago IL. 25 years old, female. Jewish Educator.

2. Where you are Jewishly (Orthodox? Reform? Another background? Feel free to be as specific as you want/need here).

Reform 

3. Where you are on the vegetarian/vegan spectrum? (vegan, vegetarian, veg-curious, whole-food-plant-based, raw till 4, etc.).

Vegan for one year

4. How do you connect your Judaism to animal rights/welfare issues?

[Jamie Oskin, ND]

1. Your name, your city/town, and any other basic info you feel comfortable sharing like gender, age, occupation.

Namie: Jamie Oskin

Location: Scottsdale, Arizona

Gender; Male, married. 

Age: 36 

Occupation: Naturopathic Doctor 

2. Where you are Jewishly (Orthodox? Reform? Another background? Feel free to be as specific as you want/need here).

I grew up conservative, but am currently leaning more towards reform. 

3. Where you are on the vegetarian/vegan spectrum? (vegan, vegetarian, veg-curious, whole-food-plant-based, raw till 4, etc.).

Eat a 90%+ whole-food, plant-based diet for the past 10 years. I came to eat this way as part of my story of recovery from pre-diabetes and became a doctor to help other people transform their lives and their health. On my website in my bio I share a more detailed story for how I came to become passionate about nutrition and health: https://aznaturalhealth.com/dr-jamie-oskin/ 

4. How do you connect your Judaism to animal rights/welfare issues?

I support animal rights and the environmental benefits of a plant-based lifestyle. Though I’m not actively involved in advocacy for these issues, when people discuss politics I often tease that I’m in the “Vegetarian Party,” whose platform can save the lives of hundreds of thousands of people from lifestyle related deaths, fix the US health care crisis and economy at the same time, decrease violent crime in the inner city (see Dr. Fuhrman’s book “Fast Food Genocide”), end world hunger, conserve our fresh water supply, conserve the fish supply in the oceans, and stop global climate change. 

[Steven Exler]

Shalom all,

1. Your name, your city/town, and any other basic info you feel comfortable sharing like gender, age, occupation. 

Steven Exler - Riverdale/Bronx, NY.  I'm a 37 year old male rabbi.

2. Where you are Jewishly (Orthodox? Reform? Another background? Feel free to be as specific as you want/need here).

Open/Modern Orthodox.

3. Where you are on the vegetarian/vegan spectrum? (vegan, vegetarian, veg-curious, whole-food-plant-based, raw till 4, etc.).

Recently shifted from vegetarian to some form of vegan (I eat honey, but not dairy or eggs).  Still exploring and figuring it out.

4. How do you connect your Judaism to animal rights/welfare issues?

All part of the values hopper of care for animal life and the earth - and human health!

5. Anything else you want to add about yourself.

Grateful for this list and community!

Rabbi Steven Exler
Hebrew Institute of Riverdale - The Bayit
718-796-4730 ext. 108 | www.thebayit.org

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[calev.sanders]

1. Hi, I'm Calev Sanders, from Queens NY. I'm 19 and working towards a bachelors in Graphic Design at CUNY Queens College

2.I'm Orthodox(Some friends say I'm modern, some say I'm frum), born and raised. I've attended yeshiva elementary and high school and studied in yeshiva in Israel last year for my post high school gap year. I wear tzitzit, I daven, I'm shomer shabbat, all that good stuff.

3.I've been vegan, and a big fan of RawTil4, for almost three years now, thank G-d(I was pescatarian/vegetarian for a year beforehand.)

4.Part of the Torah values that I was raised with have taught me that it's important to take care of my mind and body, be thankful for and responsible with all of the blessings G-d gives me, and to have respect for all of G-d's creations. When I learned the truth about the devastating effects the consumption of animal products has on our health, and the environment, and when I finally made the connection between whats sold at the supermarket and the precious, loving, emotional, innocent, beautiful, finned, feathered, and four legged friends we share this earth with, I could no longer continue my previous lifestyle. The laws of kashrut teach us that we have to respect the lives of the animals G-d created and to spare them any and all unnecessary pain and discomfort. The way I see it, in this modern world we live in, full of abundance and blessing from G-d, it's never necessary to eat at the expense of the wellbeing of any living creature, let alone the environment and own health. 

5. I'm planning, with the Hashem's help, to make Aliyah as soon as I graduate in 2021, bli ayin hara. One of the countless things I absolutely love about Israel is it's large and dedicated vegan/vegetarian/animal-rights based population and I cannot wait to be apart of it! Am Yisroel Chai!! 

[David Paskin]

1. Your name, your city/town, and any other basic info you feel comfortable sharing like gender, age, occupation.

Hi all, my name is David Paskin and I live in Boca Raton while primarily serving the Broward county Jewish community as a rabbi.

2. Where you are Jewishly (Orthodox? Reform? Another background? Feel free to be as specific as you want/need here).

I'm an Underconstructionist Jew because I'm always under-construction, learning, growing and becoming.

3. Where you are on the vegetarian/vegan spectrum? (vegan, vegetarian, veg-curious, whole-food-plant-based, raw till 4, etc.).

I've been a vegetarian for about 30 years and would love to go fully vegan. I'm trying!

4. How do you connect your Judaism to animal rights/welfare issues?

Animal rights are central to my Judaism and vegetarianism. I believe that both in Gan Eden we were and when Mashiach arrives that we will be vegetarians and my personal practice brings me one step closer to bringing about Mashiach (I hope.)

5. Anything else you want to add about yourself.

I'm also the Rock n'Roll Rabbi (www.rocknrollrabbi.com) and have six albums of original contemporary Jewish music.

[marksali22]

1. Your name, your city/town, and any other basic info you feel comfortable sharing like gender, age, occupation. 

•             Ali Marks, Phoenix - 28 years old. High School English teacher. Yoga instructor. In the midst of a Health Coaching certification.
  

2. Where you are Jewishly (Orthodox? Reform? Another background? Feel free to be as specific as you want/need here).

•  Raised Jewish, currently culturally Jewish but not actively practicing. 
  

3. Where you are on the vegetarian/vegan spectrum? (vegan, vegetarian, veg-curious, whole-food-plant-based, raw till 4, etc.).

• Vegan, high raw, high fat - learning to intuitively eat.  
  

4. How do you connect your Judaism to animal rights/welfare issues?

• I am highly connected to veganism, am interested in learning more about Judiasm AND veganism.  
  

5. Anything else you want to add about yourself.

• I have a mini labradoodle, and a rescue Schnauzer Shih Tzu mix :) 

[bburr.od]

1. Your name, your city/town, and any other basic info you feel comfortable sharing like gender, age, occupation.

Brandon Burr; Phoenix, Arizona; 31 years old; optometrist (I enjoy educating my patients on the ocular health benefits of a plant-based diet)

2. Where you are Jewishly (Orthodox? Reform? Another background? Feel free to be as specific as you want/need here).

Raised Jewish Reform; proud of my Jewish heritage

3. Where you are on the vegetarian/vegan spectrum? (vegan, vegetarian, veg-curious, whole-food-plant-based, raw till 4, etc.).

Strict vegan (mostly whole-food-plant-based and sattvic)

4. How do you connect your Judaism to animal rights/welfare issues?

I belive one of the foundations of all religions is practicing kindness and compassion for all living beings. We have a Holocaust taking place on this planet, and currently it is animals on factory farms that are the victims, just like our people were victims during WWII. It is our duty to speak up for these victims and align our actions with the intent to end this Holocaust by living a vegan lifestyle.

5. Anything else you want to add about yourself.

I am an HSUS Arizona State Council member. My other interests include yoga, meditation, mindfulness, personal growth, reading, tennis, hiking, and traveling.

On Monday, May 22, 2017 at 11:54:17 AM UTC-7, Eliran Sobel wrote:

Hi Everyone!

I was wondering if we should introduce ourselves a little more. I've been seeing these names in the emails, but I don't know who you all are! Also, for those new here, this could be a good place to start posting.

Some basic things to include in your introduction would be-

1. Your name, your city/town, and any other basic info you feel comfortable sharing like gender, age, occupation.

2. Where you are Jewishly (Orthodox? Reform? Another background? Feel free to be as specific as you want/need here).

3. Where you are on the vegetarian/vegan spectrum? (vegan, vegetarian, veg-curious, whole-food-plant-based, raw till 4, etc.).

4. How do you connect your Judaism to animal rights/welfare issues?

5. Anything else you want to add about yourself.

[Matthew C Cohn]

Hi beautiful, plant-based people,

Here's me:

1. Your name, your city/town, and any other basic info you feel comfortable sharing like gender, age, occupation. 

Matt Cohn, Metro Detroit, 39, corporate and commercial lawyer for an auto supplier called Aptiv. 

2. Where you are Jewishly (Orthodox? Reform? Another background? Feel free to be as specific as you want/need here).

I was raised Conservative and after bouncing around denominations for years I have returned to Conservative. I love the ritual, spirituality, and communality of Judaism, and I particularly like how Conservative Judaism squares this with a modern Earthbound existence while also giving me room to question the nature and existence of Hashem. Most important to me, I love the Jewish people and I am endlessly proud of our survival and our achievements through so many centuries of wanton persecution.

3. Where you are on the vegetarian/vegan spectrum? 

I'm plant-based although I don't necessarily read every label or question every baked good.

4. How do you connect your Judaism to animal rights/welfare issues?

I'm still learning on this topic but I have found the scholarly positions regarding being plant-based in Gan Eden and questioning the halachic legitimacy of most kashrut designations based on the underlying suffering to be most compelling.

5. Anything else you want to add about yourself.

I have a 6-week-old daughter (first child) and would like to raise her as a vegan, at least until she is old enough to make an informed decision for herself (13?).

All the best,

Matt

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[lilyb18]

Hi everyone!

1. I'm lily, and I just moved to Minneapolis
2. I was raised in the Conservative movement and that's where I feel most comfortable, but I'm also very familiar with Modern Orthodoxy since I went to a MO high school
3. I've been vegan for 5 years
4. Judaism's treatment of bal tashchit and tza'ar ba'alei chayim mean we should avoid all unnecessary destruction and animal suffering, which for those of us living in a modern society with access to full grocery stores means being vegan

5. Anything else you want to add about yourself--- I believe animals with no CNS (such as oysters) are ethical to eat, but alas they are not kosher!

[abrserg]

Hello.
My Name is Roza (Rozaliya Abramova full name). I currently live in Brooklyn, NY but am originally from Russia, immigrated 23 years ago. I'm 42 years old and work as a sheep-language pathologist. I'm not sure where we are Jewishly but according to my husband Mizrahi. I became vegan August 2017 for ethical reasons regardless of the fact that my rabbi and all my Jewish friends were telling me that it's not right according to Torah but I felt too strongly about it. It's been a difficult journey because of the family and friends but I'm learning more and more about health benefits as well and just yesterday found your institute and Jewish veg.org and couldn't be more happier. My rabbi and his wife still feel it's all not right by Torah but I'm content with the fact that I found people following my faith with the same values. My inspiration was my dog and for the past almost a year and a half I feel so much more connection to him and all the animals that it's amazing. My family is not supportive but my husband eats vegan/plant based everyday except for Shabbat. But I'm sure the more of us out there the stronger the message will be delivered and louder it will be heard.

[felixgrudsky]

Shalom everyone,

I'm Felix Grudsky, 36 years old, and I live in Chicago, IL. I'm an Internal Medicine physician.  

I was born in Samarkand, Uzbekistan (part of the former Soviet Union) and my family moved to the US when I was 12 years old.  My family was a somewhat typical Russian Jewish family (i.e. fairly secular with some occasional observances, such as eating matzah on Passover and fasting on Yom Kippur). After moving to the US, my family embraced a more observant Jewish lifestyle. I graduated from a Modern Orthodox high school and I would currently describe myself as "traditional." I keep kosher at home and, while I technically do not keep Shabbat, I also do not work on Shabbat and take off work on all Jewish holidays.

I became a vegetarian about 8 years ago. At that time my ex-wife and I adopted two kittens and we both decided that it was not right for us to care for animals while eating other animals. About two years later (in 2012), after watching various documentaries (such as "Food, Inc" and "Vegucated") about the cruelty animals are subjected to in the modern food industry, we decided to become completely vegan. Since then I have also embraced the health and environmental benefits of vegan diet and would currently describe my diet as vegan/whole-food-plant-based.

I believe that Judaism is a religion of kindness and compassion and that all of us can truly be a "light onto the nations" if we all adopt a compassionate lifestyle that eliminates any types of animal products from our plates and our lives. 

It is my hope to meet more similar-minded Jewish vegans and vegetarians around the US and around the world. I also hope to be able to make it to the 2019 Shamayim V'Aretz annual retreat and meet some of you there.

Looking forward to being a part of this online community!

Felix

[kohoutovakam]

Hi!

I am new here though I've been following this institure for quite some time now.

1.My name is Kamila Kohoutová I am from Czech Republic, currently based in Prague. I work as a journalist for Charles University magazine (https://issuu.com/ukforum/stacks/5e409100366645249ae3f448f67d1c11) and am currently finishing my PhD in Jewish Studies and getting my first book to be published. My topic is Maharal and the Zohar.

2. I am reform. Form October I am moving to Berlin where I will begin my rabbinical training at Abraham Geiger College.

3. I am vegetarian for 10 years, mostly vegan. Not very fond of eating eggs and milk products but from time to time I eat them.

4. I would love to joinsome sort of organised community to share thoughts on judaism and animal welfare. I slowly started promoting judaism and its connection to vegetarianism and veganism in Czech Rep. I am taking part on discussions and plan to write more articles and commentaries. I am still on the beginning of this journey and would therefore totally appreciate any kind of help/ideas or overall support.

Feel free to contact me here or on my social.

Best,

Kamila

Dne pondělí 22. května 2017 20:54:17 UTC+2 Eliran Sobel napsal(a):