My letter in he latest Jerusalem Report
Richard Schwartz
Bravo, Rabbi Rosen
Kol hakavod to Rabbi David Rosen for his splendid article, “compassion fr animals in Judaism” (October 25). In view of the many powerful Jewish teachings on compassion to animals he discusses and the many ways the current treatment of animals on factory farms violate these teachings, I find it hard to understand how Jews can continue to eat meat and other animal products.
Considering that, contrary to basic Jewish teachings, animal-based diets also contribute significantly to many life threatening diseases, to climate change and other environmental threats, and to the wasteful use of water, energy, land, and other resources, the case for eliminating meat and other animals products becomes even stronger.
Another important consideration is the untrustworthiness of the Israeli kashrut inspection system. Rabbi David Stav, chairman of Tzohar, an Israeli organization of many Israeli Orthodox rabbis working to bridge the gaps between Israel’s religious and secular populations, has written. “that the [kashrut inspection] system is broken, everybody knows. That it is corrupt. everyone knows.”
So, to be more consistent with basic Jewish values and kashrut requirements and to improve your health and that of our precious, but imperiled, planet, please consider shifting toward a vegan diet.
Richard H. Schwartz, PhD
Prof. Emeritus, College 0f Staten Island
Protea. Hills, Shoresh
Author of Vegan Revolution: Saving Our World, Revitalising Judaism; 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 (www.JewishVeg.org); President, Society Of Ethical and Religious Vegetarians (SERV):
Associate producer of A SACRED DUTY (www.aSacredDuty.com);
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