Judaism Vegetarianism_and_religion

rabbinical judaism discourages ascetic practices in general, , encourages 1 enjoy bounty of world in proper fashion . several passages in hebrew scriptures permit eating animal flesh, such supposedly genesis 9:3, states every moving thing liveth shall food you. verse extends such permission children of noah, i.e., humanity. 1 of sages of talmud asserted, man have account saw did not eat. (this refers permissible or kosher foods only, not forbidden animal species such pork.) on other hand, talmud discourages indulgence , states preferable 1 s diet consist of non-meat products. jewish vegetarians wishing remain consistent teaching, vegetarianism not form of self-deprivation, because vegetarian not desire eat meat , believes healthier not eat meat , aware of other negative effects of meat production , consumption.

genesis 1:29 states , god said: behold, have given every herb yielding seed upon face of earth, , every tree has seed-yielding fruit—to shall food. according classical jewish bible commentators means god s original plan mankind vegetarian (actually vegan), , god later gave permission man eat meat because of man s weak nature.· ideal images of torah vegetarian, natural see laws of kashrut designed wean jews away meat eating , move them toward vegetarian ideal. rituals of kashrut remind of magnitude of each time kill living being. other commentators argue people may eat animals because god gave adam , eve dominion on them. actually, jews have choice in kosher diets, , richard schwartz argues choice should consider production , consumption of meat , other animal products violate basic jewish teachings on protecting human health, treating animals compassion, protecting environment, conserving natural resources, helping hungry people, , pursuing peace.

generally speaking, judaism has not promoted vegetarianism. however, prominent rabbis have promoted vegetarian lifestyle, among them david cohen (known ha-nazir ), , chief rabbi of israel shlomo goren. rabbi yitzhak halevi herzog said:

whole galaxy of central rabbinic , spiritual leaders... has been affirming vegetarianism ultimate meaning of jewish moral teaching... jews move increasingly vegetarianism out of own deepening knowledge of tradition commands...


man ideally should not eat meat, eat meat life must taken, animal must put death.

rabbi milgrom regards commandment against blood law permits man indulge in lust meat , not brutalized in process.

some orthodox authorities have argued forbidden individual become vegetarian if because believe in animal rights; however, have ruled vegetarianism allowed pragmatic reasons (if kosher meat expensive or hard come in area), health concerns, or reasons of personal taste (if finds meat unpalatable). believe halakha encourages eating of meat @ sabbath , festival meals; orthodox jews otherwise vegetarian nevertheless consume meat @ these meals.

there several arguments judaism used jewish vegetarians. jewish vegetarian there 3 main components prove vegetarianism ethical mitzvah: tza ar ba alei hayyim, pikuach nefesh , bal tashkhit. tza ar ba alei hayyim injunction not cause ‘pain living creatures’. pikuach nefesh not regard human life in immediate danger. bal tashchit law prohibits waste. argument that, since adam , eve not allowed eat meat , that, according opinions, in messianic era, whole world vegetarian, not eating meat brings world closer ideal. in booklet summarizing many of rav kook’s teachings, joseph green, 20th-century south african jewish vegetarian writer, concludes jewish religious ethical vegetarians pioneers of messianic era; leading lives make coming of messiah more likely. jewish tradition asserts 1 way speed coming of messiah start practicing ways prevail in messianic time. second 1 laws of shechita meant prevent suffering of animals , today, factory farming , high-speed, mechanized slaughterhouses, kosher slaughterhouses considered authorities not fulfill enough of requirements render meat kosher. also, if slaughtering process carried out perfectly, minimum of pain animal, many months of cruel treatment of animals on factory farms should considered. third 1 sages mandated eating olive s bulk of meat during festivals, then, because in talmudic times, meat considered essential 1 s diet.

sacrifices used excuse eat meat, , later denounced biblical prophets if carried out in society did not practice compassion , justice.

hosea 8:13


they offer sacrifices me because eat meat, hashem not accept sacrifices, mindful of sin , remembers wickedness






hosea 6:6


for desired mercy, , not sacrifice; , knowledge of god more burnt offerings.






jeremiah 7:22-23


22 when brought forefathers out of egypt , spoke them, did not give them commands burnt offerings , sacrifices, 23 gave them command: obey me, , god , people. walk in ways command you, may go you.






isaiah 66:3


but whoever sacrifices bull 1 kills man, , whoever offers lamb, 1 breaks dog s neck , whoever makes grain offering 1 presents pig s blood, , whoever burns memorial incense, 1 worships idol. have chosen own ways, , souls delight in abominations;

in israel there 1 vegetarian moshav (village), called amirim. vegetarianism based on general principles of health , ethics , not on jewish religion.

jewish veg grassroots organization promoting veganism god s ideal diet .

the shamayim v aretz institute led rabbi shmuly yanklowitz promotes vegan diet in jewish community through animal welfare activism, kosher veganism, , jewish spirituality.

notable jewish vegetarians include david rosen, ar yashuv cohen, franz kafka, roberta kalechofsky, yonassan gershom, shmuly yanklowitz, richard h. schwartz, , isaac bashevis singer. jonathan safran foer narrated short documentary film if kosher..., records considers abuses within kosher meat industry.