“Judaism, based in teachings of Torah – the first five books of the Bible written around 3,000 years ago – has always believed in the need to preserve the environment and avoid cruelty to animals. The preservation of environment is clear in the teaching from Genesis Chapter 2 that we are to “work and preserve the garden” in which we live. There are numerous passages in the Torah regarding protection of animals, and many believe that our ability to eat them is a concession for humans unable to live up to the vegetarian ideal expressed in the opening of Genesis. These days, avoiding the consumption of animals has become more urgent, given that the industrialised production of animal meat is both extremely cruel and one of the greatest contributors to greenhouse gas emissions. As human beings who must take responsibility for the consequences of our actions, all of us must study further the reality of animal cruelty and environmental degradation caused by our meat consumption. While not everyone is able to be a vegetarian at this time, each of us can make a commitment to make this planet viable for our future generations, and reducing our meat consumption is one simple way to do this. We encourage all to observe a meat free day at least once a week and thus enhance life for us and the future."

  - Rabbi Jeffrey Kamins, Chair, Council of Progressive Rabbis of Australia, New Zealand and Asia

"People do not recognize how our diets impact the world around us, as well as our own health. Religious leaders need to understand the importance of plant-based nutrition, and they need to teach their congregations how to eat healthy diets that use less resources and are better for the environment."

  - Richard Schwartz, Orthodox Jew and author of the book "Judaism and Global Survival"

Jewish teachings on consumption of meat and treatment of animals

Judaism, based in teachings of Torah, has always believed in the need to avoid cruelty to animals. There are numerous passages in the Torah regarding protection of animals, and many believe that our ability to eat them is a concession for humans unable to live up to the vegetarian ideal expressed in the opening of Genesis.

Exodus 23:5 requires that one relieve the burden of an overloaded animal, and the Fourth Commandment includes the instruction that Jews must allow livestock to rest on the Sabbath. The parameters of such laws are discussed in the Talmud and codified in the Shulchan Arukh (Code of Jewish Law). The revered medieval legal authority/philosopher Moses Maimonides wrote that we should show mercy to all living creatures. The 16th Century mystic Rabbi Moses Cordovero and 19th Century thinker Rabbi Samson Raphael Hirsch expressed similar sentiments.

Jewish people are obligated to keep kosher dietary laws, most of which concern meat. For example, Jews may only eat certain animals, and they may not consume meat and dairy products together. One of the explanations found in the rabbinic tradition for these laws is that the permitted species are in general more peaceful and less violent than others, serving as an example to humans to refrain from cruelty.

Weblinks

• Jewish Vegetarians of North America
• Society of Ethical and Religious Vegetarians (USA, interfaith)

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