Rabbis And Vegetarianism

Weaves together the author's observations on Vegetarianism from the Bible and backed by scientific citations.

From God's first injunction, "Behold, I have given you every herb yielding seed, which is upon the face of all the earth, and every tree, in which is the fruit of a tree yielding seed, to you it shall be for food." (Gen. 1:29) The Hebrew Bible offers countless examples of how God intends a compassionate and caring attitude toward animals, our health, and the health of the planet. This attitude, as Richard Schwartz shows in his pioneering work now fully revised, has been a constant theme throughout Judaism to the present day. Indeed, Judaism's particular concern for tikkun olam, a healing of the world, has never been more urgent today--given the current state of world hunger, environmental degradation, and the horror of factory farms. Dr. Schwartz shows not only how Judaism is particularly well suited to solving these problems, but how doing so can revitalize one's Jewish faith.

A multidisciplinary approach to the study of veganism, vegetarianism, and meat avoidance among Jews, both historical and contemporary. In recent decades, as more Jews have adopted plant-based lifestyles, Jewish vegan and vegetarian movements have become increasingly prominent. This book explores the intellectual, religious, and historical roots of veganism and vegetarianism among Jews and presents compelling new directions in Jewish thought, ethics, and foodways. The contributors, including scholars, rabbis, and activists, explore how Judaism has inspired Jews to eschew animal products and how such choices, even when not directly inspired by Judaism, have enriched and helped define Jewishness. Individually, and as a collection, the chapters in this book provide an opportunity to meditate on what may make veganism and vegetarianism particularly Jewish, as well as the potential distinctiveness of Jewish veganism and vegetarianism. The authors also examine the connections between Jewish veganism and vegetarianism and other movements, while calling attention to divisions among Jewish vegans and vegetarians, to the specific challenges of fusing Jewishness and a plant-based lifestyle, and to the resistance Jewish vegans and vegetarians can face from parts of the Jewish community. The book’s various perspectives represent the cultural, theological, and ideological diversity among Jews invested in such conversations and introduce prominent debates within their movements. Jacob Ari Labendz is Director of the Center for Judaic and Holocaust Studies and Clayman Assistant Professor of Judaic and Holocaust Studies at Youngstown State University. He is the editor of Jewish Property After 1945: Cultures and Economies of Ownership, Loss, Recovery, and Transfer. Shmuly Yanklowitz is President and Dean at Valley Beit Midrash, Founder and President of Uri L’Tzedek, Founder and CEO of the Shamayim V’Aretz Institute, and Founder and President of YATOM: The Jewish Foster and Adoption Network. He is the author of many books, including Pirkei Avot: A Social Justice Commentary, Postmodern Jewish Ethics: Emerging Social Justice Paradigms, and The Jewish Vegan.

A timely examination of the problems with meat from a Jewish perspective. Examines the historical Jewish dietary laws, and argues that vegetarianism today best fulfils the requirements of kashrut. Gives reasons for Jewish vegetarianism based on concern for human health, ethical considerations of animal welfare, environmental concerns, concern for poor people, and for the general welfare of the community.

This book is perhaps the most complete scholarly book out today showing that Jesus and Mary were kosher vegetarians! The evidence from the scriptures, the early Church period, the Jewish literature, the mystics, and nutrition indicates that Jesus and Mary were kosher, and also that they were vegetarian. This book proposes that Jesus and Mary were the new Adam and Eve who ate a plant-based diet. They were the first penitents of the Christian era, leading us into a penitential lifestyle, a lifestyle of purification, involving a kosher plant-based diet and fasting. There is evidence from multiple sources that people in the early Church believed that Jesus and Mary and some of the disciples were vegetarians. The monastics have carried on the plant-based practice for centuries.

An anthology of 41 articles from classical and contemporary sources, by rabbis, doctors, veterinarians, conservationists, philosophers, historians and activists on vegetarianism, ritual slaughter, animal research and its implications for modern health.