New York City – The Jewish Vegetarians of North America is urging synagogues and Jewish institutions to plan vegetarian-related events next weekend, which the organization has designated as the annual Vegetarian Shabbat.
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“At a time when there is an epidemic of diseases in the Jewish community and when animal-based agriculture contributes significantly to global warming, widening water scarcities, rapid extinction of species, destruction of tropical rain forests, coral reefs and other valuable habitats and many other environmental threats, it is essential that vegetarianism be on the Jewish agenda,” said Dr. Richard Schwartz, a Willowbrook resident who is president of the Jewish Vegetarians.
“A shift to plant-based diets would also best apply fundamental Jewish mandates to take care of our health, treat animals compassionately, protect the environment, conserve natural resources, and help hungry people, thereby helping to revitalize Judaism,” he said.
A cholent without a shtig fleish?! Ken nisht zein!!!
Basar V’Dagim V’chol Mattamim.
If people want to be vegetarians because they don’t like meat, or they think it’s good for their health, that’s fine, they’re not trying to force anyone else.
But the kind of vegetarianism that is being advocated by this group is Avodah Zorah, particularly worship of the earth-getch Gaia.
In honor of these getchke-bukkers, I’m going to add a extra shtikel flaish to the cholent. And I’m going to make sure that it’s Rubashkin flaish.
Why do people think that being a vegetarian is a big part of Judaism? Hashem taught us how to properly shecht an animal for a reason! The Torah tells us what animals we could eat for a reason! If we weren’t meant to eat animals, the Torah would say so. These people are just plain crazy.
The official “Logic” response to the Jewish Vegetarians of North America is this…”Shut up and eat your vegetables.”
Does anyone have a recipe for how to cook a vegetarian?
I agree with Daniel, Hashem is telling us that certain animals are meant to be eaten. If you want to choose a vegi diet no one is stopping you just don’t try to get everyone to eat only veggies.
In many communities in the US, this week is a meatless Shabbos and next will be too.
Rubashkin isn’t producing much and there isn’t enough (if any) meat available.
Its a known fact that living a vegitarian life enhances health, long life and above all humanity. All you fleish fressing savages have no concept about health and humanity. Shame on all of you
Reminds me of the news a while ago that some activists wanted to everyone to cut down on Chanukah Lecht in order reduce carbon monoxide in the air and in the ozone. Same baloney – same garbage!
ein simcha elo b’basar v’yayin!
I have had a few meatless Shabbosos lately. I stopped eating meat from a certain processor which shall remain nameless. So now, most of the time I can get meat that I am willing to eat. But once in a while, when that meat is the only stuff, I have peanut butter and jelly for shabbos.
How can I go without meat on Shabbos? Well, since the only meat available sometimes would gross me out to eat, eating it would be unpleasant, and hence not good l’chovod Shabbos anyway.
Just like kiddush. I prefer only wine from a certain NY winery. If all I can get is wine from elsewhere, I will make kiddush on the grape juice from the winery I trust. Besides, I enjoy it more than wine anyway, so to me it is more chushiv than wine.
The same with meat. If eating meat from that particular processor would be gross to me, and I would enjoy a vegetarian Shabbos more, the vegetarian food would be more choshuv to ME that Shabbos than forcing myself to eat meat that would gross me out to eat it.
Friday night I will start with 2 rolls of sushi, followed by chicken soup mit pupiks, a sauteed liver dish, yummy tounge polanaise, mini hot dogs, picha, spare ribs, steak and cholent for midnight snack —Followed by Lipitor & Cozaar of course : )
Besides with all the problems with insects on vegetables it’s better to stay away from them
follow laws of Hashem
well, i stopped eating meat entirely and it’s been only good. no regrets at all. just try it for a week, maybe you will change your mind. so long as you get enough of the correct protein you would be on the path to better health. at least you should give it a try before you think all vegetarians are wackos.
i have no problem if someone wants to be a vegetarian and he tries to convert other people as well if this is done in the name of health issues
but once they start with having compassion for animals etc
this is apikorsis
hashem who is “rachmov al kol maasov”
commanded us to eat meat through proper scheta etc korbonas etc
misplaced compassion is very harmful and is diametrically opposite from our mesorah
I love vegetarians,
More meat for me.
vegetarians and organic health wackos are some of the must unhealthy looking people. Ask any doctor if it has being peer reviewed that eating meat is healthy. The answer is yes. just look in the jungle what are the strongest animals are carnivors (eat meat) ie… Lions and tigers and the fat and lazy ones are herbivors (eat grass) ie… cows and pigs.
bottom line meat is the only source for complete protein and amnio acids.
And if still unsure go to a gym and take a survey of all the body builders and ask how many of them eat meat.
Eating lean meat and and exercising is they key to good health.
Check out Parshas Noach, Perek Tes, Pasuk Gimmel. Hashem said clearly that animals were meant to eat,( just like vegetables!) Anyone who says otherwise is an outright Apikores! Let’s all get together to have an extra shtik fleish this Shobbos. Gut Shobbos!
I want these “Jewish Vegetarians” to explain for me the whole inyan of korbanos, may they be renewed bimhiero vyomeinu mitokef umiyad mamosh!
Actually if you look in Perek Aleph in Breishis you will see that man’s original diet as commanded by Hashem WAS in fact vegetarian and that only changed after the Mabul. Many meforshim discuss the reason for the change and many of those reasons would make being a vegetarian a very good thing
06-06-2008 – 12:55 PM
Anonymous Says:
vegetarians and organic health wackos are some of the must unhealthy looking people. Ask any doctor if it has being peer reviewed that eating meat is healthy. The answer is yes. just look in the jungle what are the strongest animals are carnivors (eat meat) ie… Lions and tigers and the fat and lazy ones are herbivors (eat grass) ie… cows and pigs.
bottom line meat is the only source for complete protein and amnio acids.
And if still unsure go to a gym and take a survey of all the body builders and ask how many of them eat meat.
Eating lean meat and and exercising is they key to good health.
06-06-2008 – 1:22 PM
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Dont forget to ask these body builders how many steriods they are on. What a typical haimeshe fool that you are.
Maybe we should do our private buisiness in public because animals to it that way . Maybe we should be like a lion and attack innocent animals because that is how they hunt . What a bunch of crock your spewing.
Anonymous Says:
Friday night I will start with 2 rolls of sushi, followed by chicken soup mit pupiks, a sauteed liver dish, yummy tounge polanaise, mini hot dogs, picha, spare ribs, steak and cholent for midnight snack —Followed by Lipitor & Cozaar of course : )
Besides with all the problems with insects on vegetables it’s better to stay away from them
06-06-2008 – 12:21 PM
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Let me know who your heart doctor is so i can give him the heads up. Actually dont give me his name because im afraid to see his reaction.
what would these vegetarian missionaries say to the site of erev pesach when approximetely 600,000 korbonos were slaughtered? i could just imagine the headline of the new work times: 600,000 BUTCHERED BY JEWS IN ONE DAY….
To anon at 12:18: I think you should take only “certain” pills at “certain” times and from a “certain” drug store.
more rubahkins for me next shabbos, hopefully the shor habor with moshiach tzidkenu amen!
I can only imagine the next mishigas like Rosh Hashonah without a Shofar (it does come form an animal); no using a lulav on Sukkos, since we are cutting down trees, only fluorescent electric menorah’s on Chanukah so we can cut down on carbon emissions; only whole-wheat hamentashen (just healthier); no-carb matzoh on Pesach; no fires on Lag Baomer (see Chanukah) and no Cheese products on Shavuos (the sudden increase in the use of milk products may be too shocking to the cows who are already traumatized by our use of their milk).
HASM TOLD NOACH TO EAT ANIMALS
As a proud frum meat-eater, I nevertheless have no problem with Jewish vegetarians. I have met a few over the years who were sincere and eidel.
The problem comes when they try to convince others that HALACHA mandates vegetarianism. Any sane person with the slightest Torah background knows that this is clearly not so. And yet some continue to make this case.
Instead of meatless Shabbosos, how about a Lashon Hara free Shabbos? Or what about a Shabbos where everyone agrees not to be m’vayesh al pi chaveiro b’rabim? Might that help the ‘environment’?
Shloimy
This is apikorsos gamur. First thing they are going to start with the meat, then they are going to take our herring, then the galle, then they are going to want us to put less oil in the kugel and then, God forbid, they are going to go after our broinfen. We need to put a stop to this before it gets out of hand. I suggest that for each vegetarian shabbos they hold, we should all put an extra piece of flanken in the chulen, make sure there is hot pastrami in the chulen and have a extra glass of broinfen by each sudah.
not beign a vegetarian doesn’t exactly put you in bad shape, Im not a vegetarian but i eat moderetly healthy, ex. no fried etc, and i happen to have a great healthy looking body , and i have cousins who are vegetarians who have a bloated look, which i think looks UGLY and UNHEALTHY…. and it’s because they don’t recieve the proper nutrients their bodies require!!!
If we stop eating meat,the animals will eat usAny organized effort by so-called Jewish groups to refrain from eating meat is anti the Torah and Avodah Zarah
New York City – The Jewish Vegetarians of North America is urging synagogues and Jewish institutions to plan vegetarian-related events…
Jewish? Huh?
I have to laugh when people (see 2:53) write that without meat you don’t receive the nutrients your body needs. (a) though as many have written, meat eating is permitted, and it is osur to refrain from “moral” reasons – it is clear from the Torah that Hashem created man as a vegetarian animal; (b) human anatomy is much more in line with other vegetarian animals than carnivores; and (c) I lived for many years in a county where the majority of people are healthy well-adjusted vegetarians. Whether you eat meat or vegees, the ikar is to learn to eat l’shem shomayim.
Words of Rabbi Avigdor Miller Zl:Jew don’t eat meat? Apikores !!!
Its good to go on a diet once in awhile and there would be less heart attacks in the frum community.
This apikoros has the gall to call himself “RABBI”??? Maybe RABID! Do HaShem’s mitzvos properly. He’ll worry about “–global warming, widening water scarcities, rapid extinction of species, destruction of tropical rain forests, coral reefs and other valuable habitats and many other environmental threats–”
He’s been in charge long before you and your likes were invented. He’ll continue to do so regardless (or in spite) of your intervention.
What’s his next movement? Torahless Torah? Jewishless Jews?
Kindly get out of my planet!
if a person doesn’t eat meat because he doesn’t like it, or because he doesn’t trust any shchite (like my rosh yeshiva), and it makes him mitztayer to eat it, that’s one thing. but if that’s not the case, follow our heilige minhogim and eat fleisch on shabbos!
My father has been a pharmacist for 20 years and knows a thing or 2 about health.. he eats plenty of meat and chicken.
After reading the above comments, I btetter understand Al Gore’s quip: “Denial is not just a river in Egypt.” Many of the commentators seem to be ignoring important realities related to the production and consumption of meat and other animal products, including:
* Animal-centered diets are contributing to an epidemic of heart disease, several types of cancer and other diseases in the Jewish and other communities;
* At a time when food prices are skyrocketing, food riots are occurring in many areas and an estimated 20 million people are dying annually worldwide from hunger and its effects, over 70 percent of the grain produced in the United States and over 40 percent produced worldwide are fed to farmed animals.
* In an increasingly thirsty and energy-dependent world, animal-based diets require up to 14 times as much water and 10 times as much energy as vegan (all plants) diets.
* While the world is increasingly threatened by global warming, animal-based agriculture emits more greenhouse gases (in CO2 equivalents) than all the cars and other means of transportation worldwide combined (18 percent vs. 13.5 percent).
* Even if animals are slaughtered strictly according to Jewish law, with minimum pain, billions of animals still suffer greatly from cruel treatment on factory farms.
* Making all of the above points more serious, the consumption of animal products is projected to double in 50 years. If this happens, it will make it very difficult, if not impossible, to reduce greenhouse emissions enough to avoid very severe effects from global climate change.
It is essential that our rabbis and other Jewish leaders recognize that a major shift toward plant-based diets is essential to avoid the unprecedented catastrophe that the world is rapidly approaching and to move our precious, but imperiled, planet to a sustainable path.
When we read daily reports of the effects of global climate change, such as record heat waves, severe storms, widespread droughts, and the melting of glaciers and polar icecaps; when some climate scientists are warning that global climate change may spin out of control with disastrous consequences unless major changes are soon made; when a recent report indicated that our oceans may be virtually free of fish by 2050; when species of plants and animals are disappearing at the fastest rate in history; when it is projected that half of the world’s people will live in areas chronically short of water by 2050; it is essential that the Jewish community fulfill our mandate to be a “light unto the nations” and lead efforts to address these critical issues.
It is urgent that tikkun olam-the healing and repair of the world — be a central issue in synagogues, Jewish schools and other Jewish institutions. Judaism has splendid teachings on environmental conservation and sustainability, and it is essential that they be applied to respond to the many current environmental threats.
It is essential that rabbis and other Jewish leaders make Jews aware of how animal-based diets and agriculture violate basic Jewish mandates to preserve human health, treat animals compassionately, protect the environment, conserve natural resources and help hungry people.
Further information about these issues can be found at JewishVeg.com. We will provide complimentary copies of its new documentary A SACRED DUTY: APPLYING JEWISH VALUES TO HELP HEAL THE WORLD rabbis and other Jewish leaders who will contact us [email protected]) and indicate how they will use them to involve their congregations on the issues. The entire movie can be seen and further information about it can be found at ASacredDuty.com.
Why are so many responses anonymous? I guess eating meat makes you stupid and you don’t know how to type in your names and email addresses.
Did you know that factory farming adds more to global warming than transportation? I think not. Did you know that eating meat increases your risk of heart attack and obesity? I guess not.
Try to do some investigating instead of being reactionary – skipping one meat meal a week can go a long way to saving the environment.
I’m practicing on Shavuous, with plenty of varieties of cheesecake, strawberry cream cakes, lasagne, penne vodka (lots of vodka!) milchig vegetable (oops) tarlets, eggplant & cheese dish, English scones, strawberry jam & real whipped cream, milchig chocolate, & Zantax.
Anyone care to join me?
My grandfather, a kosher butcher, went vegetarian and quit his business in the early 1970’s when, one day, he had occasion to visit a slaughterhouse. Things had changed SO drastically due to the HUGE demand for meat, that the animals were not getting Shechted properly and the meat was handled being handled appropriately. At that point he began to question whether there was ANY kosher meat in this country.
Yes, G’d makes a concession to Noah and allows people to eat animals, but places HEAVY restrictions on the process and discourages gluttony.
In addition to horrific cruelty exposed at the largest Glatt kosher slaughter enterprise in the world, there are the issues of human health and the environment, both of which we are mandated to care for.
The recent 25-year “China Study” showed undeniable evidence linking animal product consumption with many diseases including cardiovascular, cancer, and diabetes. In 2006, the 400-page UN report entitled “Livestock’s Long Shadow” stated that animal agriculture is responsible for more greenhouse gas emissions than all the cars, trucks, buses, planes, and all forms of transportation combined.
Considering all these factors, the only truly kosher diet is a plant-based one.
In my haste, I made two typos.
Here is the corrected version of my post:
My grandfather, a kosher butcher, went vegetarian and quit his business in the early 1970’s when, one day, he had occasion to visit a slaughterhouse. Things had changed SO drastically due to the HUGE demand for meat, that the animals were not getting Shechted properly and the meat was being handled inappropriately. At that point he began to question whether there was ANY kosher meat in this country.
Yes, G’d makes a concession to Noah and allows people to eat animals, but places HEAVY restrictions on the process and discourages gluttony.
In addition to horrific cruelty exposed at the largest Glatt kosher slaughter enterprise in the world, there are the issues of human health and the environment, both of which we are mandated to care for.
The recent 25-year “China Study” showed undeniable evidence linking animal product consumption with many diseases including cardiovascular, cancer, and diabetes. In 2006, the 400-page UN report entitled “Livestock’s Long Shadow” stated that animal agriculture is responsible for more greenhouse gas emissions than all the cars, trucks, buses, planes, and all forms of transportation combined.
Considering all these factors, the only truly kosher diet is a plant-based one.
Respectfully,
R.Deych
How about a respectful debate in the pages of this publication and/or elsewhere on “Should Jews Be Vegetarians?”
It would be a kiddush HaShem in educating re Torah values related to the issues.
I stopped eating meat and lost 50 lbs within 6 months
Do any of these vegetarians wear leather shoes?
I cooked a vegetarian in my chulent this shabbos.
You should all really consider that eating meat was only a consession by the Torah to our meat lust, A consession, not the ideal by any means. Anyway we used to schect an animal or two in the shtetle every week. In holiness. But now with factory farming 10’s of thousands are slaughtered in a day and how these animals suffer. What we have is a mitzvah that comes directly by way of an aveirah, a sin. This is forbidden! Read the JVNA reports carefully!
Just a few responses to some of the points brought up.
No, I do not wear leather shoes (or belts, etc.).
We do not argue that Jews MUST be vegetarians -we acknowledge that there is a choice (after all, some Chief rabbis are vegetarians).
But we believe that choice should take Jewish teachings re health, compassion, environmental stewardship, etc., into account.
Chag samayach.