Shalom everyone,
This update/Jewish Vegetarians of North America (JVNA) Online Newsletter has the following items:
1. Shanah Tovah (Best Wishes For a Wonderful New Year)
2. D’var Torah on Jewish Teachings on Compassion and Social Justice Related to Katrina
3. My Two Letters Recently Sent to the New York Times
5. Another Letter in Yosef Hakohen’s Series on Jewish Teachings About Animals
6. World's Most Comprehensive Vegetarian Web Site, GoVeg.com, Launched
7. Update on Saving Animals Injured or Abandoned in the Wake of Katrina
8. Organic or Free Range Animal Products?? What's the truth?
9. More Re Efforts To Stop Expansion of Horse Racing in Israel
Some material has been deferred to a later update/newsletter to keep this one from being even longer.
[Materials in brackets like this [] within an article or forwarded message are my editorial notes/comments.]
Opinions expressed do not necessarily represent the views of the JVNA, unless otherwise indicated, but may be presented to increase awareness and/or to encourage respectful dialogue. Also, material re conferences, retreats, forums, trips, and other events does not necessarily imply endorsement by JVNA or endorsement of kashrut, Shabbat observances, or any other Jewish observance, but may be presented for informational purposes. Please use e-mail addresses, telephone numbers, and web sites to get further information about any event that you are interested in.
As always, your comments and suggestions are very welcome.
Thanks,
Richard
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1. Shanah Tovah (Best Wishes For a Wonderful New Year)
a. Wishing you all a very healthy, happy, uplifting and inspiring, peaceful, environmentally sustainable, humane and compassionate, love-filled New Year. May it be a year of joy, fellowship, fulfillment, good health, growth, and wonderful, completely unexpected surprises.
Shanah Tovah U'metukah,
Richard
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b. Please see my article “Rosh Hashanah and Vegetarianism” and my other holiday articles at the holiday section at JewishVeg.com/schwartz.
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c. Suggested Inspirational Videos
1) Recommendation by author and JVNA advisor Yosef Hakohen:
I recommend a one minute film called "Starting Over" which relates to the way the upheavals in the world during the last year have caused many people to begin their lives anew. The film contains a universal and spiritual Jewish message which is especially relevant for Rosh Hashana - the New Year. In the background, one can hear the moving singing of Cantor Moshe Bazian, who is chanting an ancient Aramaic prayer for this season known as "Rachmana." The following is the translation of the prayer that he is chanting: "The Loving One Who answers the poor, may He answer us. The Loving One Who answers the brokenhearted, may He answer us."
The film can be viewed at: http://www.aish.com/a/startingover.asp or go to the main site www.aish.com.
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2) Car Wash - 30 Second Movie
http://www.aish.com/a/RoshHashana_carwash.asp
[I have seen both videos, and I also recommend them.]
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2. D’var Torah on Jewish Teachings on Compassion and Social Justice Related to Katrina
Katrina and Torah of Kindness
By Rabbi Saul J. Berman
Parshat Ki Tavo
September 23, 2005
19th of Elul 5765
[Thanks to Yosef Hakohen for translating the Hebrew terms.]
From the beginning of the Book of Devarim (Deuteronomy), every single weekly portion has contained some specific legislation for the protection of the weak, the underprivileged, the poor.
In Parshat Devarim, at Deut. 1:16-17, the demand of fairness in judicial process even to the alien. In Parshat VaEtchanan, at Deut. 5:14-15, the command that even aliens and servants be allowed to rest on the Shabbat, because we remember what it was like to be aliens and slaves.
In Parshat Ekev, at Deut. 10:19, the Mitzvah of loving the stranger, because we were strangers in the land of Egypt.
In Parshat Re’eh, at Deut. 14:29, the duty to pay the tithe for support of the poor. Also in that Parsha, at Deut. 15:7-11, the duty to lend to the poor and to provide "dei machsoro," "that which he lacks."
In Parshat Shoftim, at Deut. 20:1-9, the ceremony of expiation of communal failure of responsibility, when an anonymous victim of homicide is found outside a town. In Parshat Ki Tetze, at Deut 23:16, a runaway slave is protected; at24:10-11 a debtor is protected from intrusion into his home by the creditor; at 24:14-15 immediate payment of day laborers is demanded; and at 24:19 the poor are assured access to agricultural produce at the time of harvest. All of this is motivated by the demand thatwe remember what it felt like to be slaves in the land of Egypt.
And in Parshat Ki Tavo, at Deut 26:1-11, the Torah commands us to recite the Vidui Bikkurim (a statement made when bringing the first fruits of the harvest to the Temple), the verbal affirmation of our awareness of the Divine goodness which produced our harvest. At the conclusion of that declaration the Torah says, "And you shall rejoice with all of good which the Lord your God gave to you and your household – you and the Levite and the alien who is amongst you."
This sense of inclusiveness and sharing, out of appreciation of the gifts which God has given us, is fundamental to the Jewish understanding of individual responsibility to the poor and the dislocated.
This past week I spent from Thursday through Sunday in Houston, Texas. Itaught Torah at the United Orthodox Synagogues, led so ably by Rabbi Barry Gelman, and at the Robert Beren Jewish High School, and I visited the area of the Astrodome where the remaining evacuees from New Orleans are being housed and supported. But I learned infinitely more than I taught over that weekend.
I learned what it means for an entire Jewish community to actualize the Torah’s teachings about caring for the poor, the stranger and the dislocated. I saw a Jewish Federation at its best, able to bring together the entire community to share its resources, to house, to feed, to clothe, to counsel, to provide medical care, job opportunities, Day School placements for children, and religious support. I saw a Jewish community united in deeply cooperative spirit to fulfill the Torah’s high expectation, that we learn from our own historical experience to be sensitive to the alien and the underprivileged.
I saw Rabbis, doctors, housewives, social workers, teachers, community organization professionals, lawyers, and business men and women - all overworked to begin with - add hours to their days to provide sensitive and loving care to families and individuals who found themselves suddenly homeless and without the simplest rudiments ofnormal life. What an extraordinary Kiddush Hashem (Sanctification of the Divine Name)! What an unusually broad and deep integration of the Divine quality of Chesed, kindness, into daily life!
It is striking that God identifies Himself, in the 13 Divine Attributes (Names), as Rav Chessed, great in kindness. The greatness of God’s kindness resides in its individualized nature. God, knowing the precise and true needs of every individual, is able to respond not from a single template of needs, but from an accurate assessment of the distinctive needs of each individual. The Torah commands us to do the same in our treatment of the poor when it insists, in Deut. 15:8, that we provide, "dei machsoro asher yechsar lo," "in accordance with the very thing that person lacks."
I saw the openness of heart which is necessary to fulfill the verse inparshat Ki Tavo, Deut. 26:11, which instructs us to include the alien in our rejoicing. That openness needs to be admired and nourished, and the community in which it was manifest needs to be proud of their spiritual achievement.
Rabbi Saul J. Berman, Director of Edah, teaches Jewish Law at Stern College and at Columbia University School of Law.
Rabbi Saul J. Berman, Director of Edah, teaches Jewish Law
Edah
45 West 36th Street,10th Floor
New York,NY 10018
www.edah.org 1-212-244-7501
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3. My Two Letters Recently Sent to the New York Times
a. September 27, 2005
Editor, New Your Times
Letters@nytimes.com
Dear Editor:
There may be some dispute about the healthiest foods ("Which of These Foods Will Stop Cancer? Not So Fast;" September 17 issue), but there can be no doubt that plant-based diets are best for the health of our imperiled planet.
The annual raising of 50 billion farmed animals worldwide (10 billion in the U.S. alone) generally under "factory farm" conditions contributes substantially to soil erosion and depletion, the destruction of tropical rain forests and other valuable habitats, rapid species extinction, global warming, and other environmental threats, and requires vast amounts of water, fuel, and other scarce resources. Over seventy percent of the grain produced in the U.S. is fed to farmed animals and more than half of our water is used to help raise feed crops for these animals, as an estimated 20 million people die worldwide annually and billions suffer from inadequate food and clean water. Hence. it is essential that there be a major shift toward plant-centered diets in order to move our planet to a more sustainable path.
Very truly yours,
Richard H. Schwartz
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September 28, 2005
Editor, the New York Times
letters@nytimes.com
Dear Editor:
Your editorial that concludes that the "worst outcomes [of global warming] may be avoided if the world takes concerted action to stabilize industrial emissions of greenhouse gases" (Time to Connect the Dots," September 28, 2005 issue)," fails to address an important way that every person can contribute.
Current intensive livestock agriculture and the consumption of meat contribute greatly to the four major gases associated with the greenhouse effect: carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous oxides, and chlorofluorocarbons.
The burning of tropical forests to create grazing land and land to grow feed crops for farmed animals releases tons of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere and eliminates the ability of these trees to absorb carbon dioxide.Also, the highly mechanized agricultural sector uses an enormous amount of fossil fuel to produce pesticides, chemical fertilizer, and other agricultural resources, and this also contributes significantly to carbon dioxide emissions.Cattle emit methane as part of their digestive processes, as do termites who feast on the charred remains of trees that were burned. The large amounts of petrochemical fertilizers used to produce feed crops create significant quantities of nitrous oxides.Likewise, the increased refrigeration necessary to prevent animal products from spoiling adds chlorofluorocarbons to the atmosphere.
Hence, a switch toward plant-based diets is essential for the health and sustainability of our imperiled planet.
Very truly yours,
Richard H. Schwartz
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5. Another Letter in Yosef Hakohen’s Series on Jewish Teachings About Animals
The Journey to Unity - 142
Hunting Animals for Sport: A Commentary on the News
The following is an excerpt from an article in the Sunday New York Times by Pam Belluck titled, "Girls and Boys, Meet Nature. Bring Your Gun" (September 18th, 2005):
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Samantha, a freckle-faced, pony-tailed fourth grader, was on a bear hunt. Not the pretend kind memorialized in picture books and summer-camp chants, but a real one for black bears that live in the woods of southwestern Vermont and can weigh 150 pounds or more.
She had won a "dream hunt" given away by a Vermont man whose goal is to get more children to hunt, and she had traveled about 200 miles from her home in Bellingham, Mass., and was missing three days of school to take him up on his offer.
"Almost everything you hunt is pretty fun," said Samantha, grinning and perfectly at home with a group of five men, the youngest of whom was nearly three times her age....The dream hunt - all expenses paid, including taxidermy - was the brainchild of Kevin Hoyt, a 35-year-old hunting instructor who quit a job as a structural steel draftsman a few years ago and decided to dedicate himself to getting children across the country interested in hunting.
His efforts reflect what hunting advocates across the country say is an increasingly urgent priority, and what hunting opponents find troubling: recruiting more children to sustain the sport of hunting, which has been losing participants of all ages for two decades.
"Forty years from now our kids will be learning about this as history," said Larry Gauthier, one of Mr. Hoyt's buddies on the bear hunt. "Hunters should be included as an extinct species because we're falling away so fast, we need to be protected."
This year, three pro-hunting groups - the National Shooting Sports Foundation, the U.S. Sportsmen's Alliance and the National Wild Turkey Federation - started Families Afield, a program to lobby states to lower the age at which children can hunt or to loosen the requirements for a child to accompany a parent on a hunt.
Dear Friends,
We shall begin our commentary on the above news item with the following excerpt from "The Vison of Eden" by Rabbi David Sears:
"Where the wall paintings and bas-reliefs of ancient Assyria and Egypt extol the drama of the hunt, the Torah associates such pursuits exclusively with villains such as Nimrod and Esau. Not only is hunting for sport forbidden; to the Jewish mind, it is almost unthinkable." (Page 62).
Rabbi Sears later cites Rabbi Yechezkel Landau, the noted authority on Torah law, who writes: "Throughout the Torah, we find the sport of hunting imputed only to Nimrod and Esau. This is not the way of the descendants of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob." (Noda B'Yehudah, Yoreh Deah, no. 10)
When I was growing up in New York City during the 1950's and 60's, hunting was a popular American sport, but not among American Jews. Although the majority of American Jews did not receive a traditional Jewish education, they had a vague awareness that Judaism does not allow us to take the life of a living creature for sport.
During the early 80's, I attended a staff conference at a kosher Jewish hotel in the Catskill Mountains of New York State, and the owner was an elderly Orthodox Jewish man. He reminded us that Torah law forbids hunting for sport. Although hunting was a popular sport in his region, he told us with pride that he did not allow hunting on his large hotel estate; thus, the entire estate had become a refuge for wild animals and birds, as they sensed that they were safe there.
Although many Jews have assimilated into modern western culture, the aversion to hunting for sport is still strong among Jews who feel a bond with their spiritual tradition. For example, in Orthodox or traditional Jewish communities, parents do not take their children to wilderness areas in order to hunt; instead, they take them to wilderness areas in order to experience the "niflaos Ha-Boreh" - the wonders of the Creator.
In general, causing pain to animals for the sake of "sport" or "entertainment" is contrary to traditional Jewish teachings and laws. This is why activities such as "bull fights" or "animal fights" were unknown among Jews.As Rabbi David Sears writes:
"When Roman citizens flocked to attend animal fights in the Colosseum, such gruesome entertainments were unheard of among the Jews. According to the Talmud (Avodah Zarah 18b), animal fights epitomize the "dwelling place of scorners" so vehemently decried by the Book of Psalms (1:1). Indeed, the author of Chavas Da'as (a classic work on Jewish law) deems one who attends a bullfight or similar event "an accomplice to murder." (The Vision of Eden, pages 62, 63).
The historian Josephus writes that King Herod, who ruled the Jewish state towards the end of the Second Temple period, upset the Jewish people by bringing in Roman sports which involved animal fights:
“Herod also got together a great quantity of wild beasts, and of lions in very great abundance, and of such other beasts as were either of uncommon strength or of such a sort as were rarely seen. These were trained either to fight one with another, or men who were condemned to death were to fight with them. And truly foreigners were greatly surprised and delighted at the vast expenses of the shows, and at the great danger of the spectacles, but to the Jews it was a palpable breaking up of those customs for which they had so great a veneration.” (Josephus, Antiquities of the Jews.)
To some extent, we are in a similar situation today, for some of the practices of modern civilization regarding the treatment of animals are not in harmony with the compassionate Jewish teachings and laws for which we had so great a veneration. As we return to our spiritual roots and begin to rediscover these ancient teachings and laws, we will gain a deeper understanding of our holistic spiritual tradition.
Shalom,
Yosef Ben Shlomo Hakohen(See below)
Comments:
1. The above teachings should serve as a reminder to those of us who have pets that these creatures are not "toys" made for our entertainment. Having a pet is an ethical and spiritual responsibility; thus, we should be aware of the particular needs of the creatures in our possession. In addition, the Torah also teaches that we are obligated to feed them before we feed ourselves. For further study about caring for animals in our possession, you can review the following two articles which appear in the archive (lower section) on our website:
A. Emulating the Divine Nuturing
B. Caring for Animals
2. Your New Year contributions to support "Hazon - Our Universal Vision" are greatly appreciated. They can be sent to: Yosef Ben Shlomo Hakohen P.O.B. 16012, Bayit Vegan, Jerusalem. (The checks should be made out to Yosef Ben Shlomo Hakohen.) Please include your e-mail address, so I can send you a thank you note.
Hazon - Our Universal Vision: www.shemayisrael.co.il/publicat/hazon/
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6. “World's Most Comprehensive Vegetarian Web Site, GoVeg.com, Launched
Forwarded message from PETA:
Please forward this to everyone in your address book, to other lists, add a banner to your Web site or auto-signature, etc. (and feel free to send me any changes/corrections/suggestions):
We are thrilled to announce that PETA has launched the world's most comprehensive vegetarian web site, GoVeg.com. Whether you're looking for information on the latest study about meat industry exploitation of workers, government prioritizing industry over protecting the environment, or video and photos from factory farms, GoVeg.com is the site to visit. Here are some highlights:
* Vegetarian 101: A snapshot look at why to go vegetarian, a guide on making the transition, delicious recipes, and quotes and ads from your favorite vegetarian celebrities.
* Photo Galleries-A compelling photographic account of what really happens on factory farms and in slaughterhouses.
* Video Gallery-Educational videos, undercover investigations, commercials, and more.
* Health Concerns-Current and footnoted research about the connections between animal products and heart disease, cancer, obesity, impotence, and more.
* Amazing Animals-All the latest animal behavior research on intelligence of chickens, pigs, fish, turkeys, and cows.
* The Environment-Fully cited information about the environmental impact of the meat industry, laid out in a point-by-point discussion of global warming, water pollution, resource depletion, and more.
* World Hunger-An in-depth look at the link between feeding grains to animals and starving humans in the developing world.
* Worker Rights-A thorough analysis of chicken contract workers, the "most dangerous job in America" (working in a slaughterhouse), and other ways that eating meat supports the abuse of workers.
* Poisoning Communities-Factory farms sicken and kill people in surrounding communities.
* Government Regulation-Sobering research into the ties between the meat industry and the Federal government-both executive and legislative, and how this results in bad environmental, worker protection, and public safety laws and regulations-and no protection for animals.
PLUS: Activism ideas for every schedule, an online shopping guide, health information every parent should know, scientific research into toxins in meat, book and Web site recommendations, links to our favorite vegetarian literature and merchandise, and much, much more!
You can make a difference for farmed animals by spreading the word about this amazing new resource: Forward this message to your family and friends, post a message on your listserv, and add a link to GoVeg.com to your web site or in your e-signature.
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7. Update on Saving Animals Injured or Abandoned in the Wake of Katrina
Forwarded message:
In another seven long days on the front lines in New Orleans, PETA's team—thanks to your generous support—has rescued more than 100 additional animals, including a potbellied pig who team leader Laura Brown said" snorted with happiness" as she lapped up water in our van. At PETA.org, we take you with our teamas it saves the pig and seeks out, befriends, and brings countless cats and dogs, including dogs who had obviously been used in illegal dogfights, to safety.
Dozens of Canine Survivors of Katrina Now Calling PETA Home
On Wednesday morning, we welcomed 32 dogs rescued from New Orleansto our Norfolk, Virginia, headquarters. As the recreational vehicle, driven some 1,000 miles by three PETA staff members, pulled into the parking lot, staff and local community residents who will be fostering and caring for the animals waited anxiously to greet the new arrivals. Many of the dogs are very scared and traumatized, but we found each of them a quiet, comfortable place to rest. Video of the dogs and their arrival in Norfolk can be seen here. Thank you for your time and your compassion for animals.
Sincerely,
Ingrid E. Newkirk
President
P.S. Please take a moment to donate to PETA's Animal Emergency Fundand help us ensure that no animal will ever endure the tragedy of the last three weeks again.
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8. Organic or Free Range Animal Products?? What's the truth?
Abstract: These labels may conjure up images of animals roaming freely in green pastures, but the reality of life and death for animals on organic, free-range, ACC, or SWAP farms is very different. On organic and free-range farms, most animals are mutilated without the use of painkillers; kept in filthy, disease-ridden sheds; and forced to endure long trips to slaughter without food or water. There are no humane slaughterhouses—in fact, free-range and organic animals are often sent to the same slaughterhouses that kill animals from factory farms......
Organic and Free-Range Animal Products: Fact or Fiction?
A recent Gallup poll found that 96 percent of Americans believe that animals should be protected from cruelty, yet animals on today's farms receive no protection from even the worst abuses.1 As people become more aware of the horrors of factory farming, companies are responding by adding labels to their products with comforting words such as organic, free-range, Animal Care Certified (ACC), Swine Welfare Assurance Program (SWAP), and so on.
These labels may conjure up images of animals roaming freely in green pastures, but the reality of life and death for animals on organic, free-range, ACC, or SWAP farms is very different. On organic and free-range farms, most animals are mutilated without the use of painkillers; kept in filthy, disease-ridden sheds; and forced to endure long trips to slaughter without food or water. There are no humane slaughterhouses in fact, free-range and organic animals are often sent to the same slaughterhouses that kill animals from factory farms.
By far, the most common animal “welfare” labels are ACC and SWAP. These labels are simply fancy names for factory farming—both were created by egg and meat lobbying groups, and both simply serve to put a happy face on the absolute worst practices in today's factory farms.
ACC should be an acronym for Animal CrueltyCertified: The program allows factory farmers to burn hens' beaks with a hot blade, cram six or seven hens into a tiny cage where they cannot spread even one wing, house them in filthy sheds with more than 100,000 other hens, and use food withholding to induce physiological shock so that the birds will lay more eggs.2 Watch what happens on ACC farms.
The SWAP label shows a gentle hand cradling a pig. In reality, SWAP allows all the worst abuses, including cramming mother pigs into filthy crates so small that they can't even turn around and cutting piglets' ears, ripping out their testicles, and chopping off their tails (all without the use of painkillers). It even allows farms to kill sick piglets by slamming their heads into the pavement.3 Most people would agree that the products from animals who are abused in these ways should not be labeled “care certified” or “welfare assurance,” but the meat and egg industries have adopted these phrases to con consumers and increase their profits.
Besides usually being either little or no better for animals, animal products with labels designed to make us feel good about eating animals are almost as harmful to our health as the regular products. The only advantage that organic products have is that they will not be laced with arsenic, antibiotics, or hormones, and although flesh from these animals might be safer than that from drugged animals, the best choice is to avoid all meat. Organic, natural, and free-range flesh, milk, and eggs are devoid of complex carbohydrates and fiber and are laden with artery-clogging saturated fat and cholesterol, just as all animal products are. Major studies linking the consumption of animal products to heart disease, cancer, and other leading killers suggest that it's these components of animal foods: animal fat, animal protein, and a lack of fiber that cause disease. Organic and free-range animals are killed in the same filthy slaughterhouses as animals from factory farms, so their flesh is subject to the same bacterial contamination from the unsanitary conditions.
A Word on Farmed Fish
The meat industry has also been promoting farm-raised fish as a sustainable alternative to wild-caught fish. What the industry doesn't want you to know is that farm-raised fish must be fed 5 pounds of wild-caught fish in order to produce just 1 pound of meat, making aquafarming worse by a factor of five than commercial fishing, which is destroying our aquatic eco-systems.4 Fish farms cause fish to suffer too conditions on some aquafarms are so horrendous that as many as 40 percent of the fish die before farmers can kill and package them for food.5 Farmed-fish flesh contains contaminants such as mercury, dioxins, PCBs, and other toxins.
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1 David W. Moore, “Public Lukewarm on Animal Rights,” Gallup News Service, 21 May 2003.
2 Animal Care Certified, “UEP's Animal Care Certified Program,” 2004.
3 National Pork Board, “Swine Welfare Assurance Program,” 2003.
4 John Robbins, The Food Revolution (Berkeley: Conari Press, 2001) p. 298.
5 “Authority Wants to Stop ‘Fish Torture,'” Aftenposten, 28 Jul. 2004.
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9. More Re Efforts To Stop Expansion of Horse Racing in Israel
Forwarded article:
Israeli animal rights group leads effort against horse racing
By Allison Kaplan Sommer
September 25, 2005
Hakol Chai is calling on Israelis and supporters of its cause abroad to write to the relevant ministers and sign its petition against bringing gambling on horse racing to Israel.
Operation Noah's Ark - Evacuating the animals
An animal rights group in Israel is working to prevent the building of a horseracing track and the introduction of the sport into Israel - the latest initiative in a wave of growing awareness and activism in the country promoting the humane treatment of animals.
"Israel as a democratic state should carry the flag of change and not follow old traditional ideas of horse racing," declared Merav Barlev, director of the animal rights and animal rescue organization, Hakol Chai (Everything is Alive).
The controversy began last year, when a high-level government panel of financial and social affairs considered the issue and recommended that government permission be given to build at least two large racetracks.
For decades, there has been a strong private lobby to allow gambling in Israel in various forms, contending that casinos and other gambling outlets they will give a crucial boost to the economy and tourism. Until now, they have been unsuccessful against the powerful religious lobby -which contends that gambling is immoral - and social welfare groups that warn of the vulnerability of those who will be susceptible to uncontrollable gambling impulses and its negative ramifications for the society, as well as the potential for strengthening criminal elements.
But Hakol Chai's concerns about horse racing focuses on the animals - they filed an appeal of the government panel's decision in Israel's Supreme Court, claiming that the "unavoidable cruelty inherent in the industry" should keep it out of Israel.
"When we first heard of the government's decision, we sent letters to the ministers involved," recounted Tali Lavie, spokesperson and lobbyist for the organization.
In the responses, received only recently, she said, "they indicated that when they weighed all of the factors for and against horse racing, animal welfare wasn't even considered - only economic and issues of tourism. We view not even considering animal welfare as a huge flaw in the process," Lavie said.
Indeed, in their petition to the Supreme Court, the group argued that "the ministers in favor of introducing horse racing only considered economic concerns - such as employment gains, and not wider animal welfare concerns - as required by law."
Lavie says that horse racing has become an item on the agenda of animal rights groups around the world.
"Until a few years ago, everyone looked at horse racing as a glamorous sport," she told ISRAEL21c. "But in the last few years, animal rights organizations all over the year are bringing it to public attention that things look very different backstage. Animal organizations in England and Australia are now recognizing the fact that the way the horses are treated very, very cruelly. In these countries, racing is a tradition, which has been going on for many years, so it is very hard to take it out it out of their system. But here in Israel, we haven't started anything yet. We need to know the consequences of entering such a cruel industry and stay away from it."
The organization is calling on Israelis and supporters of its cause abroad to write to the relevant ministers and sign its petition against bringing gambling on horse racing to Israel.
Hakol Chai is a relatively new organization in Israel, an addition to the growing array of animal welfare groups. They are affiliated with the US organization 'CHAI - US Concern for Helping Animals in Israel', based in Alexandria, VA.
In addition to their work lobbying on the horse racing issue and other legal initiatives, they have created educational programs about animal welfare for adults and children, and have set up a mobile clinic to spay and neuter cats and dogs to reduce the population of strays.
Hakol Chai was one of the organizations which were active in rescuing animals and relocating who were left behind in the disengagement process from Gaza, with a mobile unit that worked day and night to pick up abandoned, stray or animals who had escaped during the chaotic disengagement process.
At the urging of the government and with the cooperation of IDF soldiers, many of whom fed the animals with their own rations until help came for them, they took out as many animals as they could before the withdrawal was completed.
With all of its existential political and security concerns, issues like protecting the environment and animal rights have long taken a back seat in Israel, and it has been traditionally hard for advocates to strike a responsive chord with authorities and the Israeli public. But that has clearly changed.
"There's been a major shift in awareness over the past few years," says Lavie.
Political scientist Reuven Hazan attributes the increased awareness and activity in Israel regarding areas like the environment and animal rights to a combination of factors.
"First, after 57 years of fighting the existential battle, Israelis have realized that while they want secure borders, they also need to focus on what kind of an environment and society exists within those borders," said Hazan, a senior lecturer at Hebrew University in Jerusalem. "At the same time, there are many people are tired of the conflict, are tired of the parties, tired of the solutions that aren't solutions - war hasn't worked and trying to make peace hasn't worked - so they are turning to issues that impact their day to day life and in which they can make a difference."
He sees it as a positive trend. "Certainly, the growth of civil society politics is good. I think it's to be praised, as I think there aren't going to be any clear solutions to our bigger problems in the next five years - so more power to them. Obviously, I would be displeased if they are focusing on animal rights only because they are turned off to all of the major political issues. But I would think the Israeli voters can work on multiple dimensions, just as Americans do."
Another recent sign of the increasing visibility and influence of the animal rights lobby occurred earlier this month when the fashion chain Castro unveiled a fall/winter 2005-2006 collection which included clothing with real fox and rabbit fur trims.
When they learned of the inclusion of fur, animal rights groups were able to mobilize rapidly, organizing demonstrations outside the company's stores in Tel Aviv and Jerusalem, collecting thousands of signatures on a petition against the use of fur, and bombarding the company with E-mails and phone calls.
In just three weeks, the company's co-directors Etty and Gabi Rotter surrendered to the pressure, and issued a statement to their customers that the company would refrain from manufacturing any future garments with fur.
With so much left to improve in the treatment of animals in Israel, Lavie contends there is no reason to bring in and new and highly problematic industry like horseracing. She details the abuses in the industry.
"First of all, a very large number of racehorses are slaughtered at a young age. Thirty percent who are born are slaughtered because they aren't fast enough. In the industry many are bred so they can choose fast ones. Many suffer injuries and are euthanized as a result of their injuries. Many of the horses are drugged - so they can race even when injured and other drugging is for covering up the serious health problems.
"Ninety-fine percent of racehorses bleed in their lungs, which can be fatal, many have chronic stomach ulcers, and some have heart problems which can cause them to collapse in the track. The horses are whipped up to 30 whips in a race. They are continually transported in inhumane conditions - sometimes they can change hands five or six times within a month," she said.
"The problem here is not the racing horses and it is not the gambling. It's the combination. Gambling sacrifices the animal welfare. It's all about money - that becomes what is important: any combination of animals and gambling is very, very bad."
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September 29, 2005
9/29/05 JVNA Online Newsletter
Shalom everyone,
This update/Jewish Vegetarians of North America (JVNA) Online Newsletter has the following items:
1. Shanah Tovah (Best Wishes For a Wonderful New Year)
2. D’var Torah on Jewish Teachings on Compassion and Social Justice Related to Katrina
3. My Two Letters Recently Sent to the New York Times
5. Another Letter in Yosef Hakohen’s Series on Jewish Teachings About Animals
6. World's Most Comprehensive Vegetarian Web Site, GoVeg.com, Launched
7. Update on Saving Animals Injured or Abandoned in the Wake of Katrina
8. Organic or Free Range Animal Products?? What's the truth?
9. More Re Efforts To Stop Expansion of Horse Racing in Israel
Some material has been deferred to a later update/newsletter to keep this one from being even longer.
[Materials in brackets like this [] within an article or forwarded message are my editorial notes/comments.]
Opinions expressed do not necessarily represent the views of the JVNA, unless otherwise indicated, but may be presented to increase awareness and/or to encourage respectful dialogue. Also, material re conferences, retreats, forums, trips, and other events does not necessarily imply endorsement by JVNA or endorsement of kashrut, Shabbat observances, or any other Jewish observance, but may be presented for informational purposes. Please use e-mail addresses, telephone numbers, and web sites to get further information about any event that you are interested in.
As always, your comments and suggestions are very welcome.
Thanks,
Richard
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1. Shanah Tovah (Best Wishes For a Wonderful New Year)
a. Wishing you all a very healthy, happy, uplifting and inspiring, peaceful, environmentally sustainable, humane and compassionate, love-filled New Year. May it be a year of joy, fellowship, fulfillment, good health, growth, and wonderful, completely unexpected surprises.
Shanah Tovah U'metukah,
Richard
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b. Please see my article “Rosh Hashanah and Vegetarianism” and my other holiday articles at the holiday section at JewishVeg.com/schwartz.
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c. Suggested Inspirational Videos
1) Recommendation by author and JVNA advisor Yosef Hakohen:
I recommend a one minute film called "Starting Over" which relates to the way the upheavals in the world during the last year have caused many people to begin their lives anew. The film contains a universal and spiritual Jewish message which is especially relevant for Rosh Hashana - the New Year. In the background, one can hear the moving singing of Cantor Moshe Bazian, who is chanting an ancient Aramaic prayer for this season known as "Rachmana." The following is the translation of the prayer that he is chanting: "The Loving One Who answers the poor, may He answer us. The Loving One Who answers the brokenhearted, may He answer us."
The film can be viewed at: http://www.aish.com/a/startingover.asp or go to the main site www.aish.com.
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2) Car Wash - 30 Second Movie
http://www.aish.com/a/RoshHashana_carwash.asp
[I have seen both videos, and I also recommend them.]
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2. D’var Torah on Jewish Teachings on Compassion and Social Justice Related to Katrina
Katrina and Torah of Kindness
By Rabbi Saul J. Berman
Parshat Ki Tavo
September 23, 2005
19th of Elul 5765
[Thanks to Yosef Hakohen for translating the Hebrew terms.]
From the beginning of the Book of Devarim (Deuteronomy), every single weekly portion has contained some specific legislation for the protection of the weak, the underprivileged, the poor.
In Parshat Devarim, at Deut. 1:16-17, the demand of fairness in judicial process even to the alien. In Parshat VaEtchanan, at Deut. 5:14-15, the command that even aliens and servants be allowed to rest on the Shabbat, because we remember what it was like to be aliens and slaves.
In Parshat Ekev, at Deut. 10:19, the Mitzvah of loving the stranger, because we were strangers in the land of Egypt.
In Parshat Re’eh, at Deut. 14:29, the duty to pay the tithe for support of the poor. Also in that Parsha, at Deut. 15:7-11, the duty to lend to the poor and to provide "dei machsoro," "that which he lacks."
In Parshat Shoftim, at Deut. 20:1-9, the ceremony of expiation of communal failure of responsibility, when an anonymous victim of homicide is found outside a town. In Parshat Ki Tetze, at Deut 23:16, a runaway slave is protected; at24:10-11 a debtor is protected from intrusion into his home by the creditor; at 24:14-15 immediate payment of day laborers is demanded; and at 24:19 the poor are assured access to agricultural produce at the time of harvest. All of this is motivated by the demand thatwe remember what it felt like to be slaves in the land of Egypt.
And in Parshat Ki Tavo, at Deut 26:1-11, the Torah commands us to recite the Vidui Bikkurim (a statement made when bringing the first fruits of the harvest to the Temple), the verbal affirmation of our awareness of the Divine goodness which produced our harvest. At the conclusion of that declaration the Torah says, "And you shall rejoice with all of good which the Lord your God gave to you and your household – you and the Levite and the alien who is amongst you."
This sense of inclusiveness and sharing, out of appreciation of the gifts which God has given us, is fundamental to the Jewish understanding of individual responsibility to the poor and the dislocated.
This past week I spent from Thursday through Sunday in Houston, Texas. Itaught Torah at the United Orthodox Synagogues, led so ably by Rabbi Barry Gelman, and at the Robert Beren Jewish High School, and I visited the area of the Astrodome where the remaining evacuees from New Orleans are being housed and supported. But I learned infinitely more than I taught over that weekend.
I learned what it means for an entire Jewish community to actualize the Torah’s teachings about caring for the poor, the stranger and the dislocated. I saw a Jewish Federation at its best, able to bring together the entire community to share its resources, to house, to feed, to clothe, to counsel, to provide medical care, job opportunities, Day School placements for children, and religious support. I saw a Jewish community united in deeply cooperative spirit to fulfill the Torah’s high expectation, that we learn from our own historical experience to be sensitive to the alien and the underprivileged.
I saw Rabbis, doctors, housewives, social workers, teachers, community organization professionals, lawyers, and business men and women - all overworked to begin with - add hours to their days to provide sensitive and loving care to families and individuals who found themselves suddenly homeless and without the simplest rudiments ofnormal life. What an extraordinary Kiddush Hashem (Sanctification of the Divine Name)! What an unusually broad and deep integration of the Divine quality of Chesed, kindness, into daily life!
It is striking that God identifies Himself, in the 13 Divine Attributes (Names), as Rav Chessed, great in kindness. The greatness of God’s kindness resides in its individualized nature. God, knowing the precise and true needs of every individual, is able to respond not from a single template of needs, but from an accurate assessment of the distinctive needs of each individual. The Torah commands us to do the same in our treatment of the poor when it insists, in Deut. 15:8, that we provide, "dei machsoro asher yechsar lo," "in accordance with the very thing that person lacks."
I saw the openness of heart which is necessary to fulfill the verse inparshat Ki Tavo, Deut. 26:11, which instructs us to include the alien in our rejoicing. That openness needs to be admired and nourished, and the community in which it was manifest needs to be proud of their spiritual achievement.
Rabbi Saul J. Berman, Director of Edah, teaches Jewish Law at Stern College and at Columbia University School of Law.
Rabbi Saul J. Berman, Director of Edah, teaches Jewish Law
Edah
45 West 36th Street,10th Floor
New York,NY 10018
www.edah.org 1-212-244-7501
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3. My Two Letters Recently Sent to the New York Times
a. September 27, 2005
Editor, New Your Times
Letters@nytimes.com
Dear Editor:
There may be some dispute about the healthiest foods ("Which of These Foods Will Stop Cancer? Not So Fast;" September 17 issue), but there can be no doubt that plant-based diets are best for the health of our imperiled planet.
The annual raising of 50 billion farmed animals worldwide (10 billion in the U.S. alone) generally under "factory farm" conditions contributes substantially to soil erosion and depletion, the destruction of tropical rain forests and other valuable habitats, rapid species extinction, global warming, and other environmental threats, and requires vast amounts of water, fuel, and other scarce resources. Over seventy percent of the grain produced in the U.S. is fed to farmed animals and more than half of our water is used to help raise feed crops for these animals, as an estimated 20 million people die worldwide annually and billions suffer from inadequate food and clean water. Hence. it is essential that there be a major shift toward plant-centered diets in order to move our planet to a more sustainable path.
Very truly yours,
Richard H. Schwartz
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September 28, 2005
Editor, the New York Times
letters@nytimes.com
Dear Editor:
Your editorial that concludes that the "worst outcomes [of global warming] may be avoided if the world takes concerted action to stabilize industrial emissions of greenhouse gases" (Time to Connect the Dots," September 28, 2005 issue)," fails to address an important way that every person can contribute.
Current intensive livestock agriculture and the consumption of meat contribute greatly to the four major gases associated with the greenhouse effect: carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous oxides, and chlorofluorocarbons.
The burning of tropical forests to create grazing land and land to grow feed crops for farmed animals releases tons of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere and eliminates the ability of these trees to absorb carbon dioxide.Also, the highly mechanized agricultural sector uses an enormous amount of fossil fuel to produce pesticides, chemical fertilizer, and other agricultural resources, and this also contributes significantly to carbon dioxide emissions.Cattle emit methane as part of their digestive processes, as do termites who feast on the charred remains of trees that were burned. The large amounts of petrochemical fertilizers used to produce feed crops create significant quantities of nitrous oxides.Likewise, the increased refrigeration necessary to prevent animal products from spoiling adds chlorofluorocarbons to the atmosphere.
Hence, a switch toward plant-based diets is essential for the health and sustainability of our imperiled planet.
Very truly yours,
Richard H. Schwartz
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5. Another Letter in Yosef Hakohen’s Series on Jewish Teachings About Animals
The Journey to Unity - 142
Hunting Animals for Sport: A Commentary on the News
The following is an excerpt from an article in the Sunday New York Times by Pam Belluck titled, "Girls and Boys, Meet Nature. Bring Your Gun" (September 18th, 2005):
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Samantha, a freckle-faced, pony-tailed fourth grader, was on a bear hunt. Not the pretend kind memorialized in picture books and summer-camp chants, but a real one for black bears that live in the woods of southwestern Vermont and can weigh 150 pounds or more.
She had won a "dream hunt" given away by a Vermont man whose goal is to get more children to hunt, and she had traveled about 200 miles from her home in Bellingham, Mass., and was missing three days of school to take him up on his offer.
"Almost everything you hunt is pretty fun," said Samantha, grinning and perfectly at home with a group of five men, the youngest of whom was nearly three times her age....The dream hunt - all expenses paid, including taxidermy - was the brainchild of Kevin Hoyt, a 35-year-old hunting instructor who quit a job as a structural steel draftsman a few years ago and decided to dedicate himself to getting children across the country interested in hunting.
His efforts reflect what hunting advocates across the country say is an increasingly urgent priority, and what hunting opponents find troubling: recruiting more children to sustain the sport of hunting, which has been losing participants of all ages for two decades.
"Forty years from now our kids will be learning about this as history," said Larry Gauthier, one of Mr. Hoyt's buddies on the bear hunt. "Hunters should be included as an extinct species because we're falling away so fast, we need to be protected."
This year, three pro-hunting groups - the National Shooting Sports Foundation, the U.S. Sportsmen's Alliance and the National Wild Turkey Federation - started Families Afield, a program to lobby states to lower the age at which children can hunt or to loosen the requirements for a child to accompany a parent on a hunt.
Dear Friends,
We shall begin our commentary on the above news item with the following excerpt from "The Vison of Eden" by Rabbi David Sears:
"Where the wall paintings and bas-reliefs of ancient Assyria and Egypt extol the drama of the hunt, the Torah associates such pursuits exclusively with villains such as Nimrod and Esau. Not only is hunting for sport forbidden; to the Jewish mind, it is almost unthinkable." (Page 62).
Rabbi Sears later cites Rabbi Yechezkel Landau, the noted authority on Torah law, who writes: "Throughout the Torah, we find the sport of hunting imputed only to Nimrod and Esau. This is not the way of the descendants of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob." (Noda B'Yehudah, Yoreh Deah, no. 10)
When I was growing up in New York City during the 1950's and 60's, hunting was a popular American sport, but not among American Jews. Although the majority of American Jews did not receive a traditional Jewish education, they had a vague awareness that Judaism does not allow us to take the life of a living creature for sport.
During the early 80's, I attended a staff conference at a kosher Jewish hotel in the Catskill Mountains of New York State, and the owner was an elderly Orthodox Jewish man. He reminded us that Torah law forbids hunting for sport. Although hunting was a popular sport in his region, he told us with pride that he did not allow hunting on his large hotel estate; thus, the entire estate had become a refuge for wild animals and birds, as they sensed that they were safe there.
Although many Jews have assimilated into modern western culture, the aversion to hunting for sport is still strong among Jews who feel a bond with their spiritual tradition. For example, in Orthodox or traditional Jewish communities, parents do not take their children to wilderness areas in order to hunt; instead, they take them to wilderness areas in order to experience the "niflaos Ha-Boreh" - the wonders of the Creator.
In general, causing pain to animals for the sake of "sport" or "entertainment" is contrary to traditional Jewish teachings and laws. This is why activities such as "bull fights" or "animal fights" were unknown among Jews.As Rabbi David Sears writes:
"When Roman citizens flocked to attend animal fights in the Colosseum, such gruesome entertainments were unheard of among the Jews. According to the Talmud (Avodah Zarah 18b), animal fights epitomize the "dwelling place of scorners" so vehemently decried by the Book of Psalms (1:1). Indeed, the author of Chavas Da'as (a classic work on Jewish law) deems one who attends a bullfight or similar event "an accomplice to murder." (The Vision of Eden, pages 62, 63).
The historian Josephus writes that King Herod, who ruled the Jewish state towards the end of the Second Temple period, upset the Jewish people by bringing in Roman sports which involved animal fights:
“Herod also got together a great quantity of wild beasts, and of lions in very great abundance, and of such other beasts as were either of uncommon strength or of such a sort as were rarely seen. These were trained either to fight one with another, or men who were condemned to death were to fight with them. And truly foreigners were greatly surprised and delighted at the vast expenses of the shows, and at the great danger of the spectacles, but to the Jews it was a palpable breaking up of those customs for which they had so great a veneration.” (Josephus, Antiquities of the Jews.)
To some extent, we are in a similar situation today, for some of the practices of modern civilization regarding the treatment of animals are not in harmony with the compassionate Jewish teachings and laws for which we had so great a veneration. As we return to our spiritual roots and begin to rediscover these ancient teachings and laws, we will gain a deeper understanding of our holistic spiritual tradition.
Shalom,
Yosef Ben Shlomo Hakohen(See below)
Comments:
1. The above teachings should serve as a reminder to those of us who have pets that these creatures are not "toys" made for our entertainment. Having a pet is an ethical and spiritual responsibility; thus, we should be aware of the particular needs of the creatures in our possession. In addition, the Torah also teaches that we are obligated to feed them before we feed ourselves. For further study about caring for animals in our possession, you can review the following two articles which appear in the archive (lower section) on our website:
A. Emulating the Divine Nuturing
B. Caring for Animals
2. Your New Year contributions to support "Hazon - Our Universal Vision" are greatly appreciated. They can be sent to: Yosef Ben Shlomo Hakohen P.O.B. 16012, Bayit Vegan, Jerusalem. (The checks should be made out to Yosef Ben Shlomo Hakohen.) Please include your e-mail address, so I can send you a thank you note.
Hazon - Our Universal Vision: www.shemayisrael.co.il/publicat/hazon/
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6. “World's Most Comprehensive Vegetarian Web Site, GoVeg.com, Launched
Forwarded message from PETA:
Please forward this to everyone in your address book, to other lists, add a banner to your Web site or auto-signature, etc. (and feel free to send me any changes/corrections/suggestions):
We are thrilled to announce that PETA has launched the world's most comprehensive vegetarian web site, GoVeg.com. Whether you're looking for information on the latest study about meat industry exploitation of workers, government prioritizing industry over protecting the environment, or video and photos from factory farms, GoVeg.com is the site to visit. Here are some highlights:
* Vegetarian 101: A snapshot look at why to go vegetarian, a guide on making the transition, delicious recipes, and quotes and ads from your favorite vegetarian celebrities.
* Photo Galleries-A compelling photographic account of what really happens on factory farms and in slaughterhouses.
* Video Gallery-Educational videos, undercover investigations, commercials, and more.
* Health Concerns-Current and footnoted research about the connections between animal products and heart disease, cancer, obesity, impotence, and more.
* Amazing Animals-All the latest animal behavior research on intelligence of chickens, pigs, fish, turkeys, and cows.
* The Environment-Fully cited information about the environmental impact of the meat industry, laid out in a point-by-point discussion of global warming, water pollution, resource depletion, and more.
* World Hunger-An in-depth look at the link between feeding grains to animals and starving humans in the developing world.
* Worker Rights-A thorough analysis of chicken contract workers, the "most dangerous job in America" (working in a slaughterhouse), and other ways that eating meat supports the abuse of workers.
* Poisoning Communities-Factory farms sicken and kill people in surrounding communities.
* Government Regulation-Sobering research into the ties between the meat industry and the Federal government-both executive and legislative, and how this results in bad environmental, worker protection, and public safety laws and regulations-and no protection for animals.
PLUS: Activism ideas for every schedule, an online shopping guide, health information every parent should know, scientific research into toxins in meat, book and Web site recommendations, links to our favorite vegetarian literature and merchandise, and much, much more!
You can make a difference for farmed animals by spreading the word about this amazing new resource: Forward this message to your family and friends, post a message on your listserv, and add a link to GoVeg.com to your web site or in your e-signature.
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7. Update on Saving Animals Injured or Abandoned in the Wake of Katrina
Forwarded message:
In another seven long days on the front lines in New Orleans, PETA's team—thanks to your generous support—has rescued more than 100 additional animals, including a potbellied pig who team leader Laura Brown said" snorted with happiness" as she lapped up water in our van. At PETA.org, we take you with our teamas it saves the pig and seeks out, befriends, and brings countless cats and dogs, including dogs who had obviously been used in illegal dogfights, to safety.
Dozens of Canine Survivors of Katrina Now Calling PETA Home
On Wednesday morning, we welcomed 32 dogs rescued from New Orleansto our Norfolk, Virginia, headquarters. As the recreational vehicle, driven some 1,000 miles by three PETA staff members, pulled into the parking lot, staff and local community residents who will be fostering and caring for the animals waited anxiously to greet the new arrivals. Many of the dogs are very scared and traumatized, but we found each of them a quiet, comfortable place to rest. Video of the dogs and their arrival in Norfolk can be seen here.
Thank you for your time and your compassion for animals.
Sincerely,
Ingrid E. Newkirk
President
P.S. Please take a moment to donate to PETA's Animal Emergency Fundand help us ensure that no animal will ever endure the tragedy of the last three weeks again.
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8. Organic or Free Range Animal Products?? What's the truth?
Abstract: These labels may conjure up images of animals roaming freely in green pastures, but the reality of life and death for animals on organic, free-range, ACC, or SWAP farms is very different. On organic and free-range farms, most animals are mutilated without the use of painkillers; kept in filthy, disease-ridden sheds; and forced to endure long trips to slaughter without food or water. There are no humane slaughterhouses—in fact, free-range and organic animals are often sent to the same slaughterhouses that kill animals from factory farms......
Organic and Free-Range Animal Products: Fact or Fiction?
A recent Gallup poll found that 96 percent of Americans believe that animals should be protected from cruelty, yet animals on today's farms receive no protection from even the worst abuses.1 As people become more aware of the horrors of factory farming, companies are responding by adding labels to their products with comforting words such as organic, free-range, Animal Care Certified (ACC), Swine Welfare Assurance Program (SWAP), and so on.
These labels may conjure up images of animals roaming freely in green pastures, but the reality of life and death for animals on organic, free-range, ACC, or SWAP farms is very different. On organic and free-range farms, most animals are mutilated without the use of painkillers; kept in filthy, disease-ridden sheds; and forced to endure long trips to slaughter without food or water. There are no humane slaughterhouses in fact, free-range and organic animals are often sent to the same slaughterhouses that kill animals from factory farms.
By far, the most common animal “welfare” labels are ACC and SWAP. These labels are simply fancy names for factory farming—both were created by egg and meat lobbying groups, and both simply serve to put a happy face on the absolute worst practices in today's factory farms.
ACC should be an acronym for Animal CrueltyCertified: The program allows factory farmers to burn hens' beaks with a hot blade, cram six or seven hens into a tiny cage where they cannot spread even one wing, house them in filthy sheds with more than 100,000 other hens, and use food withholding to induce physiological shock so that the birds will lay more eggs.2 Watch what happens on ACC farms.
The SWAP label shows a gentle hand cradling a pig. In reality, SWAP allows all the worst abuses, including cramming mother pigs into filthy crates so small that they can't even turn around and cutting piglets' ears, ripping out their testicles, and chopping off their tails (all without the use of painkillers). It even allows farms to kill sick piglets by slamming their heads into the pavement.3 Most people would agree that the products from animals who are abused in these ways should not be labeled “care certified” or “welfare assurance,” but the meat and egg industries have adopted these phrases to con consumers and increase their profits.
Besides usually being either little or no better for animals, animal products with labels designed to make us feel good about eating animals are almost as harmful to our health as the regular products. The only advantage that organic products have is that they will not be laced with arsenic, antibiotics, or hormones, and although flesh from these animals might be safer than that from drugged animals, the best choice is to avoid all meat. Organic, natural, and free-range flesh, milk, and eggs are devoid of complex carbohydrates and fiber and are laden with artery-clogging saturated fat and cholesterol, just as all animal products are. Major studies linking the consumption of animal products to heart disease, cancer, and other leading killers suggest that it's these components of animal foods: animal fat, animal protein, and a lack of fiber that cause disease. Organic and free-range animals are killed in the same filthy slaughterhouses as animals from factory farms, so their flesh is subject to the same bacterial contamination from the unsanitary conditions.
A Word on Farmed Fish
The meat industry has also been promoting farm-raised fish as a sustainable alternative to wild-caught fish. What the industry doesn't want you to know is that farm-raised fish must be fed 5 pounds of wild-caught fish in order to produce just 1 pound of meat, making aquafarming worse by a factor of five than commercial fishing, which is destroying our aquatic eco-systems.4 Fish farms cause fish to suffer too conditions on some aquafarms are so horrendous that as many as 40 percent of the fish die before farmers can kill and package them for food.5 Farmed-fish flesh contains contaminants such as mercury, dioxins, PCBs, and other toxins.
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1 David W. Moore, “Public Lukewarm on Animal Rights,” Gallup News Service, 21 May 2003.
2 Animal Care Certified, “UEP's Animal Care Certified Program,” 2004.
3 National Pork Board, “Swine Welfare Assurance Program,” 2003.
4 John Robbins, The Food Revolution (Berkeley: Conari Press, 2001) p. 298.
5 “Authority Wants to Stop ‘Fish Torture,'” Aftenposten, 28 Jul. 2004.
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9. More Re Efforts To Stop Expansion of Horse Racing in Israel
Forwarded article:
Israeli animal rights group leads effort against horse racing
By Allison Kaplan Sommer
September 25, 2005
Hakol Chai is calling on Israelis and supporters of its cause abroad to write to the relevant ministers and sign its petition against bringing gambling on horse racing to Israel.
Operation Noah's Ark - Evacuating the animals
An animal rights group in Israel is working to prevent the building of a horseracing track and the introduction of the sport into Israel - the latest initiative in a wave of growing awareness and activism in the country promoting the humane treatment of animals.
"Israel as a democratic state should carry the flag of change and not follow old traditional ideas of horse racing," declared Merav Barlev, director of the animal rights and animal rescue organization, Hakol Chai (Everything is Alive).
The controversy began last year, when a high-level government panel of financial and social affairs considered the issue and recommended that government permission be given to build at least two large racetracks.
For decades, there has been a strong private lobby to allow gambling in Israel in various forms, contending that casinos and other gambling outlets they will give a crucial boost to the economy and tourism. Until now, they have been unsuccessful against the powerful religious lobby -which contends that gambling is immoral - and social welfare groups that warn of the vulnerability of those who will be susceptible to uncontrollable gambling impulses and its negative ramifications for the society, as well as the potential for strengthening criminal elements.
But Hakol Chai's concerns about horse racing focuses on the animals - they filed an appeal of the government panel's decision in Israel's Supreme Court, claiming that the "unavoidable cruelty inherent in the industry" should keep it out of Israel.
"When we first heard of the government's decision, we sent letters to the ministers involved," recounted Tali Lavie, spokesperson and lobbyist for the organization.
In the responses, received only recently, she said, "they indicated that when they weighed all of the factors for and against horse racing, animal welfare wasn't even considered - only economic and issues of tourism. We view not even considering animal welfare as a huge flaw in the process," Lavie said.
Indeed, in their petition to the Supreme Court, the group argued that "the ministers in favor of introducing horse racing only considered economic concerns - such as employment gains, and not wider animal welfare concerns - as required by law."
Lavie says that horse racing has become an item on the agenda of animal rights groups around the world.
"Until a few years ago, everyone looked at horse racing as a glamorous sport," she told ISRAEL21c. "But in the last few years, animal rights organizations all over the year are bringing it to public attention that things look very different backstage. Animal organizations in England and Australia are now recognizing the fact that the way the horses are treated very, very cruelly. In these countries, racing is a tradition, which has been going on for many years, so it is very hard to take it out it out of their system. But here in Israel, we haven't started anything yet. We need to know the consequences of entering such a cruel industry and stay away from it."
The organization is calling on Israelis and supporters of its cause abroad to write to the relevant ministers and sign its petition against bringing gambling on horse racing to Israel.
Hakol Chai is a relatively new organization in Israel, an addition to the growing array of animal welfare groups. They are affiliated with the US organization 'CHAI - US Concern for Helping Animals in Israel', based in Alexandria, VA.
In addition to their work lobbying on the horse racing issue and other legal initiatives, they have created educational programs about animal welfare for adults and children, and have set up a mobile clinic to spay and neuter cats and dogs to reduce the population of strays.
Hakol Chai was one of the organizations which were active in rescuing animals and relocating who were left behind in the disengagement process from Gaza, with a mobile unit that worked day and night to pick up abandoned, stray or animals who had escaped during the chaotic disengagement process.
At the urging of the government and with the cooperation of IDF soldiers, many of whom fed the animals with their own rations until help came for them, they took out as many animals as they could before the withdrawal was completed.
With all of its existential political and security concerns, issues like protecting the environment and animal rights have long taken a back seat in Israel, and it has been traditionally hard for advocates to strike a responsive chord with authorities and the Israeli public. But that has clearly changed.
"There's been a major shift in awareness over the past few years," says Lavie.
Political scientist Reuven Hazan attributes the increased awareness and activity in Israel regarding areas like the environment and animal rights to a combination of factors.
"First, after 57 years of fighting the existential battle, Israelis have realized that while they want secure borders, they also need to focus on what kind of an environment and society exists within those borders," said Hazan, a senior lecturer at Hebrew University in Jerusalem. "At the same time, there are many people are tired of the conflict, are tired of the parties, tired of the solutions that aren't solutions - war hasn't worked and trying to make peace hasn't worked - so they are turning to issues that impact their day to day life and in which they can make a difference."
He sees it as a positive trend. "Certainly, the growth of civil society politics is good. I think it's to be praised, as I think there aren't going to be any clear solutions to our bigger problems in the next five years - so more power to them. Obviously, I would be displeased if they are focusing on animal rights only because they are turned off to all of the major political issues. But I would think the Israeli voters can work on multiple dimensions, just as Americans do."
Another recent sign of the increasing visibility and influence of the animal rights lobby occurred earlier this month when the fashion chain Castro unveiled a fall/winter 2005-2006 collection which included clothing with real fox and rabbit fur trims.
When they learned of the inclusion of fur, animal rights groups were able to mobilize rapidly, organizing demonstrations outside the company's stores in Tel Aviv and Jerusalem, collecting thousands of signatures on a petition against the use of fur, and bombarding the company with E-mails and phone calls.
In just three weeks, the company's co-directors Etty and Gabi Rotter surrendered to the pressure, and issued a statement to their customers that the company would refrain from manufacturing any future garments with fur.
With so much left to improve in the treatment of animals in Israel, Lavie contends there is no reason to bring in and new and highly problematic industry like horseracing. She details the abuses in the industry.
"First of all, a very large number of racehorses are slaughtered at a young age. Thirty percent who are born are slaughtered because they aren't fast enough. In the industry many are bred so they can choose fast ones. Many suffer injuries and are euthanized as a result of their injuries. Many of the horses are drugged - so they can race even when injured and other drugging is for covering up the serious health problems.
"Ninety-fine percent of racehorses bleed in their lungs, which can be fatal, many have chronic stomach ulcers, and some have heart problems which can cause them to collapse in the track. The horses are whipped up to 30 whips in a race. They are continually transported in inhumane conditions - sometimes they can change hands five or six times within a month," she said.
"The problem here is not the racing horses and it is not the gambling. It's the combination. Gambling sacrifices the animal welfare. It's all about money - that becomes what is important: any combination of animals and gambling is very, very bad."
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This update/Jewish Vegetarians of North America (JVNA) Online Newsletter has the following items:
1. Shanah Tovah (Best Wishes For a Wonderful New Year)
2. D’var Torah on Jewish Teachings on Compassion and Social Justice Related to Katrina
3. My Two Letters Recently Sent to the New York Times
5. Another Letter in Yosef Hakohen’s Series on Jewish Teachings About Animals
6. World's Most Comprehensive Vegetarian Web Site, GoVeg.com, Launched
7. Update on Saving Animals Injured or Abandoned in the Wake of Katrina
8. Organic or Free Range Animal Products?? What's the truth?
9. More Re Efforts To Stop Expansion of Horse Racing in Israel
Some material has been deferred to a later update/newsletter to keep this one from being even longer.
[Materials in brackets like this [] within an article or forwarded message are my editorial notes/comments.]
Opinions expressed do not necessarily represent the views of the JVNA, unless otherwise indicated, but may be presented to increase awareness and/or to encourage respectful dialogue. Also, material re conferences, retreats, forums, trips, and other events does not necessarily imply endorsement by JVNA or endorsement of kashrut, Shabbat observances, or any other Jewish observance, but may be presented for informational purposes. Please use e-mail addresses, telephone numbers, and web sites to get further information about any event that you are interested in.
As always, your comments and suggestions are very welcome.
Thanks,
Richard
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1. Shanah Tovah (Best Wishes For a Wonderful New Year)
a. Wishing you all a very healthy, happy, uplifting and inspiring, peaceful, environmentally sustainable, humane and compassionate, love-filled New Year. May it be a year of joy, fellowship, fulfillment, good health, growth, and wonderful, completely unexpected surprises.
Shanah Tovah U'metukah,
Richard
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b. Please see my article “Rosh Hashanah and Vegetarianism” and my other holiday articles at the holiday section at JewishVeg.com/schwartz.
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c. Suggested Inspirational Videos
1) Recommendation by author and JVNA advisor Yosef Hakohen:
I recommend a one minute film called "Starting Over" which relates to the way the upheavals in the world during the last year have caused many people to begin their lives anew. The film contains a universal and spiritual Jewish message which is especially relevant for Rosh Hashana - the New Year. In the background, one can hear the moving singing of Cantor Moshe Bazian, who is chanting an ancient Aramaic prayer for this season known as "Rachmana." The following is the translation of the prayer that he is chanting: "The Loving One Who answers the poor, may He answer us. The Loving One Who answers the brokenhearted, may He answer us."
The film can be viewed at: http://www.aish.com/a/startingover.asp or go to the main site www.aish.com.
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2) Car Wash - 30 Second Movie
http://www.aish.com/a/RoshHashana_carwash.asp
[I have seen both videos, and I also recommend them.]
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2. D’var Torah on Jewish Teachings on Compassion and Social Justice Related to Katrina
Katrina and Torah of Kindness
By Rabbi Saul J. Berman
Parshat Ki Tavo
September 23, 2005
19th of Elul 5765
[Thanks to Yosef Hakohen for translating the Hebrew terms.]
From the beginning of the Book of Devarim (Deuteronomy), every single weekly portion has contained some specific legislation for the protection of the weak, the underprivileged, the poor.
In Parshat Devarim, at Deut. 1:16-17, the demand of fairness in judicial process even to the alien. In Parshat VaEtchanan, at Deut. 5:14-15, the command that even aliens and servants be allowed to rest on the Shabbat, because we remember what it was like to be aliens and slaves.
In Parshat Ekev, at Deut. 10:19, the Mitzvah of loving the stranger, because we were strangers in the land of Egypt.
In Parshat Re’eh, at Deut. 14:29, the duty to pay the tithe for support of the poor. Also in that Parsha, at Deut. 15:7-11, the duty to lend to the poor and to provide "dei machsoro," "that which he lacks."
In Parshat Shoftim, at Deut. 20:1-9, the ceremony of expiation of communal failure of responsibility, when an anonymous victim of homicide is found outside a town. In Parshat Ki Tetze, at Deut 23:16, a runaway slave is protected; at24:10-11 a debtor is protected from intrusion into his home by the creditor; at 24:14-15 immediate payment of day laborers is demanded; and at 24:19 the poor are assured access to agricultural produce at the time of harvest. All of this is motivated by the demand thatwe remember what it felt like to be slaves in the land of Egypt.
And in Parshat Ki Tavo, at Deut 26:1-11, the Torah commands us to recite the Vidui Bikkurim (a statement made when bringing the first fruits of the harvest to the Temple), the verbal affirmation of our awareness of the Divine goodness which produced our harvest. At the conclusion of that declaration the Torah says, "And you shall rejoice with all of good which the Lord your God gave to you and your household – you and the Levite and the alien who is amongst you."
This sense of inclusiveness and sharing, out of appreciation of the gifts which God has given us, is fundamental to the Jewish understanding of individual responsibility to the poor and the dislocated.
This past week I spent from Thursday through Sunday in Houston, Texas. Itaught Torah at the United Orthodox Synagogues, led so ably by Rabbi Barry Gelman, and at the Robert Beren Jewish High School, and I visited the area of the Astrodome where the remaining evacuees from New Orleans are being housed and supported. But I learned infinitely more than I taught over that weekend.
I learned what it means for an entire Jewish community to actualize the Torah’s teachings about caring for the poor, the stranger and the dislocated. I saw a Jewish Federation at its best, able to bring together the entire community to share its resources, to house, to feed, to clothe, to counsel, to provide medical care, job opportunities, Day School placements for children, and religious support. I saw a Jewish community united in deeply cooperative spirit to fulfill the Torah’s high expectation, that we learn from our own historical experience to be sensitive to the alien and the underprivileged.
I saw Rabbis, doctors, housewives, social workers, teachers, community organization professionals, lawyers, and business men and women - all overworked to begin with - add hours to their days to provide sensitive and loving care to families and individuals who found themselves suddenly homeless and without the simplest rudiments ofnormal life. What an extraordinary Kiddush Hashem (Sanctification of the Divine Name)! What an unusually broad and deep integration of the Divine quality of Chesed, kindness, into daily life!
It is striking that God identifies Himself, in the 13 Divine Attributes (Names), as Rav Chessed, great in kindness. The greatness of God’s kindness resides in its individualized nature. God, knowing the precise and true needs of every individual, is able to respond not from a single template of needs, but from an accurate assessment of the distinctive needs of each individual. The Torah commands us to do the same in our treatment of the poor when it insists, in Deut. 15:8, that we provide, "dei machsoro asher yechsar lo," "in accordance with the very thing that person lacks."
I saw the openness of heart which is necessary to fulfill the verse inparshat Ki Tavo, Deut. 26:11, which instructs us to include the alien in our rejoicing. That openness needs to be admired and nourished, and the community in which it was manifest needs to be proud of their spiritual achievement.
Rabbi Saul J. Berman, Director of Edah, teaches Jewish Law at Stern College and at Columbia University School of Law.
Rabbi Saul J. Berman, Director of Edah, teaches Jewish Law
Edah
45 West 36th Street,10th Floor
New York,NY 10018
www.edah.org 1-212-244-7501
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3. My Two Letters Recently Sent to the New York Times
a. September 27, 2005
Editor, New Your Times
Letters@nytimes.com
Dear Editor:
There may be some dispute about the healthiest foods ("Which of These Foods Will Stop Cancer? Not So Fast;" September 17 issue), but there can be no doubt that plant-based diets are best for the health of our imperiled planet.
The annual raising of 50 billion farmed animals worldwide (10 billion in the U.S. alone) generally under "factory farm" conditions contributes substantially to soil erosion and depletion, the destruction of tropical rain forests and other valuable habitats, rapid species extinction, global warming, and other environmental threats, and requires vast amounts of water, fuel, and other scarce resources. Over seventy percent of the grain produced in the U.S. is fed to farmed animals and more than half of our water is used to help raise feed crops for these animals, as an estimated 20 million people die worldwide annually and billions suffer from inadequate food and clean water. Hence. it is essential that there be a major shift toward plant-centered diets in order to move our planet to a more sustainable path.
Very truly yours,
Richard H. Schwartz
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September 28, 2005
Editor, the New York Times
letters@nytimes.com
Dear Editor:
Your editorial that concludes that the "worst outcomes [of global warming] may be avoided if the world takes concerted action to stabilize industrial emissions of greenhouse gases" (Time to Connect the Dots," September 28, 2005 issue)," fails to address an important way that every person can contribute.
Current intensive livestock agriculture and the consumption of meat contribute greatly to the four major gases associated with the greenhouse effect: carbon dioxide, methane, nitrous oxides, and chlorofluorocarbons.
The burning of tropical forests to create grazing land and land to grow feed crops for farmed animals releases tons of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere and eliminates the ability of these trees to absorb carbon dioxide.Also, the highly mechanized agricultural sector uses an enormous amount of fossil fuel to produce pesticides, chemical fertilizer, and other agricultural resources, and this also contributes significantly to carbon dioxide emissions.Cattle emit methane as part of their digestive processes, as do termites who feast on the charred remains of trees that were burned. The large amounts of petrochemical fertilizers used to produce feed crops create significant quantities of nitrous oxides.Likewise, the increased refrigeration necessary to prevent animal products from spoiling adds chlorofluorocarbons to the atmosphere.
Hence, a switch toward plant-based diets is essential for the health and sustainability of our imperiled planet.
Very truly yours,
Richard H. Schwartz
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5. Another Letter in Yosef Hakohen’s Series on Jewish Teachings About Animals
The Journey to Unity - 142
Hunting Animals for Sport: A Commentary on the News
The following is an excerpt from an article in the Sunday New York Times by Pam Belluck titled, "Girls and Boys, Meet Nature. Bring Your Gun" (September 18th, 2005):
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Samantha, a freckle-faced, pony-tailed fourth grader, was on a bear hunt. Not the pretend kind memorialized in picture books and summer-camp chants, but a real one for black bears that live in the woods of southwestern Vermont and can weigh 150 pounds or more.
She had won a "dream hunt" given away by a Vermont man whose goal is to get more children to hunt, and she had traveled about 200 miles from her home in Bellingham, Mass., and was missing three days of school to take him up on his offer.
"Almost everything you hunt is pretty fun," said Samantha, grinning and perfectly at home with a group of five men, the youngest of whom was nearly three times her age....The dream hunt - all expenses paid, including taxidermy - was the brainchild of Kevin Hoyt, a 35-year-old hunting instructor who quit a job as a structural steel draftsman a few years ago and decided to dedicate himself to getting children across the country interested in hunting.
His efforts reflect what hunting advocates across the country say is an increasingly urgent priority, and what hunting opponents find troubling: recruiting more children to sustain the sport of hunting, which has been losing participants of all ages for two decades.
"Forty years from now our kids will be learning about this as history," said Larry Gauthier, one of Mr. Hoyt's buddies on the bear hunt. "Hunters should be included as an extinct species because we're falling away so fast, we need to be protected."
This year, three pro-hunting groups - the National Shooting Sports Foundation, the U.S. Sportsmen's Alliance and the National Wild Turkey Federation - started Families Afield, a program to lobby states to lower the age at which children can hunt or to loosen the requirements for a child to accompany a parent on a hunt.
Dear Friends,
We shall begin our commentary on the above news item with the following excerpt from "The Vison of Eden" by Rabbi David Sears:
"Where the wall paintings and bas-reliefs of ancient Assyria and Egypt extol the drama of the hunt, the Torah associates such pursuits exclusively with villains such as Nimrod and Esau. Not only is hunting for sport forbidden; to the Jewish mind, it is almost unthinkable." (Page 62).
Rabbi Sears later cites Rabbi Yechezkel Landau, the noted authority on Torah law, who writes: "Throughout the Torah, we find the sport of hunting imputed only to Nimrod and Esau. This is not the way of the descendants of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob." (Noda B'Yehudah, Yoreh Deah, no. 10)
When I was growing up in New York City during the 1950's and 60's, hunting was a popular American sport, but not among American Jews. Although the majority of American Jews did not receive a traditional Jewish education, they had a vague awareness that Judaism does not allow us to take the life of a living creature for sport.
During the early 80's, I attended a staff conference at a kosher Jewish hotel in the Catskill Mountains of New York State, and the owner was an elderly Orthodox Jewish man. He reminded us that Torah law forbids hunting for sport. Although hunting was a popular sport in his region, he told us with pride that he did not allow hunting on his large hotel estate; thus, the entire estate had become a refuge for wild animals and birds, as they sensed that they were safe there.
Although many Jews have assimilated into modern western culture, the aversion to hunting for sport is still strong among Jews who feel a bond with their spiritual tradition. For example, in Orthodox or traditional Jewish communities, parents do not take their children to wilderness areas in order to hunt; instead, they take them to wilderness areas in order to experience the "niflaos Ha-Boreh" - the wonders of the Creator.
In general, causing pain to animals for the sake of "sport" or "entertainment" is contrary to traditional Jewish teachings and laws. This is why activities such as "bull fights" or "animal fights" were unknown among Jews.As Rabbi David Sears writes:
"When Roman citizens flocked to attend animal fights in the Colosseum, such gruesome entertainments were unheard of among the Jews. According to the Talmud (Avodah Zarah 18b), animal fights epitomize the "dwelling place of scorners" so vehemently decried by the Book of Psalms (1:1). Indeed, the author of Chavas Da'as (a classic work on Jewish law) deems one who attends a bullfight or similar event "an accomplice to murder." (The Vision of Eden, pages 62, 63).
The historian Josephus writes that King Herod, who ruled the Jewish state towards the end of the Second Temple period, upset the Jewish people by bringing in Roman sports which involved animal fights:
“Herod also got together a great quantity of wild beasts, and of lions in very great abundance, and of such other beasts as were either of uncommon strength or of such a sort as were rarely seen. These were trained either to fight one with another, or men who were condemned to death were to fight with them. And truly foreigners were greatly surprised and delighted at the vast expenses of the shows, and at the great danger of the spectacles, but to the Jews it was a palpable breaking up of those customs for which they had so great a veneration.” (Josephus, Antiquities of the Jews.)
To some extent, we are in a similar situation today, for some of the practices of modern civilization regarding the treatment of animals are not in harmony with the compassionate Jewish teachings and laws for which we had so great a veneration. As we return to our spiritual roots and begin to rediscover these ancient teachings and laws, we will gain a deeper understanding of our holistic spiritual tradition.
Shalom,
Yosef Ben Shlomo Hakohen(See below)
Comments:
1. The above teachings should serve as a reminder to those of us who have pets that these creatures are not "toys" made for our entertainment. Having a pet is an ethical and spiritual responsibility; thus, we should be aware of the particular needs of the creatures in our possession. In addition, the Torah also teaches that we are obligated to feed them before we feed ourselves. For further study about caring for animals in our possession, you can review the following two articles which appear in the archive (lower section) on our website:
A. Emulating the Divine Nuturing
B. Caring for Animals
2. Your New Year contributions to support "Hazon - Our Universal Vision" are greatly appreciated. They can be sent to: Yosef Ben Shlomo Hakohen P.O.B. 16012, Bayit Vegan, Jerusalem. (The checks should be made out to Yosef Ben Shlomo Hakohen.) Please include your e-mail address, so I can send you a thank you note.
Hazon - Our Universal Vision: www.shemayisrael.co.il/publicat/hazon/
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6. “World's Most Comprehensive Vegetarian Web Site, GoVeg.com, Launched
Forwarded message from PETA:
Please forward this to everyone in your address book, to other lists, add a banner to your Web site or auto-signature, etc. (and feel free to send me any changes/corrections/suggestions):
We are thrilled to announce that PETA has launched the world's most comprehensive vegetarian web site, GoVeg.com. Whether you're looking for information on the latest study about meat industry exploitation of workers, government prioritizing industry over protecting the environment, or video and photos from factory farms, GoVeg.com is the site to visit. Here are some highlights:
* Vegetarian 101: A snapshot look at why to go vegetarian, a guide on making the transition, delicious recipes, and quotes and ads from your favorite vegetarian celebrities.
* Photo Galleries-A compelling photographic account of what really happens on factory farms and in slaughterhouses.
* Video Gallery-Educational videos, undercover investigations, commercials, and more.
* Health Concerns-Current and footnoted research about the connections between animal products and heart disease, cancer, obesity, impotence, and more.
* Amazing Animals-All the latest animal behavior research on intelligence of chickens, pigs, fish, turkeys, and cows.
* The Environment-Fully cited information about the environmental impact of the meat industry, laid out in a point-by-point discussion of global warming, water pollution, resource depletion, and more.
* World Hunger-An in-depth look at the link between feeding grains to animals and starving humans in the developing world.
* Worker Rights-A thorough analysis of chicken contract workers, the "most dangerous job in America" (working in a slaughterhouse), and other ways that eating meat supports the abuse of workers.
* Poisoning Communities-Factory farms sicken and kill people in surrounding communities.
* Government Regulation-Sobering research into the ties between the meat industry and the Federal government-both executive and legislative, and how this results in bad environmental, worker protection, and public safety laws and regulations-and no protection for animals.
PLUS: Activism ideas for every schedule, an online shopping guide, health information every parent should know, scientific research into toxins in meat, book and Web site recommendations, links to our favorite vegetarian literature and merchandise, and much, much more!
You can make a difference for farmed animals by spreading the word about this amazing new resource: Forward this message to your family and friends, post a message on your listserv, and add a link to GoVeg.com to your web site or in your e-signature.
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7. Update on Saving Animals Injured or Abandoned in the Wake of Katrina
Forwarded message:
In another seven long days on the front lines in New Orleans, PETA's team—thanks to your generous support—has rescued more than 100 additional animals, including a potbellied pig who team leader Laura Brown said" snorted with happiness" as she lapped up water in our van. At PETA.org, we take you with our teamas it saves the pig and seeks out, befriends, and brings countless cats and dogs, including dogs who had obviously been used in illegal dogfights, to safety.
Dozens of Canine Survivors of Katrina Now Calling PETA Home
On Wednesday morning, we welcomed 32 dogs rescued from New Orleansto our Norfolk, Virginia, headquarters. As the recreational vehicle, driven some 1,000 miles by three PETA staff members, pulled into the parking lot, staff and local community residents who will be fostering and caring for the animals waited anxiously to greet the new arrivals. Many of the dogs are very scared and traumatized, but we found each of them a quiet, comfortable place to rest. Video of the dogs and their arrival in Norfolk can be seen here.
Thank you for your time and your compassion for animals.
Sincerely,
Ingrid E. Newkirk
President
P.S. Please take a moment to donate to PETA's Animal Emergency Fundand help us ensure that no animal will ever endure the tragedy of the last three weeks again.
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8. Organic or Free Range Animal Products?? What's the truth?
Abstract: These labels may conjure up images of animals roaming freely in green pastures, but the reality of life and death for animals on organic, free-range, ACC, or SWAP farms is very different. On organic and free-range farms, most animals are mutilated without the use of painkillers; kept in filthy, disease-ridden sheds; and forced to endure long trips to slaughter without food or water. There are no humane slaughterhouses—in fact, free-range and organic animals are often sent to the same slaughterhouses that kill animals from factory farms......
Organic and Free-Range Animal Products: Fact or Fiction?
A recent Gallup poll found that 96 percent of Americans believe that animals should be protected from cruelty, yet animals on today's farms receive no protection from even the worst abuses.1 As people become more aware of the horrors of factory farming, companies are responding by adding labels to their products with comforting words such as organic, free-range, Animal Care Certified (ACC), Swine Welfare Assurance Program (SWAP), and so on.
These labels may conjure up images of animals roaming freely in green pastures, but the reality of life and death for animals on organic, free-range, ACC, or SWAP farms is very different. On organic and free-range farms, most animals are mutilated without the use of painkillers; kept in filthy, disease-ridden sheds; and forced to endure long trips to slaughter without food or water. There are no humane slaughterhouses in fact, free-range and organic animals are often sent to the same slaughterhouses that kill animals from factory farms.
By far, the most common animal “welfare” labels are ACC and SWAP. These labels are simply fancy names for factory farming—both were created by egg and meat lobbying groups, and both simply serve to put a happy face on the absolute worst practices in today's factory farms.
ACC should be an acronym for Animal CrueltyCertified: The program allows factory farmers to burn hens' beaks with a hot blade, cram six or seven hens into a tiny cage where they cannot spread even one wing, house them in filthy sheds with more than 100,000 other hens, and use food withholding to induce physiological shock so that the birds will lay more eggs.2 Watch what happens on ACC farms.
The SWAP label shows a gentle hand cradling a pig. In reality, SWAP allows all the worst abuses, including cramming mother pigs into filthy crates so small that they can't even turn around and cutting piglets' ears, ripping out their testicles, and chopping off their tails (all without the use of painkillers). It even allows farms to kill sick piglets by slamming their heads into the pavement.3 Most people would agree that the products from animals who are abused in these ways should not be labeled “care certified” or “welfare assurance,” but the meat and egg industries have adopted these phrases to con consumers and increase their profits.
Besides usually being either little or no better for animals, animal products with labels designed to make us feel good about eating animals are almost as harmful to our health as the regular products. The only advantage that organic products have is that they will not be laced with arsenic, antibiotics, or hormones, and although flesh from these animals might be safer than that from drugged animals, the best choice is to avoid all meat. Organic, natural, and free-range flesh, milk, and eggs are devoid of complex carbohydrates and fiber and are laden with artery-clogging saturated fat and cholesterol, just as all animal products are. Major studies linking the consumption of animal products to heart disease, cancer, and other leading killers suggest that it's these components of animal foods: animal fat, animal protein, and a lack of fiber that cause disease. Organic and free-range animals are killed in the same filthy slaughterhouses as animals from factory farms, so their flesh is subject to the same bacterial contamination from the unsanitary conditions.
A Word on Farmed Fish
The meat industry has also been promoting farm-raised fish as a sustainable alternative to wild-caught fish. What the industry doesn't want you to know is that farm-raised fish must be fed 5 pounds of wild-caught fish in order to produce just 1 pound of meat, making aquafarming worse by a factor of five than commercial fishing, which is destroying our aquatic eco-systems.4 Fish farms cause fish to suffer too conditions on some aquafarms are so horrendous that as many as 40 percent of the fish die before farmers can kill and package them for food.5 Farmed-fish flesh contains contaminants such as mercury, dioxins, PCBs, and other toxins.
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1 David W. Moore, “Public Lukewarm on Animal Rights,” Gallup News Service, 21 May 2003.
2 Animal Care Certified, “UEP's Animal Care Certified Program,” 2004.
3 National Pork Board, “Swine Welfare Assurance Program,” 2003.
4 John Robbins, The Food Revolution (Berkeley: Conari Press, 2001) p. 298.
5 “Authority Wants to Stop ‘Fish Torture,'” Aftenposten, 28 Jul. 2004.
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9. More Re Efforts To Stop Expansion of Horse Racing in Israel
Forwarded article:
Israeli animal rights group leads effort against horse racing
By Allison Kaplan Sommer
September 25, 2005
Hakol Chai is calling on Israelis and supporters of its cause abroad to write to the relevant ministers and sign its petition against bringing gambling on horse racing to Israel.
Operation Noah's Ark - Evacuating the animals
An animal rights group in Israel is working to prevent the building of a horseracing track and the introduction of the sport into Israel - the latest initiative in a wave of growing awareness and activism in the country promoting the humane treatment of animals.
"Israel as a democratic state should carry the flag of change and not follow old traditional ideas of horse racing," declared Merav Barlev, director of the animal rights and animal rescue organization, Hakol Chai (Everything is Alive).
The controversy began last year, when a high-level government panel of financial and social affairs considered the issue and recommended that government permission be given to build at least two large racetracks.
For decades, there has been a strong private lobby to allow gambling in Israel in various forms, contending that casinos and other gambling outlets they will give a crucial boost to the economy and tourism. Until now, they have been unsuccessful against the powerful religious lobby -which contends that gambling is immoral - and social welfare groups that warn of the vulnerability of those who will be susceptible to uncontrollable gambling impulses and its negative ramifications for the society, as well as the potential for strengthening criminal elements.
But Hakol Chai's concerns about horse racing focuses on the animals - they filed an appeal of the government panel's decision in Israel's Supreme Court, claiming that the "unavoidable cruelty inherent in the industry" should keep it out of Israel.
"When we first heard of the government's decision, we sent letters to the ministers involved," recounted Tali Lavie, spokesperson and lobbyist for the organization.
In the responses, received only recently, she said, "they indicated that when they weighed all of the factors for and against horse racing, animal welfare wasn't even considered - only economic and issues of tourism. We view not even considering animal welfare as a huge flaw in the process," Lavie said.
Indeed, in their petition to the Supreme Court, the group argued that "the ministers in favor of introducing horse racing only considered economic concerns - such as employment gains, and not wider animal welfare concerns - as required by law."
Lavie says that horse racing has become an item on the agenda of animal rights groups around the world.
"Until a few years ago, everyone looked at horse racing as a glamorous sport," she told ISRAEL21c. "But in the last few years, animal rights organizations all over the year are bringing it to public attention that things look very different backstage. Animal organizations in England and Australia are now recognizing the fact that the way the horses are treated very, very cruelly. In these countries, racing is a tradition, which has been going on for many years, so it is very hard to take it out it out of their system. But here in Israel, we haven't started anything yet. We need to know the consequences of entering such a cruel industry and stay away from it."
The organization is calling on Israelis and supporters of its cause abroad to write to the relevant ministers and sign its petition against bringing gambling on horse racing to Israel.
Hakol Chai is a relatively new organization in Israel, an addition to the growing array of animal welfare groups. They are affiliated with the US organization 'CHAI - US Concern for Helping Animals in Israel', based in Alexandria, VA.
In addition to their work lobbying on the horse racing issue and other legal initiatives, they have created educational programs about animal welfare for adults and children, and have set up a mobile clinic to spay and neuter cats and dogs to reduce the population of strays.
Hakol Chai was one of the organizations which were active in rescuing animals and relocating who were left behind in the disengagement process from Gaza, with a mobile unit that worked day and night to pick up abandoned, stray or animals who had escaped during the chaotic disengagement process.
At the urging of the government and with the cooperation of IDF soldiers, many of whom fed the animals with their own rations until help came for them, they took out as many animals as they could before the withdrawal was completed.
With all of its existential political and security concerns, issues like protecting the environment and animal rights have long taken a back seat in Israel, and it has been traditionally hard for advocates to strike a responsive chord with authorities and the Israeli public. But that has clearly changed.
"There's been a major shift in awareness over the past few years," says Lavie.
Political scientist Reuven Hazan attributes the increased awareness and activity in Israel regarding areas like the environment and animal rights to a combination of factors.
"First, after 57 years of fighting the existential battle, Israelis have realized that while they want secure borders, they also need to focus on what kind of an environment and society exists within those borders," said Hazan, a senior lecturer at Hebrew University in Jerusalem. "At the same time, there are many people are tired of the conflict, are tired of the parties, tired of the solutions that aren't solutions - war hasn't worked and trying to make peace hasn't worked - so they are turning to issues that impact their day to day life and in which they can make a difference."
He sees it as a positive trend. "Certainly, the growth of civil society politics is good. I think it's to be praised, as I think there aren't going to be any clear solutions to our bigger problems in the next five years - so more power to them. Obviously, I would be displeased if they are focusing on animal rights only because they are turned off to all of the major political issues. But I would think the Israeli voters can work on multiple dimensions, just as Americans do."
Another recent sign of the increasing visibility and influence of the animal rights lobby occurred earlier this month when the fashion chain Castro unveiled a fall/winter 2005-2006 collection which included clothing with real fox and rabbit fur trims.
When they learned of the inclusion of fur, animal rights groups were able to mobilize rapidly, organizing demonstrations outside the company's stores in Tel Aviv and Jerusalem, collecting thousands of signatures on a petition against the use of fur, and bombarding the company with E-mails and phone calls.
In just three weeks, the company's co-directors Etty and Gabi Rotter surrendered to the pressure, and issued a statement to their customers that the company would refrain from manufacturing any future garments with fur.
With so much left to improve in the treatment of animals in Israel, Lavie contends there is no reason to bring in and new and highly problematic industry like horseracing. She details the abuses in the industry.
"First of all, a very large number of racehorses are slaughtered at a young age. Thirty percent who are born are slaughtered because they aren't fast enough. In the industry many are bred so they can choose fast ones. Many suffer injuries and are euthanized as a result of their injuries. Many of the horses are drugged - so they can race even when injured and other drugging is for covering up the serious health problems.
"Ninety-fine percent of racehorses bleed in their lungs, which can be fatal, many have chronic stomach ulcers, and some have heart problems which can cause them to collapse in the track. The horses are whipped up to 30 whips in a race. They are continually transported in inhumane conditions - sometimes they can change hands five or six times within a month," she said.
"The problem here is not the racing horses and it is not the gambling. It's the combination. Gambling sacrifices the animal welfare. It's all about money - that becomes what is important: any combination of animals and gambling is very, very bad."
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September 22, 2005
9/22/05 JVNA Online Newsletter
Shalom everyone,
This update/Jewish Vegetarians of North America (JVNA) Online Newsletter has the following items:
1. Campaign to Stop the Horse Racing Industry from Coming to Israel, and How You Can Help
2. Important COEJL-led Campaign to Save the Endangered Species Act
3. Israeli Chassidic Family Seeks Lodging and Chance to Promote Jewish-Holistic-Lifestyle Event While Visiting Crown Heights September 26 to November 2
4. Special Gathering Scheduled at the Israeli Jewish Vegetarian Society Centre To Inaugurate Lecture Series
5. Another Letter in Yosef Hakohen’s Series on Jewish Teachings About Animals
6. Is Global Warming Past the Point of No Return?
7. Improving Conditions for Veal Calves in Israel
8. Can Bird Flu Have Devastating Economic Consequences?
9. Private School Goes Completely Vegetarian
10. How Climate Change Stalls Efforts To Reduce Poverty
11. A Congressional Victory for America’s Horses
12. Buy Cruelty-free Feathers and Help Hurricane Katrina Victims
Some material has been deferred to a later update/newsletter to keep this one from being even longer.
[Materials in brackets like this [] within an article or forwarded message are my editorial notes/comments.]
Opinions expressed do not necessarily represent the views of the JVNA, unless otherwise indicated, but may be presented to increase awareness and/or to encourage respectful dialogue. Also, material re conferences, retreats, forums, trips, and other events does not necessarily imply endorsement by JVNA or endorsement of kashrut, Shabbat observances, or any other Jewish observance, but may be presented for informational purposes. Please use e-mail addresses, telephone numbers, and web sites to get further information about any event that you are interested in.
As always, your comments and suggestions are very welcome.
Thanks,
Richard
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1. Campaign to Stop the Horse Racing Industry from Coming to Israel, and How You Can Help
Forwarded message from CHAI (Concern for Helping Animals in Israel):
LETTERS NEEDED ! SIGN THE PETITION! PLEASE CROSS-POST WIDELY!
HELP STOP THE CRUEL HORSE RACING INDUSTRY FROM COMING TO ISRAEL
Hakol Chai, Israeli sister charity of CHAI in the U.S. (Concern for Helping Animals in Israel), filed a petition in Israel’s Supreme Court to block the government’s plan to build two large race tracks, and to bring gambling on horse racing to Israel. The plan calls for initially importing 2,000 horses to begin racing.
Hakol Chai’s appeal is based on the fact that the government failed to consider the animal welfare implications - the horrendous cruelty to horses - before reaching its decision, as required by law.
The cruelties of the horse racing industry include:
1.Thousands of horses bred annually, a few fastest selected out to race, the rest sent to slaughter (up to around 1/3 of all born).
2.Horses trained too young (1or 2), before their bones have matured, making them susceptible to injury, including catastrophic injury, in training and on the race track. They are trained so young to be able to race in the races with the biggest prizes, which take place when they are 3.
3.Drugging – a recent front page New York Times article exposed the fact that this is a widespread problem in the industry. There are so many drugs and new ones all the time, that labs cannot detect them. Drugs are given, and then other drugs given on top, to conceal the presence of the first ones. Steroids are given so they can race even while injured (one race track vet said 70% of horses are on steroids while racing, which is dangerous), performance-enhancing drugs, drugs to control bleeding in the lungs and ulcers, morphine, and more.
4.Other health problems, such as bleeding from the lungs (happens to a high percent of race horses and can result in sudden death), chronic ulcers, and heart problems (which also can result in sudden death).
5.Though Thoroughbreds can live to 25, at around 6, when they are no longer fast enough or if they are injured, they are sent to slaughter or into a downward spiral of abuse, including former champions. Few are used for breeding.
6.Videotape shows even their first time out, they are whipped up to 30 times in one race.
The same number leave racing as enter it each year. The same abuses have been found in every country where the industry exists. In Macau, a newspaper exposed photos of them being lined up and shot in the head, one after the other.
Hakol Chai’s petition included expert written testimony by: Holly Cheever, DVM, Vice-President of AVAR and of the NY State Humane Association, author of a manual on cruelty investigations and prosecutions, and trainer of NY State law enforcement officials; Jennifer Hack, Director of Investigations for the U.S. Equine Rescue League; Eva Berriman, BVSc, former racing vet, professor of horse-related issues, and author of books, video tapes and curriculum materials on horse care used throughout Australia; and Tim O’Brien, PhD, former head of Research for Compassion in World Farming, former Director of The Genetics Forum, currently an independent animal welfare researcher for Animal Aid UK and other organizations.
a. What You Can Do to Help the Campaign
PLEASE WRITE (POLITE ONLY) LETTERS OF PROTEST TO (faxes and snail mail –80 cents/letter - are better than e-mail):
Mr. Ehud Olmert, Acting Minister of Finance
1 Kaplan St.
Jerusalem 91131, Israel
Email: lishka@moital.gov.il
Fax: 972-2-5635769
Ms. Limor Livnat, Minister of Education, Culture, and Sport
34 Shivtei Israel St.
Jerusalem 91911, Israel
Email: llivnat@knesset.gov.il
Fax: 972-2-6753726
Mr. Israel Katz, Minister of Agriculture
POB 30
Beit Dagan 50250, Israel
Email: yiskatz@knesset.gov.il
Fax: 972-2-6496170
Please sign the petition at:
http://www.thepetitionsite.com/takeaction/398531952
For more information, see: www.chai-online.org
To donate to this campaign, go to:
http://www.chai-online.org/joincont.htm.
Donations to CHAI in the U.S. are tax-deductible.
CHAI/Hakol Chai thank Animal Aid UK for their invaluable assistance with
this campaign.
THANK YOU TO ALL FOR WRITING LETTERS AND SIGNING THE PETITION!!!
SUPREME COURT CASE FILED TO STOP CRUEL RACING INDUSTRY FROM GAINING A FOOTHOLD IN ISRAEL - LETTERS NEEDED - SIGN THE PETITION
b. Article about the Initiative in Globes:
Animal rights charity petitions against racetrack
Hakol Chai: "Israel can find other ways to develop tourism than by exploiting innocent animals".
Globes correspondent18 Sep 0515:33
Hakol Chai, the Israeli sister charity of CHAI, the US Concern for Helping Animals in Israel, represented by Adv. Doron Radai, Adv. Nitzan Gadot and Prof. and Adv. Alex Stein, today filed a petition with the High Court of Justice to block the building of two large race tracks in Israel - the government's first initiative toward bringing gambling to Israel.
Radai and Gadot, claimed in the petition that, "the ministers in favor of introducing horse racing only considered economic concerns - such as employment gains, and not wider animal welfare concerns - as required by law".
In addition Hakol Chai's attorneys pointed out that experience in every country where the horse racing industry was studied demonstrates that cruelty and abuse are commonplace.
Hakol Chai says typical cruelties that race horses are forced to endure include a harsh training regimen before their bones have hardened that places excessive weight on them, causing fractures; horses being drugged and forced to race even when injured; common conditions such as bleeding in the lungs, chronic gastric ulcers, and heart ailments; and, after only a few years, being sent either to slaughter or sold into increasingly worse conditions.
"Thousands more horses are bred to race than are chosen," says Hakol Chai director, Merav Barlev. "Those not fast enough - the majority - are born to be killed. Every aspect of a race horse's life involves cruelties. The government is thinking only of profits but at what cost in suffering?"
Hakol Chai stated today: "Israel can find other ways to develop tourism and bring in foreign investments than by exploiting innocent animals".
Hakol Chai, the Israeli sister charity of the US Concern for Helping Animals in Israel (CHAI) works to improve the condition and treatment of animals in Israel through legislation, education, a state of the art spay/neuter mobile clinic and direct help to animals. Hakol Chai is based in Tel Aviv. CHAI was established 20 years ago and has international headquarters in Alexandria, Virginia.
Published by Globes [online], Israel business news - www.globes.co.il - on Sunday, September 18, 2005
c. Problems Related To Gambling
Judaism is against gambling, saying it causes one person to receive money to the detriment of another. The cost to society of gambling can also not be ignored. At least 60,000 people in England are gambling addicts, their families made to suffer from the loss of income, drugs, crime, and other problems that accompany addictions. In the U.S., approximately 5 million adults are considered problem or pathological gamblers. At greatest risk are young people.
Pathological and problem gamblers in the United States cost our society approximately $5 billion per year and an additional $40 billion in lifetime costs for productivity reductions, social services, and creditor losses.…these calculations are inadequate to capture the intrafamilial costs of divorce and family disruption associated with problem and pathological gambling. — A 1999 Report to the National Gambling Impact Study Commission by the National Opinion Research Center at the University of Chicago
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2. Important COEJL-led Campaign to Save the Endangered Species Act
Forwarded message from Adam Stern, Director of COEJL
I want to share with you an important Jewish effort to protect the Endangered Species Act (ESA). Tomorrow (Sep. 21), COEJL is releasing a statement signed by 40 prominent rabbis and 30 distinguished Jewish scientists urging Congress to preserve this vital conservation law. We are responding to legislation introduced this week by Rep. Richard Pombo (R-CA) that would severely weaken the ESA. Rep. Pombo, who has tried for years -- along with development interests -- to undermine safeguards for imperiled plants and wildlife and their habitats, plans to hold a hearing on the bill tomorrow, a rushed House committee vote as early as Thursday, and a vote by the full House in early October.
Aware that such a bill was in the works, COEJL has been preparing for months with colleagues of other faiths to defend the Act. We have helped organize an innovative partnership called the Noah Alliance, which will be unveiled tomorrow with TV and radio ads on religious stations, a series of print ads in Congress Daily (the most widely read publication on Capitol Hill), and news articles in the Jewish, Christian, and mainstream press. For more information on the campaign, please visit the Noah Alliance web site (www.noahalliance.org). I am attaching the print ad, Jewish statement, and list of signers to date. Thanks for your continued interest in our work.
Best, -Adam
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Adam C. Stern Executive Director Coalition on the Environment and Jewish Life (COEJL)
work/cell (510) 681-4483 email address: adam@coejl.org web site: www.coejl.org
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The Entirety of Creation:
A Jewish Call to Protect the Endangered Species Act
September 2005
The passage of the Endangered Species Act thirty-two years ago marked a moment of great human nobility. To save from extinction species identified by scientists as gravely threatened by human activity, the American people provided resources for research, planning, and enforcement to preserve imperiled plants and wildlife and the places they call home. As a result, many of the frailest elements of the North American web of life were spared final destruction and given a chance at rebirth. Of more than 1,800 species under the Endangered Species Act’s protections during the past three decades, only nine have been declared extinct — a remarkable record of the Act’s positive impact. This represents stewardship in keeping with America’s great conservation heritage.
Today, however, the Endangered Species Act is itself endangered by impatience, ideology, and shortsighted, even deceptive, policymaking. Some organizations and members of Congress have been seeking to weaken its habitat protections, hamper the processes of identifying and listing fragile species, politicize what is supposed to be scientific decision-making, and otherwise alter the law in ways that would violate its beneficent vision and set back its accomplishments.
Distinguished voices from diverse communities are forging unique partnerships to prevent such action. Religious leaders and scientists, who may have different visions of how and why the Earth originated, are together affirming a universal moral imperative to protect all life on Earth. And in religious life itself, across traditional and often challenging denominational and ideological boundaries, people of faith are discerning a mandate for stewardship of creation deeply embedded in biblical scripture and commentary.
In this spirit, therefore, and in full agreement with a recent statement by the Academy of Evangelical Scientists and Ethicists, which calls upon religious communities to emulate “the biblical example of Noah as a model for being faithful to God’s call to protect endangered species from extinction,” we seek here to affirm the Jewish community’s longstanding commitment to protect biological diversity. We also affirm our conviction that the Endangered Species Act is one of our generation’s richest fulfillments of our biblical destiny as b'tselem elohim, created in the image of God (Genesis 1: 26), with the unique power and responsibility to shape, preserve, and renew creation through the work of our hands, our hearts, and our minds.
Jewish texts clearly state that all species deserve our wonder and protection. “Of all that the Holy One created in the world, not a single thing is useless,” teaches the Talmud (B. Shabbat 77b), while the Midrash elaborates, “Even those creatures that you may look upon as superfluous in the world . . . they too are part of the entirety of creation. The Holy One effects purpose through all creatures, even through a snake, a scorpion, a gnat, a frog” (Genesis Rabbah 10: 7). Every species of plant or animal is thus understood by Jewish tradition to occupy an ecological niche in our interdependent, living world.
Furthermore, Jewish tradition puts preservation of the environment squarely on our shoulders. “Do not spoil My world, for if you do, there is nobody to fix it after you” (Kohelet Rabbah 7: 13).
Today, in a time of marvelous innovation and discovery, science has given the ancient environmental wisdom of Judaism new strength and meaning. Genetics, ecology, taxonomy, medicine, and other sciences all indicate that life is an interconnected web whose diversity of species is an irreplaceable boon to human health and well-being. Gene research and genome mappings have shown how every creature and plant carries within it a life-urge that is eons older than any scripture. The ongoing discovery of new species, and those rare instances when we learn that species we thought extinct cling to survival, point to the strength of the life-urge and its capacity for renewal — if we humans will only seek to transcend our baser natures and rise to our religious, ethical, and legal responsibilities of stewardship, both individually and collectively. But, as noted by the Ecological Society of America, a professional society representing more than 8,000 scientists around the world, “The loss of biological diversity that we are currently observing is unprecedented.”
Two great disciplines, religion and science, have pointed us in the direction of universal values and wise policy. Science points the way with trail markers of objectivity and understanding. Religion then offers tools with which to discipline ourselves to put aside greed, self-deceit, and narrow self-interest, and to embrace, instead, the profound responsibilities assigned to us as the guardians of creation. Rabbi Elijah Gaon, the 18th century sage of Vilna, taught that: “Torah and science are intertwined.” The Jewish people have a long, proud history of fulfilling his teaching — as innovators in the scientific community and as believers in science as a pathway to human dignity.
We are particularly disturbed, therefore, by criticisms of the Endangered Species Act that undermine the role of science in environmental decision-making. Recent legislative initiatives and policy reports have distorted statistics, used unrealistic timetables, questioned the integrity of scientists, and couched themselves in pseudo-scientific language in ways that amount to what the Jewish tradition calls g’neivat da’at, stealing the mind. We urge instead that discussion of the Endangered Species Act’s ongoing relationship to species recovery, land use, economic development, political ideology, and other concerns be conducted as “controversy for the sake of heaven,” which the Jewish tradition describes as having “lasting value” (Pirke Avot 5: 19). Surely the goals of the Endangered Species Act are goals “for the sake of heaven,” with value that stretches deep into our past and holds profound promise for our future. In July 2004, more than 400 members of the scientific community wrote members of Congress, expressing “serious unease with proposals in Congress that may undermine the integrity of science and thus further distort or hamper endangered species conservation decisions.”
We call upon U.S. policymakers to emulate the forethought, self-restraint, and prodigious effort modeled by the biblical Noah — “a righteous man . . . blameless in his age” (Genesis 6: 9). While the Bible says little about the actual labors that Noah and his family endured to save Earth’s countless species from the floods of extinction, the 16th century Midrash Tanhuma portrays him as a man of foresight who planted and cultivated cedar trees over the course of a century — all the while planning the construction of his cedarwood ark and withstanding the mockery of his neighbors.
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To us, the Endangered Species Act is the legislative equivalent of Noah’s cedar grove. We are determined, with our allies in other faith communities, to see it maintained and strengthened as a resource for building our environmental future.
Signers of Jewish Statement to Protect the Endangered Species Act
(affiliations are for identification purposes only)
Rabbis
Rabbi Rebecca T. Alpert, Associate Professor of Religion and Women’s Studies, Temple University, Philadelphia, PA
Rabbi Bradley Shavit Artson, Dean of Ziegler School of Rabbinic Studies, University of Judaism, Los Angeles, CA
Rabbi Annie Belford, Congregation Shaare Emeth, St. Louis, Missouri
Rabbi Saul Berman, Director, Edah, New York, NY
Rabbi Edward C. Bernstein, Shaarey Tikvah Congregation, Beachwood, OH
Rabbi Tsvi Blanchard, Director of Organizational Development, National Jewish Center for Learning and Leadership, New York, NY
Rabbi Rachel Cowan, Director, Institute for Jewish Spirituality, Northampton, MA
Rabbi Harry K. Danziger, President, Central Conference of American Rabbis, Germantown, TN
Rabbi Fred Scherlinder Dobb, Adat Shalom, Reconstructionist Congregation, Bethesda, MD
Rabbi Elliot Dorff, Professor of Philosophy, University of Judaism, Los Angeles, CA
Rabbi Dan Ehrenkrantz, President, Reconstructionist Rabbincal College, Wyncote, PA
Rabbi David Ellenson, President, Hebrew Union College/Jewish Institute of Religion, New York, NY
Rabbi Marla J. Feldman, Commission on Social Action for Reform Judaism, New York, NY
Rabbi Dov Gartenberg, Panim Hadashot: New Faces of Judaism, Seattle, WA
Rabbi Arthur Green, Rector, Rabbinical School at Hebrew College, Newton Centre, MA
Rabbi Steve Gutow, Executive Director, Jewish Council for Public Affairs, New York, NY
Rabbi Jill Hammer, Ma'yan: The Jewish Women's Project, New York, NY
Rabbi Richard Hirsh, President, Reconstructionist Rabbinical Association, Wyncote, PA
Rabbi Nancy Fuchs Kreimer, Associate Professor and Director of Religious Studies, Reconstructionist Rabbinical College, Wyncote, PA
Rabbi Allan Lehmann, Jewish Chaplain and Rabbinic Hillel Director, Brandeis University, Waltham, MA
Rabbi Michele Lenke, Co-President, Women’s Rabbinic Network, Boston, MA
Rabbi Amy Levin, Temple Torat Yisrael, Cranston, RI
Rabbi Patricia Karlin-Neumann, Senior Associate Dean for Religious Life, Stanford University, Stanford, CA
Rabbi Stephen Pearce, Congregation Emanu-El, San Francisco, CA
Rabbi David Saperstein, Director, Religious Action Center of Reform Judaism, Washington, DC
Rabbi Ismar Schorsch, Chancellor, Jewish Theological Seminary, New York, NY
Rabbi Amy Schwartzman, Temple Rodef Shalom, New York, NY
Rabbi Judy Shanks, Co-President, Women’s Rabbinical Network, Lafayette, CA
Rabbi Arnold I. Sher, Interim Executive Vice President, Central Conference of American Rabbis, New York, NY
Rabbi Jonathan P. Slater, Institute for Jewish Spirituality, New York, NY
Rabbi Warren G. Stone, Temple Emanuel, Kensington, MD
Rabbi Tziona Szajman, Congregation Rodeph Shalom, Bridgeport, CT
Rabbi David A. Teutsch, Professor of Contemporary Jewish Civilization, Reconstructionist Rabbincal College, Wyncote, PA
Rabbi Lawrence Troster, Rabbinic Fellow, Coalition on the Environment and Jewish Life, Teaneck, NJ
Rabbi Gordon Tucker, Temple Israel Center, White Plains, NJ
Rabbi Sheila Peltz Weinberg, Institute for Jewish Spirituality, New York, NY
[We should contact these rabbis, ad see if they would support us on vegetarianism and related issues.]
Scientists
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3. Israeli Chassidic Family Seeks Lodging and Chance to Promote Jewish-Holistic-Lifestyle Event While Visiting Crown Heights September 26 to November 2.
Forwarded message from Orit Amnon:
"We" are the Levav family from Israel: Orit, Amnon, Meitar bat 8 (8 year old daughter) and Tuv bat 1.5 (1.5 year old daughter). We combine a Hassidic life-style with raw-food and healthy life-style teachings. We've built with Hashem’s grace (G-d’s help) a web site the first "earth-ship" in Israel and operate a small homely organic kosher educational restaurant here, in the town of Maalot, in the upper Gallile, above the kziv river nature reservation and near Meiron and RashBi. Amnon is a holistic web consultant and strategiest and works from home, managing eco-health related websites like Ecopolitan, and creating eco-social trends about natural lifestyle (like www.adama.net). The new version of the ecopolitan site, soon to be on the air, contains information about the Minneapolis raw restaurant, about America's first eco-hostel, about emf pollution remediation, and so much more. The living spirit behind ecopolitan is Dr. Adiel Tel-Oren, Israelian, M.D, scientist and Musician with ten other degrees.
Our dream is to have "tishrei" [spend the Hebrew month of Tishrei] at "770" [770 Eastern Parkway, the headquarters of Lubavitch Chassidim]. We'll be at NY from September 26 to November 2. We're still looking for a Chabad family in Crown-Heights to host us. People that we can be friends with, make healthy food with, share knowledge with and be inspired together. We strongly believe that there must be a unique family for us, which can enjoy the teachings we give, as well. Can you connect us to likeminded people to host us?
WE HAVE A LOT OF GREEN-JEwISH INSPIRATION IN OUR BAGS AND EXPECT TO SHARE IT WITH YOU SOON, RICHARD. WHATEVER IS GOD'S DREAM FOR THE LINK BETWEEN US.
We want to meet you in NY to discuss various collaboration opportunities.
Also, would you like to be "shliach" [helper, roughly] to help us share our knowledge with other people and create some sort of Jewish-holistic-lifestyle event? Subects may include:
* Kosher Chassidic raw food workshop
* The story of levav's house, the first earshship in Israel
Separate event for women including holy songs
Amnon would love to share his insight and lecture about holistic
web strategy and effective positive social trends creation.
hope so to see you in NY, although it's likely that we have moshiach in a short time and get together sooner...
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4. Special Gathering Scheduled at the Israeli Jewish Vegetarian Society Centre To Inaugurate Lecture Series
Forwarded Message from Elihu Mezin, a Leader at the Israeli Jewish Vegetarian Society Centre:
We are pleased to invite you to a special gathering celebrating the beginning of our new lecture season, which will take place in the garden of the society, 8 Balfour Street, Jerusalem.
Thursday, September 29, 2005, at 7:30 PM.
Program for the evening:
* Opening remarks by Dan Arbel - Chairman of the International Jewish Vegetarian Society, Jerusalem
* A talk by Gloria Menzin Taubes, board member
* Musical performance by Vladimir Silva and Oleg Tchaikovsky of the
IBA symphony orchestra
Light refreshments will be served.
Please note: the event will be outside; please dress accordingly.
Admission: Members - NIS 20 Nonmembers - NIS 25
Space is limited, so please call 02-561-1114 or e-mail the Vegetarian
Society for reservations
ijvsjlem@netmedia.net.il
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5. Another Letter in Yosef Hakohen’s Series on Jewish Teachings About Animals
The Journey to Unity – 140
Respecting the Nature of Each Species:
"You shall not plow with an ox and the donkey together." (Deut. 22:10)
Dear Friends,
The classical commentator, Rashi, writes that the ox and donkey mentioned in the above verse are to serve as examples, for "the same is true for any two species in the world." This mitzvah therefore prohibits us from forcing two different species to work together in any way.
The Sefer Ha-Chinuch is a classical work on the Torah's 613 mitzvos. The author of this work suggests that one of the reasons for this particular mitzvah is to avoid the suffering which is caused to animals when they are forced to work together with members of another species. He writes:
"It is known that the various species of animals and fowl have great anxiety in dwelling with others not of their kind, and all the more certainly to do work with them…Every bird will dwell with its own kind, and so all animals and other species will always cling to their own kind as well." (Mitzvah 550).
The author of the Sefer Ha-Chinuch adds that each wise-hearted person can learn from this mitzvah the following insight: One should not appoint two human beings to work together if they would experience a clash, due to their being radically different in nature and/or differing in their conduct. If we are to have understanding and respect for the different nature of animals, we should surely have understanding and respect for the differing nature of human beings!
Shalom,
Yosef Ben Shlomo Hakohen(See below)
Related Teachings:
1. Rabbi Samson Raphael Hirsch mentions the following related laws in Horeb (chapter 57):
"You must not allow one task to be done together by animals of two species. You may not allow them to carry the smallest thing together, even if it be only the seed. Therefore you may not even use the voice in order to drive forward animals of differing species that are yoked together. You may not sit in a wagon which is drawn by animals of differing species. (Yorah Deah 297b)
2. The Sefer Ha-Chinuch explains that the ban against forcing animals of different species to work together is an example of the Torah's general prohibition against causing suffering to animals. With the help of Hashem, we shall discuss this general prohibition at a later stage of this series, and we shall cite some specific examples which are mentioned in the Torah. We shall also discuss the exceptions where the Torah does permit us to cause some suffering to animals; however, even in these special cases, we are obligated to ensure that the suffering is kept to the minimum that is needed. For example, we are allowed to plow with an ox, but we are obligated to treat it in a humane way. And we are forbidden to cause the ox extra discomfort by forcing it to plough together with a donkey or a member of any other species.
3. The Sefer Ha-Chinuch also cites the opinion of Maimonides (the Rambam). According to Maimonides, the ban against forcing animals of different species to work together is related to the ban against mating animals of different species, for it is the way of farmers to bring the working pair into one stall, and the farmers may therefore decide to mate them. (Guide to the Perplexed 3:49)
Hazon - Our Universal Vision: www.shemayisrael.co.il/publicat/hazon/
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6. Is Global Warming Past the Point of No Return
article
Sea ice floats on the surface of the Arctic Ocean and its neighbouring seas and normally covers an area of some 2.4 million square miles during September - about the size of Australia. However, in September 2002, this dwindled to about 2 million square miles - 16 per cent below average. Sea ice data for August closely mirrors that for September 2002 and last month's record low - 18.2 per cent below the monthly average - strongly suggests that this September will see the smallest coverage of Arctic sea ice ever recorded.
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7. Improving Conditions for Veal Calves in Israel
Forwarded article from Haaretz:
New rules ban farmers from denying water to veal calves
By Amiram Cohen
Animal rights groups notched up another success recently when the Agriculture Ministry banned farmers from denying water to veal calves as part of the method by which they are raised for slaughter. Some two years ago, the animal rights groups won a High Court of Justice ruling that bans the force-feeding of geese.
Withholding water from veal calves constitutes a central part of the manner in which the animals are raised for slaughter, with the objective being to keep their meat tender and "white." Aside from withholding water, raising veal calves also involves imprisoning them in a veal crate and feeding them a milk substitute intentionally lacking in iron and other essential nutrients.
The animals suffer terribly because they are unable to move freely in the wooden restraining device and cannot turn around or even lie down and stretch. Designed to prevent movement, the crate does its job of atrophying the calves' muscles, thus producing tender veal.
The iron-deficient diet keeps the animals anemic and creates the pale pink or white color desired in the finished product. And because they are denied water, the calves are always thirsty, and are driven to drink a large quantity of the high-fat liquid feed.
Due to the harsh physical conditions and constant thirst, the calves are susceptible to a long list of diseases, including chronic pneumonia or constant diarrhea. Consequently, they must be given massive doses of antibiotics and other drugs just to keep them alive. The calves often suffer also from wounds caused by the constant rubbing against the crates.
Anonymous for Animal Rights initiated the fight against this method of raising veal calves - banned already among EU states - some four years ago. Since then, the Agriculture Ministry has tried to formulate new regulations for the feeding and raising of veal calves, but the regulations have been rejected time and again by the Knesset Education Committee, which has deemed them insufficient to prevent the animals from suffering.
Recently, however, the Agriculture Ministry, the Education Committee and Anonymous consented to the temporary publication of two regulations that all the parties agree to and that do not require financial investment on the part of the farmers. The first regulation imposes a sweeping ban on withholding water from the calves. The second regulation requires farmers to provide calves that are at least four weeks old with solid food.
© Copyright 2005 Haaretz. All rights reserved
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8. Can Bird Flu Have Devastating Economic Consequences?
Forwarded article:
Bird flu could cause global economic catastrophe
By Geoffrey Lean, Environment Editor
Independent (UK)
Published: 18 September 2005
Bird flu threatens to cause a "catastrophic" economic crash in Britain and around the world, unprecedented in modern times, according to new research.
Two studies from Nottingham University and the Bank of Montreal in Canada show that a flu pandemic – described by the World Health Organisation last week as inevitable - would slash at least £95bn from British GDP, extinguish at least 900,000 jobs and create a global depression to rival that of the 1930s.
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9. Private School Goes Completely Vegetarian
For the first time in more than a decade, Rockland Country Day has changed lunch vendors from a commercial organization to a local restaurant. After a year of committee meetings, taste tests and student and parent comment, the school signed a one-year contract with Main Essentials, a Haverstraw vegetarian restaurant that caters to vegans - vegetarians who also don't eat dairy or other animal products.
"We know there's an obesity crisis and a crisis of disease in this country, and a lot of it stems from the kind of foods and the fast foods that people ingest," said Martha Roth, a parent and member of the committee that selected Main Essentials as the school's food vendor. "If you start early, if you teach children to eat well at an early age, it won't be an issue when they get older."
Local public schools usually offer a meatless option for students and have tried to cut down on sugar and salt in other foods, but none has done what Rockland Country Day has - hired a vegetarian restaurant to provide school lunches.
Two years ago, parents and students approached James Handlin, the headmaster of Rockland Country Day, about the school's food. Research showed that many children nationwide were eating high-sugar, high-fat foods that contributed to health problems such as asthma and diabetes. There had been concern among organic-foods activists for years about chemical fertilizers, genetically engineered foodstuffs and commercial feed lots.
"We did two things: We took a hard look at all of the snack foods we were offering in all our machines and decided to get rid of what wasn't healthy, mainly those with corn sweeteners. We put in a lot more juices and so-called natural sodas," Handlin said.
"We're really concerned about the obesity and lack of nutritional awareness that so many families seem to have. Because we're a school that goes from 3-year-olds to 12th-graders, we would have kids on these sort of sugar highs. We took a long look at what we were going to put into those machines."
Beginning in the spring, granola, pretzels and soy-based cookies replaced candy bars, chips and Pop-Tarts in the snack machines. Water, juice and seltzer-based sodas ousted Coke and Pepsi products. The food, provided by Kristo Beverage, costs 75 cents to $1.50.
The change was not made effortlessly. Students and staff complained they didn't like the options in the snack and soda machines. Handlin said the complainers agreed to live with healthy snacks for the rest of the school year, and no one has complained about the machine offerings since school started last week.
Handlin said the organic chips were selling better than regular chips used to and the school wasn't selling as much soda.
As for student behavior - it's too soon to tell, he said. But the younger children now have access to the machines, which they weren't permitted with the former snack offerings.
With that project completed, the school launched its second initiative. Earlier in the summer, parents and students fenced in a 100-foot-by-100-foot lot and began an organic garden. Roth and local greenhouse owner Ron Breland plotted a simple vegetable garden as a start and asked students and parents to help. Eventually, the garden will be used with the curriculum and for some of the school's mandated community-service projects.
Adam Darer, 15, of Chestnut Ridge, a 10th-grader at the school, was drafted by his mother to come help, but it wasn't a hardship, he said. His grandmother got him hooked on growing things, and he already had had a garden at home for four years.
"I came to a meeting one day and it sounded interesting," he said.
"It's been a lot of fun coming here in the summer. It seems weird to
come here in the summer, but when you have a lot of students working
toward a goal, it's really nice."
While the garden project was getting started, the same committee began looking at food vendors for the cafeteria. Because the school receives little public money, students now pay about $4.50 for lunch each day, compared with about $1.75 for an average public-school hot lunch.
Richard LaCossade, 27, is the executive chef in charge of Rockland Country Day School's cafeteria. He worked in the kitchen of the Manhattan Woods Golf Course and a Marriott Inn before joining Main Essentials. He takes standard cafeteria fare and makes it meatless.
"I just try to keep it healthy. This is a school," he said. "But we'll use soy cheese for the quesadillas, and soy-based products for the ham and cheese omelets. The kids that still eat ham will still taste the difference, but the rest don't seem to notice."
Unlike at Main Essentials, the school cafeteria has a meat option: turkey hot dogs. LaCossade will use real cheese in his sandwiches, he said, although soy-based cheeses are available.
The vegetables and fruits are from local farmers markets, and once the school garden starts producing in bulk, that food will be part of the menu. Scraps from the lunchroom will go to the school compost heap.
Eliza Martin Simpson, 15, of Wesley Hills, a 10th-grader, said she just appreciated the ability to eat a school lunch.
"It's really made it a lot easier for me to be a vegetarian, and the food is really interesting," she said. "I really like to eat, so it's been a highlight of the year coming here."
Nonvegetarians such as ninth-graders Norma Kuhling, 14, of Valley Cottage; Hailey Fyfe, also 14, of Piermont; and 10th-grader Katie Crispi, 15, of New City said they found the school lunches infinitely better than last year.
"You just sort of feel good," Fyfe said, "after eating a healthy meal."
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10. How Climate Change Stalls Efforts To Reduce Poverty
Forwarded messages from Inset (www.insnet.org)
a. *Climate change stalling poverty fight*
http://www.insnet.org/ins_headlines.rxml?cust=2&id=1652&url=http://www.greenconsumerguide.com/index.php?news=2776
The effects climate change are jeopardising the fight against poverty and potential success of the Millennium Development Goals, UK Environment Secretary Margaret Beckett has claimed.
b. "Future climate change threatens to undermine our efforts to tackle Africa's poverty and sustai * ..continue...*
http://www.insnet.org/ins_headlines.rxml?cust=2&id=1652&url=http://www.greenconsumerguide.com/index.php?news=2776
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11. A Congressional Victory for America’s Horses
Forwarded message from The Humane Society of the United States
VICTORY FOR AMERICA'S HORSES!
https://community.hsus.org/campaign/ensign_amendment2
We did it! The U.S. Senate passed an amendment today by a stunning 68-29 vote that prohibits the use of any federal taxpayer funds to slaughter horses for food exports.
The amendment, introduced by Senators John Ensign (R-NV) and Robert C. Byrd (D-WV), mirrors an amendment that passed the U.S. House of Representatives in June, which was led by Reps. John Sweeney (R-NY), John Spratt (D-SC), Nick Rahall (D-WV), and Ed Whitfield (R-KY). Together, these measures will effectively stop America's horses from being killed in three slaughterhouses in the U.S. that slaughter horses -- two in Texas and one in Illinois. The amendment also stops horses from being shipped to slaughterhouses in Canada or Mexico so that their meat can be exported to foreign countries.
This tremendous victory would not have been possible without your support and action. We received outstanding support for our major lobbying campaign to end horse slaughter and were able to mobilize our grassroots network. Every single Senate office heard from us, and because of your calls and emails they took notice. Click here to find our how your U.S. Senators voted: https://community.hsus.org/campaign/ensign_amendment2
"The time has come to put an end to the practice of slaughtering horses in America," said Sen. Ensign. "Horses have an important role in the history of our country, particularly the West, and they deserve our protection. As a senator and a veterinarian I am committed to doing what I can for these magnificent animals. Many of the horses sent to slaughter are perfectly healthy, and turning them over to slaughterhouses is inhumane and unnecessary."
"The market for horsemeat is not an American market," said Sen. Byrd. "Many Americans would be shocked to learn that our animals suffer such a fate, all in order to satisfy the tastes of those living in Europe and Asia."
In another welcome move, the Senate also approved two additional animal welfare amendments introduced by Sen. Daniel Akaka (D-HI). One amendment would ensure that "downed livestock" -- animals too sick or injured to walk -- are not allowed into the human food supply. The second amendment would prohibit tax dollars from being used for research facilities that purchase animals from "Class B dealers" who traffic in family pets for research.
We are so grateful that you stood with us and helped achieve this incredible victory for animals, even as so many of our resources -- and so much of our attention -- has been turned towards helping the animal victims of Hurricane Katrina. Thank you for all you do on behalf of animals.
Sincerely,
Wayne Pacelle
President & CEO
The Humane Society of the United States
--------------------------
Report from DawnWatch
The Wednesday September 21 Wall Street Journal has a front page story headed, "Why Belgians Shoot Horses in Texas For Dining in Europe" while the Thoroughbred Times announces "Slaughter amendment passes U.S. Senate."
The Thoroughbred Times piece explains, "The United States Senate on Tuesday joined the U.S. House of Representatives by overwhelmingly passing an amendment to the U.S. Department of Agriculture Appropriations Bill that will remove federal funding for mandated meat inspectors at the three remaining, foreign-owned horse slaughterhouses in the United States. If signed into law by President George Bush, it effectively would shut them down when the 2006 fiscal year begins October 1....The bill to end horse slaughter permanently in the United States, the American Horse Slaughter Prevention Act (H.R. 503), was re-introduced into the House of Representatives last February and is before the House Energy and Commerce Committee."
For more information on that bill, and you can help, go to https://community.hsus.org/campaign/2005_horse_slaughter
The Wall Street Journal front page story points out that the three horse slaughter plants in the US are foreign owned and sell their meat overseas. It says, "Federal law doesn't ban eating horse in the U.S., but the meat is now no longer sold for human consumption domestically....The U.S. Department of Agriculture, which inspects the horses headed for foreign tables, says 58,736 horses were slaughtered in the U.S. last year for human consumption, yielding 13.6 million pounds of meat for export to the European Union, Japan, Mexico and Switzerland. A decade ago, there were around a dozen U.S. facilities slaughtering horses for export. Today, with demand declining, that's down to just two in Texas and one in Illinois."
It discusses the attempts to ban horse slaughter in the USA and tell us, "While the debate goes on, an American Airlines flight takes off every day from Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport, headed for Paris's Charles DeGaulle airport with a load of horse carcasses in its cargo belly. ...So far, economic arguments have prevailed over the emotional appeals of the antislaughter forces. Mr. Bradshaw, the slaughterhouse lobbyist, tells lawmakers the Texas plants spend $6 million a year shipping horse meat with American Airlines and other U.S. carriers."
The passage, yesterday, of the Ensign-Byrd horse slaughter amendment suggests the tide is turning.
Wall Street Journal subscribes can read the whole article on line.
The front page story presents a great opportunity for letters to the editor in support of a permanent horse slaughter ban. Those who are horrified by the treatment of animals that America considers it acceptable to eat (see www.factoryfarming.com) can use this as a jump-off point for letters on that issue.
The Wall Street Journal takes letters at: wsj.ltrs@wsj.com. Always include your full name, address, and daytime phone number when sending a letter to the editor. Shorter letters are more likely to be published.
Yours and the animals',
Karen Dawn
(DawnWatch is an animal advocacy media watch that looks at animal issues in the media and facilitates one-click responses to the relevant media outlets. You can learn more about it, and sign up for alerts at http://www.DawnWatch.com. To unsubscribe, go to www.DawnWatch.com/unsubscribe.php. If you forward or reprint DawnWatch alerts, please do so unedited -- leave DawnWatch in the title and include this tag line.)
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12. Buy Cruelty-free Feathers and Help Hurricane Katrina Victims
Forwarded message from Rabbi Yonassan GershomL
Richard --
Just in case you or anybody you know is interested, I'm selling some cruelty-free goose and chicken feathers on ebay as a fundraiser to help animal rescue efforts for vicitims of Hurricane Katrina. My "About Me" page on ebay has the listings at: http://members.ebay.com/aboutme/rooster613
Feel free to pass this message around.
Kol tuv,
Rabbi Gershom
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** Fair Use Notice**
This document may contain copyrighted material, use of which has not been specifically authorized by the copyright owners. I believe that this not-for-profit, educational use on the Web constitutes a fair use of the copyrighted material (as provided for in section 107 of the US Copyright Law). If you wish to use this copyrighted material for purposes of your own that go beyond fair use, you must obtain permission from the copyright owner.
This update/Jewish Vegetarians of North America (JVNA) Online Newsletter has the following items:
1. Campaign to Stop the Horse Racing Industry from Coming to Israel, and How You Can Help
2. Important COEJL-led Campaign to Save the Endangered Species Act
3. Israeli Chassidic Family Seeks Lodging and Chance to Promote Jewish-Holistic-Lifestyle Event While Visiting Crown Heights September 26 to November 2
4. Special Gathering Scheduled at the Israeli Jewish Vegetarian Society Centre To Inaugurate Lecture Series
5. Another Letter in Yosef Hakohen’s Series on Jewish Teachings About Animals
6. Is Global Warming Past the Point of No Return?
7. Improving Conditions for Veal Calves in Israel
8. Can Bird Flu Have Devastating Economic Consequences?
9. Private School Goes Completely Vegetarian
10. How Climate Change Stalls Efforts To Reduce Poverty
11. A Congressional Victory for America’s Horses
12. Buy Cruelty-free Feathers and Help Hurricane Katrina Victims
Some material has been deferred to a later update/newsletter to keep this one from being even longer.
[Materials in brackets like this [] within an article or forwarded message are my editorial notes/comments.]
Opinions expressed do not necessarily represent the views of the JVNA, unless otherwise indicated, but may be presented to increase awareness and/or to encourage respectful dialogue. Also, material re conferences, retreats, forums, trips, and other events does not necessarily imply endorsement by JVNA or endorsement of kashrut, Shabbat observances, or any other Jewish observance, but may be presented for informational purposes. Please use e-mail addresses, telephone numbers, and web sites to get further information about any event that you are interested in.
As always, your comments and suggestions are very welcome.
Thanks,
Richard
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1. Campaign to Stop the Horse Racing Industry from Coming to Israel, and How You Can Help
Forwarded message from CHAI (Concern for Helping Animals in Israel):
LETTERS NEEDED ! SIGN THE PETITION! PLEASE CROSS-POST WIDELY!
HELP STOP THE CRUEL HORSE RACING INDUSTRY FROM COMING TO ISRAEL
Hakol Chai, Israeli sister charity of CHAI in the U.S. (Concern for Helping Animals in Israel), filed a petition in Israel’s Supreme Court to block the government’s plan to build two large race tracks, and to bring gambling on horse racing to Israel. The plan calls for initially importing 2,000 horses to begin racing.
Hakol Chai’s appeal is based on the fact that the government failed to consider the animal welfare implications - the horrendous cruelty to horses - before reaching its decision, as required by law.
The cruelties of the horse racing industry include:
1.Thousands of horses bred annually, a few fastest selected out to race, the rest sent to slaughter (up to around 1/3 of all born).
2.Horses trained too young (1or 2), before their bones have matured, making them susceptible to injury, including catastrophic injury, in training and on the race track. They are trained so young to be able to race in the races with the biggest prizes, which take place when they are 3.
3.Drugging – a recent front page New York Times article exposed the fact that this is a widespread problem in the industry. There are so many drugs and new ones all the time, that labs cannot detect them. Drugs are given, and then other drugs given on top, to conceal the presence of the first ones. Steroids are given so they can race even while injured (one race track vet said 70% of horses are on steroids while racing, which is dangerous), performance-enhancing drugs, drugs to control bleeding in the lungs and ulcers, morphine, and more.
4.Other health problems, such as bleeding from the lungs (happens to a high percent of race horses and can result in sudden death), chronic ulcers, and heart problems (which also can result in sudden death).
5.Though Thoroughbreds can live to 25, at around 6, when they are no longer fast enough or if they are injured, they are sent to slaughter or into a downward spiral of abuse, including former champions. Few are used for breeding.
6.Videotape shows even their first time out, they are whipped up to 30 times in one race.
The same number leave racing as enter it each year. The same abuses have been found in every country where the industry exists. In Macau, a newspaper exposed photos of them being lined up and shot in the head, one after the other.
Hakol Chai’s petition included expert written testimony by: Holly Cheever, DVM, Vice-President of AVAR and of the NY State Humane Association, author of a manual on cruelty investigations and prosecutions, and trainer of NY State law enforcement officials; Jennifer Hack, Director of Investigations for the U.S. Equine Rescue League; Eva Berriman, BVSc, former racing vet, professor of horse-related issues, and author of books, video tapes and curriculum materials on horse care used throughout Australia; and Tim O’Brien, PhD, former head of Research for Compassion in World Farming, former Director of The Genetics Forum, currently an independent animal welfare researcher for Animal Aid UK and other organizations.
a. What You Can Do to Help the Campaign
PLEASE WRITE (POLITE ONLY) LETTERS OF PROTEST TO (faxes and snail mail –80 cents/letter - are better than e-mail):
Mr. Ehud Olmert, Acting Minister of Finance
1 Kaplan St.
Jerusalem 91131, Israel
Email: lishka@moital.gov.il
Fax: 972-2-5635769
Ms. Limor Livnat, Minister of Education, Culture, and Sport
34 Shivtei Israel St.
Jerusalem 91911, Israel
Email: llivnat@knesset.gov.il
Fax: 972-2-6753726
Mr. Israel Katz, Minister of Agriculture
POB 30
Beit Dagan 50250, Israel
Email: yiskatz@knesset.gov.il
Fax: 972-2-6496170
Please sign the petition at:
http://www.thepetitionsite.com/takeaction/398531952
For more information, see: www.chai-online.org
To donate to this campaign, go to:
http://www.chai-online.org/joincont.htm.
Donations to CHAI in the U.S. are tax-deductible.
CHAI/Hakol Chai thank Animal Aid UK for their invaluable assistance with
this campaign.
THANK YOU TO ALL FOR WRITING LETTERS AND SIGNING THE PETITION!!!
SUPREME COURT CASE FILED TO STOP CRUEL RACING INDUSTRY FROM GAINING A FOOTHOLD IN ISRAEL - LETTERS NEEDED - SIGN THE PETITION
b. Article about the Initiative in Globes:
Animal rights charity petitions against racetrack
Hakol Chai: "Israel can find other ways to develop tourism than by exploiting innocent animals".
Globes correspondent18 Sep 0515:33
Hakol Chai, the Israeli sister charity of CHAI, the US Concern for Helping Animals in Israel, represented by Adv. Doron Radai, Adv. Nitzan Gadot and Prof. and Adv. Alex Stein, today filed a petition with the High Court of Justice to block the building of two large race tracks in Israel - the government's first initiative toward bringing gambling to Israel.
Radai and Gadot, claimed in the petition that, "the ministers in favor of introducing horse racing only considered economic concerns - such as employment gains, and not wider animal welfare concerns - as required by law".
In addition Hakol Chai's attorneys pointed out that experience in every country where the horse racing industry was studied demonstrates that cruelty and abuse are commonplace.
Hakol Chai says typical cruelties that race horses are forced to endure include a harsh training regimen before their bones have hardened that places excessive weight on them, causing fractures; horses being drugged and forced to race even when injured; common conditions such as bleeding in the lungs, chronic gastric ulcers, and heart ailments; and, after only a few years, being sent either to slaughter or sold into increasingly worse conditions.
"Thousands more horses are bred to race than are chosen," says Hakol Chai director, Merav Barlev. "Those not fast enough - the majority - are born to be killed. Every aspect of a race horse's life involves cruelties. The government is thinking only of profits but at what cost in suffering?"
Hakol Chai stated today: "Israel can find other ways to develop tourism and bring in foreign investments than by exploiting innocent animals".
Hakol Chai, the Israeli sister charity of the US Concern for Helping Animals in Israel (CHAI) works to improve the condition and treatment of animals in Israel through legislation, education, a state of the art spay/neuter mobile clinic and direct help to animals. Hakol Chai is based in Tel Aviv. CHAI was established 20 years ago and has international headquarters in Alexandria, Virginia.
Published by Globes [online], Israel business news - www.globes.co.il - on Sunday, September 18, 2005
c. Problems Related To Gambling
Judaism is against gambling, saying it causes one person to receive money to the detriment of another. The cost to society of gambling can also not be ignored. At least 60,000 people in England are gambling addicts, their families made to suffer from the loss of income, drugs, crime, and other problems that accompany addictions. In the U.S., approximately 5 million adults are considered problem or pathological gamblers. At greatest risk are young people.
Pathological and problem gamblers in the United States cost our society approximately $5 billion per year and an additional $40 billion in lifetime costs for productivity reductions, social services, and creditor losses.…these calculations are inadequate to capture the intrafamilial costs of divorce and family disruption associated with problem and pathological gambling. — A 1999 Report to the National Gambling Impact Study Commission by the National Opinion Research Center at the University of Chicago
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2. Important COEJL-led Campaign to Save the Endangered Species Act
Forwarded message from Adam Stern, Director of COEJL
I want to share with you an important Jewish effort to protect the Endangered Species Act (ESA). Tomorrow (Sep. 21), COEJL is releasing a statement signed by 40 prominent rabbis and 30 distinguished Jewish scientists urging Congress to preserve this vital conservation law. We are responding to legislation introduced this week by Rep. Richard Pombo (R-CA) that would severely weaken the ESA. Rep. Pombo, who has tried for years -- along with development interests -- to undermine safeguards for imperiled plants and wildlife and their habitats, plans to hold a hearing on the bill tomorrow, a rushed House committee vote as early as Thursday, and a vote by the full House in early October.
Aware that such a bill was in the works, COEJL has been preparing for months with colleagues of other faiths to defend the Act. We have helped organize an innovative partnership called the Noah Alliance, which will be unveiled tomorrow with TV and radio ads on religious stations, a series of print ads in Congress Daily (the most widely read publication on Capitol Hill), and news articles in the Jewish, Christian, and mainstream press. For more information on the campaign, please visit the Noah Alliance web site (www.noahalliance.org). I am attaching the print ad, Jewish statement, and list of signers to date. Thanks for your continued interest in our work.
Best, -Adam
------------------------
Adam C. Stern Executive Director Coalition on the Environment and Jewish Life (COEJL)
work/cell (510) 681-4483 email address: adam@coejl.org web site: www.coejl.org
------------------------
The Entirety of Creation:
A Jewish Call to Protect the Endangered Species Act
September 2005
The passage of the Endangered Species Act thirty-two years ago marked a moment of great human nobility. To save from extinction species identified by scientists as gravely threatened by human activity, the American people provided resources for research, planning, and enforcement to preserve imperiled plants and wildlife and the places they call home. As a result, many of the frailest elements of the North American web of life were spared final destruction and given a chance at rebirth. Of more than 1,800 species under the Endangered Species Act’s protections during the past three decades, only nine have been declared extinct — a remarkable record of the Act’s positive impact. This represents stewardship in keeping with America’s great conservation heritage.
Today, however, the Endangered Species Act is itself endangered by impatience, ideology, and shortsighted, even deceptive, policymaking. Some organizations and members of Congress have been seeking to weaken its habitat protections, hamper the processes of identifying and listing fragile species, politicize what is supposed to be scientific decision-making, and otherwise alter the law in ways that would violate its beneficent vision and set back its accomplishments.
Distinguished voices from diverse communities are forging unique partnerships to prevent such action. Religious leaders and scientists, who may have different visions of how and why the Earth originated, are together affirming a universal moral imperative to protect all life on Earth. And in religious life itself, across traditional and often challenging denominational and ideological boundaries, people of faith are discerning a mandate for stewardship of creation deeply embedded in biblical scripture and commentary.
In this spirit, therefore, and in full agreement with a recent statement by the Academy of Evangelical Scientists and Ethicists, which calls upon religious communities to emulate “the biblical example of Noah as a model for being faithful to God’s call to protect endangered species from extinction,” we seek here to affirm the Jewish community’s longstanding commitment to protect biological diversity. We also affirm our conviction that the Endangered Species Act is one of our generation’s richest fulfillments of our biblical destiny as b'tselem elohim, created in the image of God (Genesis 1: 26), with the unique power and responsibility to shape, preserve, and renew creation through the work of our hands, our hearts, and our minds.
Jewish texts clearly state that all species deserve our wonder and protection. “Of all that the Holy One created in the world, not a single thing is useless,” teaches the Talmud (B. Shabbat 77b), while the Midrash elaborates, “Even those creatures that you may look upon as superfluous in the world . . . they too are part of the entirety of creation. The Holy One effects purpose through all creatures, even through a snake, a scorpion, a gnat, a frog” (Genesis Rabbah 10: 7). Every species of plant or animal is thus understood by Jewish tradition to occupy an ecological niche in our interdependent, living world.
Furthermore, Jewish tradition puts preservation of the environment squarely on our shoulders. “Do not spoil My world, for if you do, there is nobody to fix it after you” (Kohelet Rabbah 7: 13).
Today, in a time of marvelous innovation and discovery, science has given the ancient environmental wisdom of Judaism new strength and meaning. Genetics, ecology, taxonomy, medicine, and other sciences all indicate that life is an interconnected web whose diversity of species is an irreplaceable boon to human health and well-being. Gene research and genome mappings have shown how every creature and plant carries within it a life-urge that is eons older than any scripture. The ongoing discovery of new species, and those rare instances when we learn that species we thought extinct cling to survival, point to the strength of the life-urge and its capacity for renewal — if we humans will only seek to transcend our baser natures and rise to our religious, ethical, and legal responsibilities of stewardship, both individually and collectively. But, as noted by the Ecological Society of America, a professional society representing more than 8,000 scientists around the world, “The loss of biological diversity that we are currently observing is unprecedented.”
Two great disciplines, religion and science, have pointed us in the direction of universal values and wise policy. Science points the way with trail markers of objectivity and understanding. Religion then offers tools with which to discipline ourselves to put aside greed, self-deceit, and narrow self-interest, and to embrace, instead, the profound responsibilities assigned to us as the guardians of creation. Rabbi Elijah Gaon, the 18th century sage of Vilna, taught that: “Torah and science are intertwined.” The Jewish people have a long, proud history of fulfilling his teaching — as innovators in the scientific community and as believers in science as a pathway to human dignity.
We are particularly disturbed, therefore, by criticisms of the Endangered Species Act that undermine the role of science in environmental decision-making. Recent legislative initiatives and policy reports have distorted statistics, used unrealistic timetables, questioned the integrity of scientists, and couched themselves in pseudo-scientific language in ways that amount to what the Jewish tradition calls g’neivat da’at, stealing the mind. We urge instead that discussion of the Endangered Species Act’s ongoing relationship to species recovery, land use, economic development, political ideology, and other concerns be conducted as “controversy for the sake of heaven,” which the Jewish tradition describes as having “lasting value” (Pirke Avot 5: 19). Surely the goals of the Endangered Species Act are goals “for the sake of heaven,” with value that stretches deep into our past and holds profound promise for our future. In July 2004, more than 400 members of the scientific community wrote members of Congress, expressing “serious unease with proposals in Congress that may undermine the integrity of science and thus further distort or hamper endangered species conservation decisions.”
We call upon U.S. policymakers to emulate the forethought, self-restraint, and prodigious effort modeled by the biblical Noah — “a righteous man . . . blameless in his age” (Genesis 6: 9). While the Bible says little about the actual labors that Noah and his family endured to save Earth’s countless species from the floods of extinction, the 16th century Midrash Tanhuma portrays him as a man of foresight who planted and cultivated cedar trees over the course of a century — all the while planning the construction of his cedarwood ark and withstanding the mockery of his neighbors.
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To us, the Endangered Species Act is the legislative equivalent of Noah’s cedar grove. We are determined, with our allies in other faith communities, to see it maintained and strengthened as a resource for building our environmental future.
Signers of Jewish Statement to Protect the Endangered Species Act
(affiliations are for identification purposes only)
Rabbis
Rabbi Rebecca T. Alpert, Associate Professor of Religion and Women’s Studies, Temple University, Philadelphia, PA
Rabbi Bradley Shavit Artson, Dean of Ziegler School of Rabbinic Studies, University of Judaism, Los Angeles, CA
Rabbi Annie Belford, Congregation Shaare Emeth, St. Louis, Missouri
Rabbi Saul Berman, Director, Edah, New York, NY
Rabbi Edward C. Bernstein, Shaarey Tikvah Congregation, Beachwood, OH
Rabbi Tsvi Blanchard, Director of Organizational Development, National Jewish Center for Learning and Leadership, New York, NY
Rabbi Rachel Cowan, Director, Institute for Jewish Spirituality, Northampton, MA
Rabbi Harry K. Danziger, President, Central Conference of American Rabbis, Germantown, TN
Rabbi Fred Scherlinder Dobb, Adat Shalom, Reconstructionist Congregation, Bethesda, MD
Rabbi Elliot Dorff, Professor of Philosophy, University of Judaism, Los Angeles, CA
Rabbi Dan Ehrenkrantz, President, Reconstructionist Rabbincal College, Wyncote, PA
Rabbi David Ellenson, President, Hebrew Union College/Jewish Institute of Religion, New York, NY
Rabbi Marla J. Feldman, Commission on Social Action for Reform Judaism, New York, NY
Rabbi Dov Gartenberg, Panim Hadashot: New Faces of Judaism, Seattle, WA
Rabbi Arthur Green, Rector, Rabbinical School at Hebrew College, Newton Centre, MA
Rabbi Steve Gutow, Executive Director, Jewish Council for Public Affairs, New York, NY
Rabbi Jill Hammer, Ma'yan: The Jewish Women's Project, New York, NY
Rabbi Richard Hirsh, President, Reconstructionist Rabbinical Association, Wyncote, PA
Rabbi Nancy Fuchs Kreimer, Associate Professor and Director of Religious Studies, Reconstructionist Rabbinical College, Wyncote, PA
Rabbi Allan Lehmann, Jewish Chaplain and Rabbinic Hillel Director, Brandeis University, Waltham, MA
Rabbi Michele Lenke, Co-President, Women’s Rabbinic Network, Boston, MA
Rabbi Amy Levin, Temple Torat Yisrael, Cranston, RI
Rabbi Patricia Karlin-Neumann, Senior Associate Dean for Religious Life, Stanford University, Stanford, CA
Rabbi Stephen Pearce, Congregation Emanu-El, San Francisco, CA
Rabbi David Saperstein, Director, Religious Action Center of Reform Judaism, Washington, DC
Rabbi Ismar Schorsch, Chancellor, Jewish Theological Seminary, New York, NY
Rabbi Amy Schwartzman, Temple Rodef Shalom, New York, NY
Rabbi Judy Shanks, Co-President, Women’s Rabbinical Network, Lafayette, CA
Rabbi Arnold I. Sher, Interim Executive Vice President, Central Conference of American Rabbis, New York, NY
Rabbi Jonathan P. Slater, Institute for Jewish Spirituality, New York, NY
Rabbi Warren G. Stone, Temple Emanuel, Kensington, MD
Rabbi Tziona Szajman, Congregation Rodeph Shalom, Bridgeport, CT
Rabbi David A. Teutsch, Professor of Contemporary Jewish Civilization, Reconstructionist Rabbincal College, Wyncote, PA
Rabbi Lawrence Troster, Rabbinic Fellow, Coalition on the Environment and Jewish Life, Teaneck, NJ
Rabbi Gordon Tucker, Temple Israel Center, White Plains, NJ
Rabbi Sheila Peltz Weinberg, Institute for Jewish Spirituality, New York, NY
[We should contact these rabbis, ad see if they would support us on vegetarianism and related issues.]
Scientists
SNIP
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3. Israeli Chassidic Family Seeks Lodging and Chance to Promote Jewish-Holistic-Lifestyle Event While Visiting Crown Heights September 26 to November 2.
Forwarded message from Orit Amnon:
"We" are the Levav family from Israel: Orit, Amnon, Meitar bat 8 (8 year old daughter) and Tuv bat 1.5 (1.5 year old daughter). We combine a Hassidic life-style with raw-food and healthy life-style teachings. We've built with Hashem’s grace (G-d’s help) a web site the first "earth-ship" in Israel and operate a small homely organic kosher educational restaurant here, in the town of Maalot, in the upper Gallile, above the kziv river nature reservation and near Meiron and RashBi. Amnon is a holistic web consultant and strategiest and works from home, managing eco-health related websites like Ecopolitan, and creating eco-social trends about natural lifestyle (like www.adama.net). The new version of the ecopolitan site, soon to be on the air, contains information about the Minneapolis raw restaurant, about America's first eco-hostel, about emf pollution remediation, and so much more. The living spirit behind ecopolitan is Dr. Adiel Tel-Oren, Israelian, M.D, scientist and Musician with ten other degrees.
Our dream is to have "tishrei" [spend the Hebrew month of Tishrei] at "770" [770 Eastern Parkway, the headquarters of Lubavitch Chassidim]. We'll be at NY from September 26 to November 2. We're still looking for a Chabad family in Crown-Heights to host us. People that we can be friends with, make healthy food with, share knowledge with and be inspired together. We strongly believe that there must be a unique family for us, which can enjoy the teachings we give, as well. Can you connect us to likeminded people to host us?
WE HAVE A LOT OF GREEN-JEwISH INSPIRATION IN OUR BAGS AND EXPECT TO SHARE IT WITH YOU SOON, RICHARD. WHATEVER IS GOD'S DREAM FOR THE LINK BETWEEN US.
We want to meet you in NY to discuss various collaboration opportunities.
Also, would you like to be "shliach" [helper, roughly] to help us share our knowledge with other people and create some sort of Jewish-holistic-lifestyle event? Subects may include:
* Kosher Chassidic raw food workshop
* The story of levav's house, the first earshship in Israel
Separate event for women including holy songs
Amnon would love to share his insight and lecture about holistic
web strategy and effective positive social trends creation.
hope so to see you in NY, although it's likely that we have moshiach in a short time and get together sooner...
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4. Special Gathering Scheduled at the Israeli Jewish Vegetarian Society Centre To Inaugurate Lecture Series
Forwarded Message from Elihu Mezin, a Leader at the Israeli Jewish Vegetarian Society Centre:
We are pleased to invite you to a special gathering celebrating the beginning of our new lecture season, which will take place in the garden of the society, 8 Balfour Street, Jerusalem.
Thursday, September 29, 2005, at 7:30 PM.
Program for the evening:
* Opening remarks by Dan Arbel - Chairman of the International Jewish Vegetarian Society, Jerusalem
* A talk by Gloria Menzin Taubes, board member
* Musical performance by Vladimir Silva and Oleg Tchaikovsky of the
IBA symphony orchestra
Light refreshments will be served.
Please note: the event will be outside; please dress accordingly.
Admission: Members - NIS 20 Nonmembers - NIS 25
Space is limited, so please call 02-561-1114 or e-mail the Vegetarian
Society for reservations
ijvsjlem@netmedia.net.il
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5. Another Letter in Yosef Hakohen’s Series on Jewish Teachings About Animals
The Journey to Unity – 140
Respecting the Nature of Each Species:
"You shall not plow with an ox and the donkey together." (Deut. 22:10)
Dear Friends,
The classical commentator, Rashi, writes that the ox and donkey mentioned in the above verse are to serve as examples, for "the same is true for any two species in the world." This mitzvah therefore prohibits us from forcing two different species to work together in any way.
The Sefer Ha-Chinuch is a classical work on the Torah's 613 mitzvos. The author of this work suggests that one of the reasons for this particular mitzvah is to avoid the suffering which is caused to animals when they are forced to work together with members of another species. He writes:
"It is known that the various species of animals and fowl have great anxiety in dwelling with others not of their kind, and all the more certainly to do work with them…Every bird will dwell with its own kind, and so all animals and other species will always cling to their own kind as well." (Mitzvah 550).
The author of the Sefer Ha-Chinuch adds that each wise-hearted person can learn from this mitzvah the following insight: One should not appoint two human beings to work together if they would experience a clash, due to their being radically different in nature and/or differing in their conduct. If we are to have understanding and respect for the different nature of animals, we should surely have understanding and respect for the differing nature of human beings!
Shalom,
Yosef Ben Shlomo Hakohen(See below)
Related Teachings:
1. Rabbi Samson Raphael Hirsch mentions the following related laws in Horeb (chapter 57):
"You must not allow one task to be done together by animals of two species. You may not allow them to carry the smallest thing together, even if it be only the seed. Therefore you may not even use the voice in order to drive forward animals of differing species that are yoked together. You may not sit in a wagon which is drawn by animals of differing species. (Yorah Deah 297b)
2. The Sefer Ha-Chinuch explains that the ban against forcing animals of different species to work together is an example of the Torah's general prohibition against causing suffering to animals. With the help of Hashem, we shall discuss this general prohibition at a later stage of this series, and we shall cite some specific examples which are mentioned in the Torah. We shall also discuss the exceptions where the Torah does permit us to cause some suffering to animals; however, even in these special cases, we are obligated to ensure that the suffering is kept to the minimum that is needed. For example, we are allowed to plow with an ox, but we are obligated to treat it in a humane way. And we are forbidden to cause the ox extra discomfort by forcing it to plough together with a donkey or a member of any other species.
3. The Sefer Ha-Chinuch also cites the opinion of Maimonides (the Rambam). According to Maimonides, the ban against forcing animals of different species to work together is related to the ban against mating animals of different species, for it is the way of farmers to bring the working pair into one stall, and the farmers may therefore decide to mate them. (Guide to the Perplexed 3:49)
Hazon - Our Universal Vision: www.shemayisrael.co.il/publicat/hazon/
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6. Is Global Warming Past the Point of No Return
article
Sea ice floats on the surface of the Arctic Ocean and its neighbouring seas and normally covers an area of some 2.4 million square miles during September - about the size of Australia. However, in September 2002, this dwindled to about 2 million square miles - 16 per cent below average. Sea ice data for August closely mirrors that for September 2002 and last month's record low - 18.2 per cent below the monthly average - strongly suggests that this September will see the smallest coverage of Arctic sea ice ever recorded.
SNIP
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7. Improving Conditions for Veal Calves in Israel
Forwarded article from Haaretz:
New rules ban farmers from denying water to veal calves
By Amiram Cohen
Animal rights groups notched up another success recently when the Agriculture Ministry banned farmers from denying water to veal calves as part of the method by which they are raised for slaughter. Some two years ago, the animal rights groups won a High Court of Justice ruling that bans the force-feeding of geese.
Withholding water from veal calves constitutes a central part of the manner in which the animals are raised for slaughter, with the objective being to keep their meat tender and "white." Aside from withholding water, raising veal calves also involves imprisoning them in a veal crate and feeding them a milk substitute intentionally lacking in iron and other essential nutrients.
The animals suffer terribly because they are unable to move freely in the wooden restraining device and cannot turn around or even lie down and stretch. Designed to prevent movement, the crate does its job of atrophying the calves' muscles, thus producing tender veal.
The iron-deficient diet keeps the animals anemic and creates the pale pink or white color desired in the finished product. And because they are denied water, the calves are always thirsty, and are driven to drink a large quantity of the high-fat liquid feed.
Due to the harsh physical conditions and constant thirst, the calves are susceptible to a long list of diseases, including chronic pneumonia or constant diarrhea. Consequently, they must be given massive doses of antibiotics and other drugs just to keep them alive. The calves often suffer also from wounds caused by the constant rubbing against the crates.
Anonymous for Animal Rights initiated the fight against this method of raising veal calves - banned already among EU states - some four years ago. Since then, the Agriculture Ministry has tried to formulate new regulations for the feeding and raising of veal calves, but the regulations have been rejected time and again by the Knesset Education Committee, which has deemed them insufficient to prevent the animals from suffering.
Recently, however, the Agriculture Ministry, the Education Committee and Anonymous consented to the temporary publication of two regulations that all the parties agree to and that do not require financial investment on the part of the farmers. The first regulation imposes a sweeping ban on withholding water from the calves. The second regulation requires farmers to provide calves that are at least four weeks old with solid food.
© Copyright 2005 Haaretz. All rights reserved
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8. Can Bird Flu Have Devastating Economic Consequences?
Forwarded article:
Bird flu could cause global economic catastrophe
By Geoffrey Lean, Environment Editor
Independent (UK)
Published: 18 September 2005
Bird flu threatens to cause a "catastrophic" economic crash in Britain and around the world, unprecedented in modern times, according to new research.
Two studies from Nottingham University and the Bank of Montreal in Canada show that a flu pandemic – described by the World Health Organisation last week as inevitable - would slash at least £95bn from British GDP, extinguish at least 900,000 jobs and create a global depression to rival that of the 1930s.
SNIP
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9. Private School Goes Completely Vegetarian
For the first time in more than a decade, Rockland Country Day has changed lunch vendors from a commercial organization to a local restaurant. After a year of committee meetings, taste tests and student and parent comment, the school signed a one-year contract with Main Essentials, a Haverstraw vegetarian restaurant that caters to vegans - vegetarians who also don't eat dairy or other animal products.
"We know there's an obesity crisis and a crisis of disease in this country, and a lot of it stems from the kind of foods and the fast foods that people ingest," said Martha Roth, a parent and member of the committee that selected Main Essentials as the school's food vendor. "If you start early, if you teach children to eat well at an early age, it won't be an issue when they get older."
Local public schools usually offer a meatless option for students and have tried to cut down on sugar and salt in other foods, but none has done what Rockland Country Day has - hired a vegetarian restaurant to provide school lunches.
Two years ago, parents and students approached James Handlin, the headmaster of Rockland Country Day, about the school's food. Research showed that many children nationwide were eating high-sugar, high-fat foods that contributed to health problems such as asthma and diabetes. There had been concern among organic-foods activists for years about chemical fertilizers, genetically engineered foodstuffs and commercial feed lots.
"We did two things: We took a hard look at all of the snack foods we were offering in all our machines and decided to get rid of what wasn't healthy, mainly those with corn sweeteners. We put in a lot more juices and so-called natural sodas," Handlin said.
"We're really concerned about the obesity and lack of nutritional awareness that so many families seem to have. Because we're a school that goes from 3-year-olds to 12th-graders, we would have kids on these sort of sugar highs. We took a long look at what we were going to put into those machines."
Beginning in the spring, granola, pretzels and soy-based cookies replaced candy bars, chips and Pop-Tarts in the snack machines. Water, juice and seltzer-based sodas ousted Coke and Pepsi products. The food, provided by Kristo Beverage, costs 75 cents to $1.50.
The change was not made effortlessly. Students and staff complained they didn't like the options in the snack and soda machines. Handlin said the complainers agreed to live with healthy snacks for the rest of the school year, and no one has complained about the machine offerings since school started last week.
Handlin said the organic chips were selling better than regular chips used to and the school wasn't selling as much soda.
As for student behavior - it's too soon to tell, he said. But the younger children now have access to the machines, which they weren't permitted with the former snack offerings.
With that project completed, the school launched its second initiative. Earlier in the summer, parents and students fenced in a 100-foot-by-100-foot lot and began an organic garden. Roth and local greenhouse owner Ron Breland plotted a simple vegetable garden as a start and asked students and parents to help. Eventually, the garden will be used with the curriculum and for some of the school's mandated community-service projects.
Adam Darer, 15, of Chestnut Ridge, a 10th-grader at the school, was drafted by his mother to come help, but it wasn't a hardship, he said. His grandmother got him hooked on growing things, and he already had had a garden at home for four years.
"I came to a meeting one day and it sounded interesting," he said.
"It's been a lot of fun coming here in the summer. It seems weird to
come here in the summer, but when you have a lot of students working
toward a goal, it's really nice."
While the garden project was getting started, the same committee began looking at food vendors for the cafeteria. Because the school receives little public money, students now pay about $4.50 for lunch each day, compared with about $1.75 for an average public-school hot lunch.
Richard LaCossade, 27, is the executive chef in charge of Rockland Country Day School's cafeteria. He worked in the kitchen of the Manhattan Woods Golf Course and a Marriott Inn before joining Main Essentials. He takes standard cafeteria fare and makes it meatless.
"I just try to keep it healthy. This is a school," he said. "But we'll use soy cheese for the quesadillas, and soy-based products for the ham and cheese omelets. The kids that still eat ham will still taste the difference, but the rest don't seem to notice."
Unlike at Main Essentials, the school cafeteria has a meat option: turkey hot dogs. LaCossade will use real cheese in his sandwiches, he said, although soy-based cheeses are available.
The vegetables and fruits are from local farmers markets, and once the school garden starts producing in bulk, that food will be part of the menu. Scraps from the lunchroom will go to the school compost heap.
Eliza Martin Simpson, 15, of Wesley Hills, a 10th-grader, said she just appreciated the ability to eat a school lunch.
"It's really made it a lot easier for me to be a vegetarian, and the food is really interesting," she said. "I really like to eat, so it's been a highlight of the year coming here."
Nonvegetarians such as ninth-graders Norma Kuhling, 14, of Valley Cottage; Hailey Fyfe, also 14, of Piermont; and 10th-grader Katie Crispi, 15, of New City said they found the school lunches infinitely better than last year.
"You just sort of feel good," Fyfe said, "after eating a healthy meal."
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10. How Climate Change Stalls Efforts To Reduce Poverty
Forwarded messages from Inset (www.insnet.org)
a. *Climate change stalling poverty fight*
http://www.insnet.org/ins_headlines.rxml?cust=2&id=1652&url=http://www.greenconsumerguide.com/index.php?news=2776
The effects climate change are jeopardising the fight against poverty and potential success of the Millennium Development Goals, UK Environment Secretary Margaret Beckett has claimed.
b. "Future climate change threatens to undermine our efforts to tackle Africa's poverty and sustai * ..continue...*
http://www.insnet.org/ins_headlines.rxml?cust=2&id=1652&url=http://www.greenconsumerguide.com/index.php?news=2776
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11. A Congressional Victory for America’s Horses
Forwarded message from The Humane Society of the United States
VICTORY FOR AMERICA'S HORSES!
https://community.hsus.org/campaign/ensign_amendment2
We did it! The U.S. Senate passed an amendment today by a stunning 68-29 vote that prohibits the use of any federal taxpayer funds to slaughter horses for food exports.
The amendment, introduced by Senators John Ensign (R-NV) and Robert C. Byrd (D-WV), mirrors an amendment that passed the U.S. House of Representatives in June, which was led by Reps. John Sweeney (R-NY), John Spratt (D-SC), Nick Rahall (D-WV), and Ed Whitfield (R-KY). Together, these measures will effectively stop America's horses from being killed in three slaughterhouses in the U.S. that slaughter horses -- two in Texas and one in Illinois. The amendment also stops horses from being shipped to slaughterhouses in Canada or Mexico so that their meat can be exported to foreign countries.
This tremendous victory would not have been possible without your support and action. We received outstanding support for our major lobbying campaign to end horse slaughter and were able to mobilize our grassroots network. Every single Senate office heard from us, and because of your calls and emails they took notice. Click here to find our how your U.S. Senators voted: https://community.hsus.org/campaign/ensign_amendment2
"The time has come to put an end to the practice of slaughtering horses in America," said Sen. Ensign. "Horses have an important role in the history of our country, particularly the West, and they deserve our protection. As a senator and a veterinarian I am committed to doing what I can for these magnificent animals. Many of the horses sent to slaughter are perfectly healthy, and turning them over to slaughterhouses is inhumane and unnecessary."
"The market for horsemeat is not an American market," said Sen. Byrd. "Many Americans would be shocked to learn that our animals suffer such a fate, all in order to satisfy the tastes of those living in Europe and Asia."
In another welcome move, the Senate also approved two additional animal welfare amendments introduced by Sen. Daniel Akaka (D-HI). One amendment would ensure that "downed livestock" -- animals too sick or injured to walk -- are not allowed into the human food supply. The second amendment would prohibit tax dollars from being used for research facilities that purchase animals from "Class B dealers" who traffic in family pets for research.
We are so grateful that you stood with us and helped achieve this incredible victory for animals, even as so many of our resources -- and so much of our attention -- has been turned towards helping the animal victims of Hurricane Katrina. Thank you for all you do on behalf of animals.
Sincerely,
Wayne Pacelle
President & CEO
The Humane Society of the United States
--------------------------
Report from DawnWatch
The Wednesday September 21 Wall Street Journal has a front page story headed, "Why Belgians Shoot Horses in Texas For Dining in Europe" while the Thoroughbred Times announces "Slaughter amendment passes U.S. Senate."
The Thoroughbred Times piece explains, "The United States Senate on Tuesday joined the U.S. House of Representatives by overwhelmingly passing an amendment to the U.S. Department of Agriculture Appropriations Bill that will remove federal funding for mandated meat inspectors at the three remaining, foreign-owned horse slaughterhouses in the United States. If signed into law by President George Bush, it effectively would shut them down when the 2006 fiscal year begins October 1....The bill to end horse slaughter permanently in the United States, the American Horse Slaughter Prevention Act (H.R. 503), was re-introduced into the House of Representatives last February and is before the House Energy and Commerce Committee."
For more information on that bill, and you can help, go to https://community.hsus.org/campaign/2005_horse_slaughter
The Wall Street Journal front page story points out that the three horse slaughter plants in the US are foreign owned and sell their meat overseas. It says, "Federal law doesn't ban eating horse in the U.S., but the meat is now no longer sold for human consumption domestically....The U.S. Department of Agriculture, which inspects the horses headed for foreign tables, says 58,736 horses were slaughtered in the U.S. last year for human consumption, yielding 13.6 million pounds of meat for export to the European Union, Japan, Mexico and Switzerland. A decade ago, there were around a dozen U.S. facilities slaughtering horses for export. Today, with demand declining, that's down to just two in Texas and one in Illinois."
It discusses the attempts to ban horse slaughter in the USA and tell us, "While the debate goes on, an American Airlines flight takes off every day from Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport, headed for Paris's Charles DeGaulle airport with a load of horse carcasses in its cargo belly. ...So far, economic arguments have prevailed over the emotional appeals of the antislaughter forces. Mr. Bradshaw, the slaughterhouse lobbyist, tells lawmakers the Texas plants spend $6 million a year shipping horse meat with American Airlines and other U.S. carriers."
The passage, yesterday, of the Ensign-Byrd horse slaughter amendment suggests the tide is turning.
Wall Street Journal subscribes can read the whole article on line.
The front page story presents a great opportunity for letters to the editor in support of a permanent horse slaughter ban. Those who are horrified by the treatment of animals that America considers it acceptable to eat (see www.factoryfarming.com) can use this as a jump-off point for letters on that issue.
The Wall Street Journal takes letters at: wsj.ltrs@wsj.com. Always include your full name, address, and daytime phone number when sending a letter to the editor. Shorter letters are more likely to be published.
Yours and the animals',
Karen Dawn
(DawnWatch is an animal advocacy media watch that looks at animal issues in the media and facilitates one-click responses to the relevant media outlets. You can learn more about it, and sign up for alerts at http://www.DawnWatch.com. To unsubscribe, go to www.DawnWatch.com/unsubscribe.php. If you forward or reprint DawnWatch alerts, please do so unedited -- leave DawnWatch in the title and include this tag line.)
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12. Buy Cruelty-free Feathers and Help Hurricane Katrina Victims
Forwarded message from Rabbi Yonassan GershomL
Richard --
Just in case you or anybody you know is interested, I'm selling some cruelty-free goose and chicken feathers on ebay as a fundraiser to help animal rescue efforts for vicitims of Hurricane Katrina. My "About Me" page on ebay has the listings at: http://members.ebay.com/aboutme/rooster613
Feel free to pass this message around.
Kol tuv,
Rabbi Gershom
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