4/5/06 Special JVNA Newsletter - "If This Is Kosher..."

Shalom everyone,

This special Jewish Vegetarians of North America (JVNA) Online Newsletter is devoted to a consideration of the recently released video produced by author Jonathan Safran Foer at HumaneKosher.com on Jewish teachings about compassion for animals and the Postville slaughterhouse controversy, and how we might best use the video and the publicity about it to get vegetarianism and related issues onto the Jewish agenda.

This newsletter contains the following items:

1. Announcement of New Video “If This Is Kosher …”

2. JVNA’s Objectives Re Jewish Teachings on Compassion to Animals, the Postville Controversy, and the Newly Released Video

3. Sample Letters Related to the Postville Slaughterhouse and Related Issues

4. JVNA Press Release/Suggestions Very Welcome

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.

As always, your comments and suggestions are very welcome.

Thanks,
Richard

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1. Announcement of New Video "If This Is Kosher..."

[The material below is from: HumaneKosher.com (the web site where you can see the new video and much other information). The next section presents material on the JVNA’s perspective on the overall issues.

Please use the material in this newsletter as the basis of letters to editors, phone calls to talk shows, and as talking points to call for an immediate improvement of conditions at the Postville slaughterhouse and to promote getting vegetarianism onto the Jewish agenda. I feel strongly that the video “If This Is kosher …” provides us with an unprecedented opportunity. It can open people’s eyes to the horrors behind the foods that they take for granted. It is essential that we build on the excellent material and statements in the video to help people understand that this is the tip of the iceberg in terms of the many moral issues related to our diets.]
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HumaneKosher.com material:

Whether we look at modern Jewish social justice work or ancient rabbinic rulings, Jews have always insisted on the importance of having compassion for animals and reducing unnecessary animal suffering—tsa'ar ba'alei chayim in Hebrew.

Increasingly, this fundamental reverence for life has led Jewish leaders to advocate vegetarianism. From the first chief rabbi of pre-state Israel, Rav Abraham Isaac Kook, to giants of Jewish culture such as Albert Einstein and Nobel Prize for literature winner Isaac Bashevis Singer, the vegetarian diet first prescribed in the Garden of Eden (Genesis 1:28-29) has been held forth as "a kashrut [dietary law] for our age."

We can all agree that animals should be treated humanely. Today's kosher meat [generally] comes from the same abusive factory farms as all other meat. Despite the humane intention and spirit of the Jewish dietary laws, there are no standards to ensure that kosher slaughter is any less cruel than conventional slaughter. In some instances, it's been shown to be much worse. [Shechita was designed to minimize the pain of animals during the slaughtering process. Ideally ritual slaughter is carried out by a pious individual under very strict conditions, and death occurs in seconds. The book “Slaughterhouse” by Gail Eisnitz points out some of the horrors at non-kosher slaughterhouses.]

In the face of horrifically cruel and ecologically devastating factory farms and a kosher industry that has sanctioned even the most grisly abuse of animals, it's difficult to see how eating animals is compatible with Jewish values.

Order a free copy of "A Case for Jewish Vegetarianism" today to learn more. Additional information about Judaism and vegetarianism can be found at JewishVeg.com [the web site of JVNA].

* Chickens and turkeys killed for their flesh in kosher slaughterhouses often suffer broken legs and wings as a result of rough handling and malfunctioning equipment. When they are slaughtered incorrectly, these sensitive animals survive for several minutes as they hang upside-down from metal shackles and can only writhe in pain as they slowly bleed to death. Watch video footage. [You can click on this at the web site HumaneKosher.com.]

* Hens used for eggs live with up to six other birds in battery cages that are the size of file drawers, thousands of which are stacked tier upon tier in huge, filthy warehouses. Male chicks are of no use to the egg industry and are often thrown into garbage bags and left to suffocate. Watch video footage.

* Cows used for their milk are drugged and bred to produce unnatural amounts of milk. Their babies are stolen from them shortly after birth to be sent to notoriously cruel veal farms. Watch video footage.

* Cattle raised for kosher meat are castrated, their horns are ripped from their heads, and third-degree burns (branding) are inflicted on them—all without any painkillers . The cruelty discovered during PETA's investigation into AgriProcessors was shocking, but according to kosher authorities, it is not unique to this particular slaughterhouse. Watch video footage.
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On November 30, 2004, The New York Times broke the story of what it called "grisly" animal abuse at the world's largest glatt kosher slaughterhouse, AgriProcessors Inc. The story, based on a disturbing undercover investigation, received wide coverage in the mainstream media and remains the biggest scandal in the kosher meat industry in recent memory. For many in the Jewish community, the seriousness of these abuses and kosher authorities' failure to denounce them have raised fundamental questions about the consumption of meat. This video takes on those questions.

Narrator Jonathan Safran Foer is the author of Everything Is Illuminated, which won the National Jewish Book Award for Fiction and The Guardian's First Book Award and is the basis for a feature film starring Elijah Wood. His second novel, Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close, has been hailed by Salman Rushdie as "ambitious, pyrotechnic, riddling, and above all … extremely moving," and Warner Bros. and Paramount have jointly acquired movie rights to it. His works have been translated into more than 30 languages worldwide. He lives in Brooklyn, New York.

“If This Is Kosher …” is narrated by Jonathan Safran Foer and features Rabbi Irving “Yitz” Greenberg and Rabbi David Wolpe.

Order a DVD copy of Jonathan Safran Foer’s "If This Is Kosher …". Additional information about Judaism and vegetarianism can be found at JewishVeg.com.

Special thanks to People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals and Animal Liberation Israel for supplying undercover video footage for this project.

HumaneKosher.com is a joint project of independent Jewish leaders and several Jewish staff members at People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals. It is hosted by GoVeg.com.

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2. JVNA’s Objectives Re Jewish Teachings on Compassion to Animals, the Postville Controversy, and the Newly Released Video

JVNA objectives include the following:

* Make sure that people are aware of Judaism’s strong teachings on compassion to animals, that shechita, if properly done, is a superior method of slaughter, and that the horrible scenes videotaped at the Postville slaughterhouse are not typical of Jewish ritual slaughter practices. Judaism’s very powerful teachings on the proper treatment of animals can be found at the JVNA web site (www.JewishVeg,com), including the section on animals at JewishVeg.com/schwartz. One of JVNA’s main objectives is to see that these teachings are properly applied.

* Join others in advocating that the methods used in the Postville plant be changed and that the OU and other groups set up rigorous standards that will be strictly enforced so that there never be another situation like the Postville case. There have been recent positive moves by the OU and others toward improving conditions at the Postville plant and setting up better standards. To assure the public that shechita is being properly carried out, it is very important that independent experts be permitted to make unannounced inspections and report on their findings.

* Make people aware that the Postville case should awaken us to the many ways that animal-based diets and agriculture threaten human health and the planet’s sustainability, and how they violate basic Jewish mandates re preserving human health, treating animals with compassion, protecting the environment, conserving natural resources, and helping hungry people. Once the Postville situation is properly resolved, assuming that it will be completely resolved, it is essential that people not think that everything is now fine and they can continue their consumption of animal products with a clear conscience. Jews have a choice re their diets, but they should make that choice based on a knowledge of the realities of the production and consumption of animal products and how they impinge on Jewish teachings.

* Make it clear that, while JVNA advocates that everyone consider switching to plant-based diets and we advocate the elimination of all types of slaughter, we oppose efforts to single out shechita (Jewish ritual slaughter) for special criticism. We believe that shechita, when properly carried out, is a superior method of slaughter. PETA, the group that revealed the problems at the Postville facility, has kept its focus on the abuses at the Postville plant and has acknowledged at its web site and in other statements that properly carried out ritual slaughter (shechita) is a superior method.

* We do not want the situation at the Postville slaughterhouse and the discussions about it to result, G-d forbid, in attacks on Jewish teachings, on kashrut, on shechita in general, and on individual Jews, because of a possible increase in anti-Semitism. Hence, it is important that it be clearly indicated that the horrible scenes at the Postville slaughterhouse shown on PETA’s video are not typical of shechita, and to stress Judaism’s teachings on compassion to animals.

* While strongly promoting vegetarianism and an end to abuses of animals, we should be careful not to attack the Jewish community or the Orthodox Jewish community, while we work to change conditions at Postville and to get vegetarianism onto the Jewish agenda. I have lived in an Orthodox community and worshipped in an Orthodox synagogue for many years, and, while I differ strongly with most members on some issues such as vegetarianism, I have found them to be generally good people who are very charitable and involved actively in many programs to help others. In general, it is important to seek common ground and not to demonize people. Also, as I tried to bring out in my books and articles, the application of Jewish values can help address the many crises facing the world today.

* As JVNA founder and first president Jonathan Wolf has pointed out, since we are involved in both the Jewish community and the animal rights community, JVNA has the potential of playing a very positive role in this controversy. We are ready to consult with people of different views and eating habits, in seeking common ground and the best possible solution.

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3. Sample Letters Related to the Postville Slaughterhouse and Related Issues
To reinforce your understanding of the issues, please read the articles and statements by rabbis, veterinarians, and other experts at
http://www.goveg.com/feat/agriprocessors/experts.asp

The letters below were written some time ago but they provide ideas that you may want to build on in your own letters and talking points.
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March 19, 2006

Editor, Jewish Week
editor@jewishweek.org

Dear Editor:

Re: “Unkosher Goings-On At Meat Plant: Inhumane slaughter was unchecked by inspectors, federal probe of Iowa kosher slaughterhouse finds” (March 17, 2006 article);

As president of the Jewish Vegetarians of North America (JVNA), I believe that this article should be a wake up call to the Jewish community. Even if improvements at the slaughterhouse are made and Jewish ritual slaughter is carried out perfectly with a minimum of pain, can we ignore the many ways that the widespread production and consumption of animal products contradict basic Jewish teachings.

When Judaism mandates that we treat animals with compassion, animals are raised under cruel conditions on factory farms, where they suffer greatly in cramped, confined spaces without sunlight, fresh air, or opportunities to fulfil their natural instincts. When Judaism stresses that we must diligently protect our health, animal-based diets are major contributors to the epidemic of heart disease, many forms of cancer, and other killer diseases and ailments afflicting the Jewish community and others. When Judaism mandates that we be partners with God in protecting the environment, modern intensive livestock agriculture contributes significantly to air, water, and land pollution, species extinction, deforestation, global climate change, water shortages, and many other environmental threats.

In summary: since Judaism mandates that we diligently guard our health, treat animals with compassion, protect the environment, conserve natural resources, and help hungry people, and animal-based diets and agriculture have negative effects in each of these areas, shouldn’t Jews (and others) seriously consider a switch toward meatless diets?

Very truly yours,

Richard H. Schwartz
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Dear Editor:

It is commendable that “OU Orders A Kinder Cut – changes practice at Iowa slaughterhouse following rabbinical visit spurred by PETA video” (December 10, 2004 issue). But what about the many other moral issues related to animal-based diets and agriculture?

Can we ignore the many violations of Jewish teachings about compassion to animals on factory farms where animals are raised in cramped, confined spaces without sunlight, fresh air, or opportunities to fulfil their natural instincts. When Judaism stresses that we must diligently protect our health, can we ignore the epidemic of heart disease, many forms of cancer, and other killer diseases and ailments afflicting the Jewish community and others? When Judaism mandates that we be partners with God in protecting the environment, can we ignore the significant contributions of animal-centered agriculture to air, water, and land pollution, species extinction, deforestation, global climate change, water shortages, and many more environmental threats?

For the sake of our health, the sustainability of our imperiled planet, Jewish values, as well as for the animals, it is essential that we consider shifting toward plant-based diets.

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Dear Editor:

Thank you for your article in last week’s edition, “Is It Kosher?”, concerning the cruel slaughtering methods at a Kosher plant in Iowa.

The AgriProcessors case is only one example of the many cruelties suffered by animals destined to become dinner. The video footage of this plant shows overt violations of Kashrut laws; the cows are clearly still alive and in intense pain and distress following Shechita. It is quite unbelievable that this meat can even be considered for Kosher. Why did it take PETA, a group that thrives on controversy, to expose this obvious violation?

What is not addressed in your article are the numerous violations of the Jewish laws of Tsa’ar Baa’lei Chayim (you shall not cause suffering to a living being) that are common in the meat industry: separating calves from their mothers, branding; use of electric cattle prods; terrifying shipping conditions, and a general disregard for the welfare of animals.

Not only do most farm animals suffer a horrible death, they spend their entire lives in terrible conditions that cause intense suffering and unhappiness. How can food products from such animals be considered Koshe; no matter how they are killed?

Animals that become “Kosher” meat are not exempt from any of this inhumane treatment. …

Maybe your article will inspire people to find out more about the source of the food that they are eating and the suffering caused by purchasing meat products, and make a choice that is consistent with their spiritual beliefs. The sources of information are numerous; a good place to start is with the writings of the highly respected Professor Richard Schwartz, head of the Jewish Vegetarians of North America, at
http://jewishveg.com/schwartz

Finally, the attacks by Orthodox organizations on PETA are akin to shooting the messenger. There is nothing anti-Semitic about the desire to reduce suffering of animals. Indeed, it was the Jews who invented the concept of kindness to animals, codified it in numerous Jewish laws including the Bible and even the Ten Commandments, which forbids working animals on the Sabbath.

It is distressing to see the news media full of stories about
officially-approved Jewish slaughterers mistreating animals in violation of Jewish law; it is even worse that they are not being called to account by our religious authorities.

Sincerely yours,

Debra Berger
The Interfaith Council for the Protection of Animals and Nature

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4. JVNA Press Release/Suggestions Very Welcome

PRESS RELEASE

April 5, 2006
For Immediate Release
Contact person: Richard H. Schwartz, President of the Jewish Vegetarians of North America (JVNA) (rschw12345@aol.com; Phone (718) 761-5876; Fax: (718) 982-3631; web site: jewishveg.com).

JEWISH VEGETARIAN GROUP WELCOMES NEW VIDEO CONTRASTING JEWISH TEACHINGS WITH HORRENDOUS ABUSES AT IOWA KOSHER SLAUGHTERHOUSE

The Jewish Vegetarians of North America (JVNA) announced today that it welcomes the new video “If This Is Kosher …” which contrasts Judaism’s powerful teachings on compassion to animals with the horrendous animal abuses on factory farms and those exposed at the Postville, Iowa slaughterhouse as a positive step in alerting Jews about the inconsistencies between Jewish teachings and the realities of animal-based diets and modern intensive livestock agriculture.

“If This Is Kosher …” is narrated by the noted author Jonathan Safran Foer and features statements about Jewish teachings on the proper treatment of animals by Orthodox Rabbi Irving “Yitz” Greenberg and Conservative Rabbi David Wolpe.

People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) and Animal Liberation Israel supplied undercover video footage for the project.

The video was produced by HumaneKosher.com, a joint project of independent Jewish leaders and several Jewish staff members at People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals. The video can be viewed at HumaneKosher.com, along with background material related to the video.

Richard H. Schwartz, president of the Jewish Vegetarians of North America (JVNA) stated: "The eloquent statements by Rabbis Greenberg and Wolpe on Judaism’s splendid teachings on compassion to animals, contrasted with the graphic depictions of the horrifying mistreatment of animals on factory farms and at the Postville, Iowa slaughterhouse should cause the entire Jewish community to examine the ways animals are currently being raised, treated, prepared, and slaughtered, to see if the laws and principles of the Torah are actually being properly practiced. And we hope that closer study of the values in Jewish tradition -- concern for the pain of fellow creatures, maintaining health, protecting God's world, conserving resources, feeding the hungry -- will ultimately lead Jews and others to adopt a diet that is more humane, healthier, more environmentally sustainable, and more capable of feeding hungry people -- vegetarianism."

Schwartz added, "These horrific factory farm and slaughterhouse scenes completely contradict our mandate to be ‘rachmanim b’nei rachmanim’ (compassionate children of compassionate ancestors). Even if ritual slaughter is performed flawlessly, consistent with halacha, we should not ignore the severe violations of Jewish law occurring daily on factory farms. We should fulfil our charge to be ‘a light unto the nations’ by helping to lead the world away from a diet that is so harmful to people, the environment, and animals, to one that is far more consistent with basic religious values."

For a long time, JVNA has argued that Jews should consider how animal-based diets and agriculture violate basic Jewish mandates to preserve human health, treat animals with compassion, preserve the environment, conserve natural resources, and help hungry people.

JVNA hopes that the challenging video will impel the Jewish community to consider the ramifications of typical Jewish diets, and those of most Americans. JVNA urges Jews and others to consider not only how animals are mistreated on factory farms, but also the devastating health consequences of animal-based diets, and how animal-based agriculture -- because of its grossly disproportionate use of land, water, fuel and other natural resources --contributes substantially to global climate change, species extinction, pollution of land, air, and water, destruction of tropical rain forests, coral reefs, and other valuable habitats, shortages of water and other resources, and other threats to the survival of humanity. Putting these issues squarely on the Jewish agenda would save many lives, move our imperiled planet to a more sustainable path, and show the relevance of Judaism’s eternal teachings in addressing current critical issues, and thus help revitalize Judaism.

Further information about the JVNA and its campaign to get vegetarianism onto the Jewish and other agendas may be obtained by contacting Dr. Schwartz or the JVNA (JewishVeg.com; mail@JewishVeg.com). The web site also has many Jewish vegetarian recipes. A complimentary copy of Richard Schwartz’s book Judaism and Vegetarianism and a related CD will be sent to members of the media who request them and to others who indicate how they would use the material to help get vegetarianism and related issues onto the Jewish agenda.

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