Shalom everyone,
This update/Jewish Vegetarians of North America (JVNA) Online Newsletter has the following items:
Announcements
1. Campaign to Ban Foie Gras Sales in New York City
2. Rabbi Yonassan Gershom Creates Web Site To Make Cruelty-Free Feathers Available
3. Response from Al Gore Communications Director in Response to My Letter Urging Linking Animal-Based Diets to Global Warming
5. Recent Article Re Investigations of Agriprocessors’ Glatt Kosher Slaughterhouse in Postville, Iowa/Two Letters to Editors From Me and Lewis Regenstein
6. Interested in Helping Plan JVNA Events or a Conference?
7. DVD "If This Is Kosher" Now Available
8. Canfei Nesharim Introduces Sukkot Environmental Project
11. Quotations Worth Considering
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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Announcements
We are deeply saddened by the recent horrible events in Israel. I have 2 daughters living in Israel with their husbands and all of my grandchildren. Thankfully, they are not in areas being hit by rockets from Lebanon. One of my daughters is putting up a family that had to flee from the northern part of Israel. I also am in touch with many vegetarian and animal rights activists in Israel and I pray that they are also ok. I am sure I express the feeling of others on this list in hoping and praying for a just, peaceful, long lasting resolution of the present situation, so that Israel and all the nations of the world can focus on addressing the many current environmental and other threats to humanity.
Due to some computer problems, I may have lost some material that was sent to me for this newsletter. Also, I may have missed some email address changes. I apologize for any inconvenience.
As I indicate from time to time, if you would like to be removed from this list for any reason, please let me know. No questions asked. On the other hand, if you know of people who might like to be added to the list to get free JVNA newsletters, please contact them and ask them to contact me if they would like to get the newsletters. Thanks.
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1. Campaign to Ban Foie Gras Sales in New York City
I have been approached by some vegetarian activists with the possibility to try to get the NY City Council to ban sales of foie gras in NY City, just as the Chicago City Council did. While there has not been any follow-up on this on the part of the activists who contacted me, I modified a previous press release to make it applicable to the NY City Council situation. As always, comments and suggestions are very welcome.
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NEWS RELEASE
JEWISH GROUP URGES BANNING OF SALE OF FOIE GRAS IN NEW YORK CITY RESTAURANTS
For Immediate Release:
July 24, 2006
Contact:
Richard H. Schwartz, President of the Jewish Vegetarians of North America (JVNA)
Rschw12345@aol.com Phone: (718) 761-5876
The Jewish Vegetarians of North America (JVNA) urges that the sale of foie gras, which is produced by the force-feeding of massive amounts of grain down the throats of geese and ducks, be banned by the New York City Council. The JVNA position is based on Jewish teachings on compassion to animals and on several recent events:
* Recently, the Chicago City Council banned the sale of foie gras in Chicago restaurants.
* On August 11, 2003, the Israeli Supreme Court made a landmark decision that banned the force-feeding of geese and ducks, for the production of foie gras, as a violation of Israel’s animal cruelty laws. This ruling conforms to the position of major Ashkenazic and Sefardic rabbinical authorities in Israel, including Rabbis Zvi Pesach Frank and Eliezer Waldman of the previous generation, and Rabbis Ovadia Yosef and Shear Yashuv Cohen, among today's chief rabbis. As the judges indicated, to produce this pâté “delicacy,” the birds are force fed enormous amounts of grain through a pressurized pipe shoved down their throats. As a result the birds develop degenerative diseases of the liver.
* California Senate President Pro Tem John Burton, introduced a measure in February, 2004, that would ban foie gras from being produced and consumed in California. The state would be the first in the nation to ban the product, though it has been outlawed in
several other countries, including Israel. Burton stated: "We just shouldn't be cramming a tube down a duck's throat and forcing in food to make foie gras. It's an inhumane process that other countries have sensibly banned. I'm please California will be next on the list."
Since California and New York are the only states that produce foie gras, the JVNA urges members of the New York City Council to follow the lead of Israel, Chicago and California by addressing the cruelty involved in producing foie gras, and by passing legislation that would ban its production. This would be consistent with Judaism’s teachings on tsa’ar ba’alei chayim, the Torah mandate to avoid causing pain to animals, and with teachings about compassion in Judaism and other religions.
Rabbi David Rosen, a contemporary Israeli Orthodox rabbi and former Chief Rabbi of Ireland, stated:
“It should be obvious that pate de foie gras is produced in a manner that is in complete contravention of the Torah's prohibition of causing tsa'ar ba'alei chayim - pain to animals (see Maimonides, Yad Chazakah, Hilchot Rozeah, Ch. 13, M. 8). Rabbi Yechezkel Landau, the Noda Bi-Yehuda, clarifies that causing any cruelty to an animal while alive is a desecration of this prohibition (Noda Bi-Yehuda, Yoreh Deah, Response No. 10) and that if food can be obtained in a manner that does not involve additional pain and one chooses to obtain such through causing pain to an animal, one desecrates a Torah prohibition. Pate de foie gras is obtained through the willful desecration of a Torah prohibition and any truly God-revering Jew will not partake of such a product which is an offense against the Creator and His Torah.”
More information on Jewish vegetarianism is available at JewishVeg.com. The JVNA will send a complimentary copy of Richard Schwartz’s book “Judaism and Vegetarianism,” and a related cassette tape, to anyone who contacts us and tells us how he or she will use the materials to make people more aware of Jewish teachings on these issues.
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2. Rabbi Yonassan Gershom Creates Web Site To Make Cruelty-Free Feathers Available
Forwarded message from Rabbi Gershom, author, scholar, book reviewer, hobby farmer and JVNA advisor:
Richard:
I thought you might like to know that I created a Web page about a month ago called "Do You Know Where Your Feathers Come From?"
(http://stores.ebay.com/The-Happy-Rooster/About-our-Cruelty-Free-Feathers.html).
This page is on the site of my ebay store, The Happy Rooster, where I sell cruelty-free feathers from my geese and chickens. Of course, this isn't just about selling feathers, although people do buy them. But mostly it's about general education -- eBay pages get a lot of priority on the search engines. Animal Liberation Front liked the page so much they linked to it on their site -- without me even telling them about it! And if you Google "cruelty-free feathers," both these pages are on the top of the links list. Not to brag -- just showing another way to be creative in getting our message out there! (My page has a plug for JVNA too!)
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3. Response from Al Gore Communications Director in Response to My Letter Urging Linking Animal-Based Diets to Global Warming
Dear Dr. Schwartz,
Thank you for your correspondence. I will make sure to provide the Gore's with more information from the websites you suggested.
Cheers, Kalee
--
Kalee Kreider
Communications Director
Office of the Honorable Al Gore & Mrs. Tipper Gore
2100 West End Avenue, Suite 620
Nashville, TN 37203
Phone: 615-327-2227
Fax: 615-327-1323
Please also write to the address above and urge Al Gore to stress the importance of a shift to plant-based diets in order to reduce global warming. Thanks.
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5. Recent Article Re Investigations of Agriprocessors’ Glatt Kosher Slaughterhouse in Postville, Iowa/Two Letters to Editors From Me and Lewis Regenstein
Kosher Meat Plant Accused Of Abuses
By Nate Herpich
Religion News Service
Saturday, July 15, 2006; B09
letters@washpost.com
An investigation by a leading Jewish newspaper has uncovered abusive working conditions at the largest kosher slaughterhouse in the United States -- a facility that was already under investigation over allegations of unethical treatment of livestock.
Now, two Conservative Jewish organizations have created a task force to investigate the abuses and what they might mean for the nation's kosher meat supply.
According to the Forward, a national Jewish weekly newspaper, Iowa-based AgriProcessors Inc. -- owned and managed by Hasidic Jews -- is guilty of shorted paychecks, little or no safety training and accidental amputations, all affecting its largely undocumented workers.
A month after the piece ran May 26, the Rabbinical Assembly and the United Synagogue of Conservative Judaism launched a fact-finding study to find out what wrongs, if any, are being committed at the plant in Postville, Iowa.
For meat to be declared kosher, or fit for eating, Jewish law requires that animals be killed quickly and humanely, and the processes must be approved by supervising rabbis.
The Forward reported that the company's "kosher seal gives it an apparent moral imprimatur in a business that is known for harsh working conditions and labor violations. But even in the unhappy world of meatpacking, people with comparative knowledge of AgriProcessors and other plants say that AgriProcessors stands out for its poor treatment of workers."
The federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration has cited AgriProcessors for six safety violations this year, or more than half of Iowa's meatpacking plant violations, the newspaper reported.
AgriProcessors, whose product is sold in stores under the brand name Aaron's Best, did not respond to several calls seeking comment. A spokesman for the plant wrote to the Forward, saying all employees must provide the proper documentation required by the federal government.
People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals has also campaigned against the slaughterhouse in recent years, alleging that workers, including rabbis, ripped the tracheas and esophagi out of the throats of fully conscious cows, which were left trying to stand three minutes after their throats were slit.
PETA cites a 2004 videotape it says was obtained by an undercover cameraman for the group. In the video, cows that have had their throats slit are shown writhing on the ground of the plant in pools of their own blood. AgriProcessors denied charges of inhumane slaughter then, telling PETA that its practices complied with kosher law.
Temple Grandin, a designer of livestock handling facilities and the author of several books on animal handling, welfare and facility design, saw the PETA tape but has not been allowed to visit the facilities.
"During my career I have visited over 30 kosher beef plants in the U.S., Canada and other countries . . .," she writes on her Web site. "Kosher slaughter without stunning can be done with an acceptable level of welfare when it is done correctly. When shehita [Jewish ritual slaughter] is performed correctly with the long knife, the cattle appear not to feel it. This tape shows atrocious procedures that are NOT performed in any other kosher operation."
In March, the U.S. Department of Agriculture released a report finding that AgriProcessors had indeed violated provisions of the Humane Slaughter Act. The USDA did not, however, pursue criminal charges.
PETA recently released a new video documenting the situation at AgriProcessors. It has joined the Humane Society of the United States in asking federal prosecutors to enforce state and federal humane slaughter laws.
Bruce Friedrich, vice president of international grass-roots campaigns at PETA, said AgriProcessors had agreed to stop ripping the throats out of cows and to curb some of its practices. But, he said, the company has refused to allow inspectors to verify that such changes have been made.
© 2006 The Washington Post Company
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My letter to the Washington Post, in response to the article:
July 16, 2006
Editor, Washington Post
letters@washpost.com
Dear Editor:
As president of Jewish Vegetarians of North America, I read with much interest your July 15 article, “Kosher Meat Plant Accused Of Abuses,” which discussed alleged violations of laws on the proper treatment of workers and animals at the kosher slaughterhouse at Postville, Iowa. Whatever current investigations of these reported abuses find, it is important to consider that the product that the facility produces is having devastating effects on human health and the sustainability of our imperiled planet, and violates basic Jewish mandates to preserve human health, treat animals with compassion, protect the environment, conserve natural resources, and help hungry people.
Very truly yours,
Richard H. Schwartz
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Lewis Regenstein’s letter in response to the article:
Lewis G. Regenstein
3691 Tuxedo Road, N.W.
(404) 814-1371 Tel
Atlanta, Georgia
(404) 814-0440 Fax
30305-1061 Regenstein@mindspring.com
16 July, 2006
The Washington Post
Washington, D.C.
To the Editor:
It is truly ironic, and shameful, that cruel animal slaughter methods are being undertaken in the name of Jewish law, as pointed out in your 15 July article by Nate Herpich, " Kosher Meat Plant Accused of Abuses.”
Revelations of shocking and illegal abuse of animals at this kosher slaughterhouse in Iowa have largely overlooked a fundamental fact: the Jewish religion has strict laws and teachings forbidding cruelty to animals. In fact, there is an entire code of laws (the requirement "to prevent the suffering of living creatures") mandating that other creatures be treated with compassion.
Indeed, the Jews invented the concept of kindness to animals some 4,000 years ago, and it is mandated throughout the Bible and Jewish law. Even the holiest of our laws, The Ten Commandments, requires that farm animals be allowed to enjoy a day of rest on the Sabbath. So the Almighty must have felt that kindness to animals was not a trivial matter.
Indeed, the first commandments given by the Lord (Genesis 1:22-28) concern the welfare and srurvival of animals, and human responsibilities toward them.
Jews are not allowed to pass by an animal in distress or to ignore animals being mistreated, even on the Sabbath. Yet this is exactly what we do when we certify as kosher products from animals that are treated cruelly.
It is truly a shanda, a shameful thing, that we endorse the massive abuse and suffering of billions of factory farmed creatures, many of which spend their entire lives in misery, fear, and anguish, in addition to the cruel way they are killed.
Sincerely yours,
Lewis Regenstein
The writer is the author of Replenish the Earth: The Teachings of the World's Religions on Protecting Animals and Nature, and president of The Interfaith Council for the Protection of Animals and Nature.
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6. Interested in Helping Plan JVNA Events or a Conference?
Vegetarian activist Dr. Douglas Graham has suggested the possibility of the JVNA having an evening event or an all-day conference in New York City.
He wrote:
“One [possibility] would be a one-day event where you bring in an assortment of presenters and educators to give their ideas on a theme of your design.
Another would be to offer an evening event, (much lower risk) and bring in one speaker who would present on an appropriate topic for the evening.
Either way it would be a fund raiser for JVNA...
D
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If you would like to help in organizing such events, please let me know. Doug has indicated that he has contacts in NY City which could be helpful.
Thanks.
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7. DVD "If This Is Kosher" Now Available
'IfThis Is Kosher' DVD
Narrated by Jonathan Safran Foer, author of “Everything Is Illuminated”
The New York Times described PETA's undercover investigation at the world's largest glatt kosher slaugherhouse as "grisly” in its news coverage of our breaking story of animal abuse.
The story broke in November 2004, but 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 contains footage of what was revealed during our investigation.
Price from PETA: $5.00
Run time: 30 minutes.
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8. Canfei Nesharim Introduces Sukkot Environmental Project
Forwarded message from Canfei Nesharim
This Sukkos and Shemini Atzeres, join Canfei Nesharim in appreciating water and the connections between Torah, nature, and our responsibility to protect the environment.
On Sukkos, we celebrate water through the Simchas Beis Hashoeva (Celebration of the Water Drawing Ceremony). It is said that anyone who has not participated in this celebration has not known true joy. (Sukka 51a)
On Shemini Atzeres, we continue recognizing the value of water through tefilas geshem, the beginning of our prayers for rain. We compare and connect our forefathers and teachers with water, and we ask for rain in their merit, “for plenty and not for curse, for life and not for death, for plenty and not for scarcity.”
What did our rabbis and ancestors understand about water that filled them with joy during the Simchas Beis Hashoeva, and with dread and hope when davening for rain? They knew that water is essential for life, and that we rely on Hashem to provide all our needs.
This year, take the time on Sukkos and Shemini Atzeres to reflect on our natural resources and our dependence on Hashem’s blessing of rain.
Canfei Nesharim has organized resources for families and synagogues to celebrate Sukkos and Shemini Atzeres with an appreciation for water, including:
Ø Sukkah decorations
Ø Text materials for shiurim
Ø Science-based fact sheets on water resources
Ø Sukkos Stickers
Ø Activity Suggestions for Simchas Beis Hashoeva Parties
Ø Seventh Generation™ recycled paper plates and napkins (for an eco-friendly celebration in your community)
Individual packages are available for families and communities. For more information and to reserve your package, visit www.canfeinesharim.org/sukkos.shtml.
Deadline for orders: August 15. (Please note that this deadline is required for products to arrive on time for Sukkos.) Invite your community to participate today!
Canfei Nesharim is dedicated to educating the Orthodox community about protecting the environment, from the perspective of Torah and halacha.
Canfei Nesharim expresses our gratitude to Seventh Generation for financial and product support for this program.
Canfei Nesharim is grateful to Targum Shlishi for a generous grant to support for this program.
Canfei Nesharim expresses its sincere gratitude to Bikkurim, a joint project of JESNA, UJC, and the Kaminer Family, for taking us into their incubator for new Jewish ideas beginning in the Spring of 2004.
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11. Quotations Worth Considering
"It's not about doing everything, it's about doing something" - Laurie David, producer of "An Inconvenient Truth" and co-founder of the virtual march against global warming with Robert F. Kennedy Jr.
"Anyone who has accustomed himself to regard the life of any living creature as worthless is in danger of arriving also at the idea of worthless human lives." -Albert Schweitzer, philosopher, physician, musician, Nobel laureate (1875-1965)
Thanks to Israeli vegetarian activist Jonathan Danilowitz for sending us the Albert Schweitzer quote above.
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The material on this site is provided for educational and informational purposes. It may contain copyrighted material the use of which has not always been specifically authorized by the copyright owner. It is being made available in an effort to advance the understanding of vegetarian, environmental, nutritional, health, economic, social justice and human rights issues etc. It is believed that this constitutes a 'fair use' of any such copyrighted material as provided for in section 107 of the US Copyright Law. In accordance with Title 17 U.S.C. Section 107, the material on this site is distributed without profit to those who have an interest in using the included information for educational or research purposes. If you wish to use copyrighted material from this site for purposes of your own that go beyond 'fair use', you must obtain permission from the copyright owner. The information on this site does not constitute legal, technical or medical advice.
July 24, 2006
July 12, 2006
7/12/06 JVNA Online Newsletter
Shalom everyone,
This update/Jewish Vegetarians of North America (JVNA) Online Newsletter has the following items:
1. JVNA Coordinator Noam Mohr Leads Protest Against KFC in Tel Aviv/My Letter to Editor of the Jerusalem Post
2. Commendation from Nina Natelson, JVNA Advisor and Founder and Director of Concern for Helping Animals in Israel (CHAI)
3. Israel’s Vote Helps Prevent Renewal of Slaughter of Whales
4. Campaign Against Foie Gras Production in New York State
5. Two Important New Recommended Books
6. Can We Help Rescue an Imperiled Planet?
7. Fast Food Nation Author Discusses His New Book and Movie to be Made of Fast Food Nation
8. PETA Letter Responds to Jewish Press Editorial
9. JVNA Member Publishes Book On Benefits and Uses of Nuts
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. JVNA Coordinator Noam Mohr Leads Protest Against KFC in Tel Aviv/My Letter to Editor of the Jerusalem Post
KFC diners remain unflappable in face of chicken cruelty protest
Jul. 3, 2006 Jerusalem Post Article
By JENNY MERKIN AND YAEL WOLYNETZ
The typical passerby would not likely expect to see a chicken-clad woman in the heat of a July afternoon. However, that was the scene outside of Kentucky Fried Chicken on Rehov Shaul Hamelech in downtown Tel Aviv on Monday afternoon.
A group of animal rights activists gathered outside of the restaurant to protest KFC's reputed mistreatment of their chickens. According to the KFCCruelty Web site, chickens are scalded alive after being crammed by the tens of thousands into sheds that smell of ammonia.
The rally was organized by People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) and attracted nine participants. The protesters stood outside the KFC restaurant with signs reading: "KFC Tortures Animals," and attempted to hand out flyers detailing the issue to passersby. One woman dressed up as a chicken with a crutch, in order to provide a picture of the situation.
Noam Mohr, coordinator of the demonstration, outlined the objectives of the protest, saying: "By raising awareness, we will pressure KFC to have more compassionate treatment and take steps to eliminate their very worst abuses." "These are steps their own animal welfare advisers have recommended," said Mohr, Farm Animal Research Associate for PETA.
This is the first rally about this issue in Israel, as a part of an international campaign. "The people of Israel would not want to patronize KFC any more than anyone else would if they knew that animals were being scalded alive," said Mohr.
Among the protesters was a soldier who took the day off to participate. "The only way to fight this issue is if people boycott KFC, and KFC will stop producing," said the soldier, who wished to remain anonymous due to military rules against political activism by officers.
In response to the protest, KFC employment gave out free chicken wings and passed out advertisements. KFC Manager, Salim Salyeh viewed the protest as beneficial to the restaurant. "They are doing publicity for me. It's a good thing," said Salyeh.
Despite the protest outside, people continued to eat inside KFC. Yitzchak Mokitada, one such diner, was not bothered by the issue.
"There's nothing to do. This is life and it is all part of the food chain. I have to eat," said Mokitada.
It remains to be seen how effective the protest was, but as passerby Alla Simonitz said while "it is important to be informed of such issues, you don't think of the lives of food - when you are hungry, you eat."
© 1995 - 2006 The Jerusalem Post. All rights reserved.
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My Letter to the Editor:
July 4, 2006
Editor, Jerusalem Post
letters@jpost.com
Dear Editor:
Re: “KFC diners remain unflappable in face of chicken cruelty protest” (July 4 edition)
As president of the Jewish Vegetarians of North America, I want to express kudos to Noam Mohr and others who took part in the demonstration outside Kentucky Fried Chicken to help increase awareness of the mistreatment of animals raised for food.
Certainly we have a choice about our diets, but shouldn't we consider the very negative effects of animal-based diets on our health and on environmental sustainability and how the production and consumption of animal products violate Jewish teachings on preserving human health, treating animals compassionately, protecting the environment, conserving natural resources, and helping hungry people.
Very truly yours,
Richard H. Schwartz, Ph.D.
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2. Commendation from Nina Natelson, JVNA Advisor and Founder and Director of Concern for Helping Animals in Israel (CHAI)
In a message dated 7/5/06 3:25:11 PM, chai_us@cox.net writes:
Hi Richard,
I just wanted to express deep appreciation to you for all the enormous and amazing groundbreaking work you have done over the years, on which so much of what others do, including CHAI, is based. I am pulling together some sample lesson plans for Monday's meeting and everything I know, I learned from your writings. Your name will be on these materials along with Lynne's and Rae's (they wrote modern stories to accompany the Biblical ones, and activities for kids, and arranged things in a good order for teachers, etc.) and the illustrator, of course. You will be credited with the fundamental research and writing that made this project possible, unless you object. It made the project so much easier. It just wouldn't be right to issue these materials without crediting the source.
Gratefully,
Nina
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3. Israel’s Vote Helps Prevent Renewal of Slaughter of Whales
Re-Paying Jonah’s Debt to the Whale
Commentary by Captain Paul Watson
Israel arrived like the proverbial cavalry onto the beaches of St. Kitts and Nevis this year.
Thousands of years after a whale saved Jonah, Israel has returned the favor by helping to save the whales.
After years of economic bullying, bribery, cajoling and arrogant posturing, the Japanese whaling interests had thought they had the votes to form a majority bloc at this year’s meeting of the International Whaling Commission.
The Japanese delegation arrived in the Caribbean, booked into the best hotels and began to wine and dine their bought and paid for puppet delegates from Mongolia, Senegal, Mali, Togo, and assorted other small nations that recently joined the IWC at the behest of Japan.
The Japanese had counted the heads and were confident of the votes to finally seize majority control of the world’s only whaling regulatory body.
But victory was snatched from their hands with the arrival of Israel and the defection of Belize.
Israel did not come to the table because of bribes, they came to save the whales and their enlistment as the 70th member of the IWC stopped the Japanese takeover bid in its tracks.
One of the defeated Japanese resolutions would have allowed commercial hunting of 150 Piked and 150 Byrde whales in the territorial waters of Japan, Iceland and Norway. It was defeated 31-30.
It was the Israeli vote that carried the day for the whales.
Another motion would have removed the prohibition on hunting dolphins and porpoises. The Israeli vote made the crucial difference.
The votes were cast by Esther Efrat, the head of the treaty division at the Foreign Ministry.
"The Israeli position on whaling is clear. Whaling is illegal in Israel and off of Israel's coast. We were bringing our position to the international forum," explained Mark Regev, spokesperson for the Israel Ministry of Foreign Affairs:
"Israel has a very strong commitment to environmental matters. We've got a ministry for environmental affairs whose full-time job it is to make sure the environment is looked after. Whaling is illegal in Israel and when we go to the international forum, we are making those opinions known. That's why on the whaling issue we lined up with those who believe whales should be protected," he said.
Israel joined at the last minute after an alert was sent by the US government representatives to Israel's Foreign Ministry urging Israel to join the US against theplans by Japan to take over the IWC.
Israel was not bribed but reacted to support an ally on an issue that the Israeli citizens firmly supported. Most of the nations supporting Japan are doing so in defiance of the polls that demonstrate that their citizens are opposed to whaling.
It also made a difference that Belize decided to switch allegiance to the whales and decided to vote against Japan after influential members of the Belize tourist industry pressured their government to vote for the whales. (See earlier posting on the Power of One)
Israel has never had a whaling industry. In fact the Old Testament [states] that whale and dolphin meat is prohibited by God.
By joining the IWC Israel has also assumed a position of leadership as a marine conservation nation for the Mediterranean Sea.
Israel’s own non profit NGO IMMRAC is devoted to protecting whales, dolphins and porpoises.
Mia Elasar, a committee member at IMMRAC said that hat she hopes Israel's participation in the IWC will mean the country will put its heart into local issues, such as those addressed by ACCOBAMS (Agreement on the Conservation of Cetaceans of the Black Sea, Mediterranean Sea and Contiguous Atlantic Area).
"The recent vote against whaling is expected to put Israel on the local map. It shows us that there is a place to really vote for preserving Mediterranean marine mammals,” said Elasar, who hopes Israel will take the reigns and lead awareness to marine conservation.
"There [at ACCOBAMS] we can really make an impact. This authority will affect seals and dolphins, which are a threatened species in the Mediterranean more because of fishing and less of hunting."
"There are whales in the Mediterranean," Elasar confirms. "There are six species to be found off the Israeli coast. The main problem with conservation of marine mammals is that their reproductive rates are slow. What we are doing now we will only get back in 10 or 20 years. The animals will disappear if we don't watch it."
The Mediterranean is home to the world's second highest percentage of endemic species, including the Posidonia sea grass and the critically endangered Mediterranean monk seal. Species also include 28 cetaceans, the loggerhead turtle, and the blue-fin tuna and swordfish. But currently, less than 1% of the Mediterranean is protected.
Captain Paul Watson
Founder and President of the Sea Shepherd Conservation Society (1977-
Co-Founder - The Greenpeace Foundation (1972)
Co-Founder - Greenpeace International (1979)
Director of the Sierra Club USA (2003-2006)
Director - The Farley Mowat Institute
Director - www.harpseals.org
Director - Ocean Outfall Group of California
Advisory Board Member - Telluride Mountain Film Festival
Advisory Board Member - The Animals Voice Magazine
Whom when I asked from what place he came,
And how he hight, himselfe he did ycleepe,
The Shepheard of the Ocean by Name,
And said he came far from
the main-sea deepe.
- Edmund Spenser
A.C.E. 1590
www.Seashepherd.org
Tel: 360-370-5650
Fax: 360-370-5651
Address: P.O. Box 2616
Friday Harbor, Wa 98250 USA
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Please consider emailing a message of thanks to directors of the Israeli Foreign Ministry below. Thanks.
E-mail addresses:
Foreign Minister's office - sar@mfa.gov.il
Director General's office - mankal@mfa.gov.il
Spokesman's office - dover@mfa.gov.il
Public Relations - pniot@mfa.gov.il
Ministry Address:
Ministry of Foreign Affairs
9 Yitzhak Rabin Blvd.
Kiryat Ben-Gurion
Jerusalem 91035
Tel. 972-2-5303111
Fax 972-2-5303367
sar@mfa.gov.il
mankal@mfa.gov.il
dover@mfa.gov.il
pniot@mfa.gov.il
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4. Campaign Against Foie Gras Production in New York State
Kelley Wind of the Animal Welfare Trust has contacted me re the group’s campaign to stop expansion of foie gras production in New York State. NY State has voted to provide the Hudson Valley Foie Gras Company with $400,000 to build manure processing facilities and to expand its operations. If you would like to help with this campaign or have suggestions, please contact Kelley at kelley@animalwelfaretrust.org. Thanks. There are many Orthodox Jewish camps and summer bungalows owned primarily by Orthodox Jews in the area.
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5. Two Important New Recommended Books
I don’t have much chance to read many books recently, but I read two very important ones this past Shabbat. The first is “An Inconvenient Truth” by Al Gore. It is a very fitting companion tio the movie of the same name. It is chock full of wonderful pictures, graphs, charts and explanations that provide an excellent scientific but very readable primer on all aspects of global warming including causes, threats and what people can do about it. Unlike the movie, the book does mention reducing meat consumption as something that people should do in responding to globl warming. I very strongly recommend that everyone read this book. It provides perhaps our best argument for vegetarianism in that major changes are needed to combat global warming and a shift toward global warming is an essential part of the solution.
The second book that I also strongly recommend is “Happier Meals: Rethinking the Global Meat Industry” by Danielle Nierenberg (Worldwatch Paper #171). Wile the author does not promote vegetarianism, she thoroughly documents how horribly animals are treated on factory farms and the environmental and health problems of animal-based diets and agriculture. While short (only about 67 pages of text), the volume is full of graphs, charts, and facts that can be very helpful in promoting vegetarianism. More information about the book and other Worldwatch books and other educational material can be found at www.worldwatch.org. The Worldwatch Institute is a leading group in increasing awareness of current global threats and potential responses. The group was founded by Lester Brown, whose writings are in the next item in this newsletter.
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6. Can We Help Rescue an Imperiled Planet?
Rescuing a Planet Under Stress
By Lester R. Brown
Energy Bulletin
Monday 03 July 2006
Our global economy is outgrowing the capacity of the earth to support it, pushing our early twenty-first century civilization ever closer to decline and possible collapse. In our preoccupation with quarterly earnings reports and year-to-year economic growth, we have lost sight of how large the human enterprise has become relative to the earth's resources.
A century ago, annual growth in the world economy was measured in billions of dollars. Today it is measured in trillions. As a result, we are consuming renewable resources faster than they can regenerate.
Forests are shrinking, grasslands are deteriorating, water tables are falling, fisheries are collapsing, and soils are eroding. We are using up oil at a pace that leaves little time to plan beyond peak oil, or the period during which demand for oil far exceeds all available supply. And we are discharging greenhouse gases into the atmosphere faster than nature can absorb them, setting the stage for a rise in the earth's temperature well above any since agriculture began.
Fortunately, there is a consensus emerging among scientists on the broad outlines of the changes needed. If economic progress is to be sustained, we need to replace the fossil-fuel-based, automobile-centered, throwaway economy with a new economic model. Instead of being based on fossil fuels, the new economy will be powered by abundant sources of renewable energy: wind, solar, geothermal, hydropower, and biofuels.
The throwaway economy will be replaced by a comprehensive reuse/recycle economy. Consumer products from cars to computers will be designed so that they can be disassembled into their component parts and completely recycled. Throwaway products such as single-use beverage containers will be phased out.
We can already see glimpses here and there of what this new economy looks like. We have the technologies to build it - including, for example, gas-electric hybrid cars, advanced design wind turbines, highly efficient refrigerators, and water-efficient irrigation systems.
With each wind farm, rooftop solar panel, paper-recycling facility, bicycle path, and reforestation program, we move closer to an economy that can sustain economic progress. But there is still a long way to go and a very short time to get there. Our success will depend on learning from the changing world around us and implementing those lessons we have already learned.
Lester R. Brown is president of the Earth Policy Institute, 1350 Connecticut Avenue, N.W., Washington, DC, 20036. Their web site is www.earth-policy.org. This article draws from his latest book, Plan B 2.0: Rescuing a Planet Under Stress and a Civilization in Trouble (updated and expanded), published by W.W. Norton (2006), which may be ordered online from www.wfs.org/bkshelf.htm.
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7. Fast Food Nation Author Discusses His New Book and Movie to be Made of Fast Food Nation
Five Minutes With: Eric Schlosser
By Timothy Fernholz and Ben Adler
Campus Progress
Wednesday 14 June 2006
The author of Fast Food Nation discusses his new book, the ongoing dangers of fast food and how the more things change, the more they stay the same under the Golden Arches.
Is obesity the next big American political issue? With one Republican presidential hopeful, Arkansas Governor Mike Huckabee, gaining national recognition for his personal weight loss and collaboration with former President Clinton to keep sweets out of school, it's possible. One person responsible for raising public awareness of the issue is Eric Schlosser, an award-winning journalist and modern-day Upton Sinclair who penned Fast Food Nation in 2001, a blistering expose of the dark side of the fast food industry: health risks, horrific working conditions and industry efforts to market directly to children.
Now, Schlosser is back with a fast food follow-up, Chew on This, a similar expose written with Charles Wilson; it focuses particularly on the dangers of fast food for children. But Schlosser is now set to reach an even larger audience: In the coming months we'll see a film based on Fast Food Nation, directed by Richard Linklater and featuring big name stars like Patricia Arquette, released across the country. Since we couldn't convince him to sit down with us over a burger, Campus Progress chatted with Schlosser over the phone.
Campus Progress: Fast Food Nation was a dramatic wake-up call for a lot of young people about foods we had all grown up eating. What inspired you to write that book?
Eric Schlosser: Well, I didn't come to it out of any great hatred for fast food, I used to eat it all the time. I did a big investigative piece at The Atlantic Monthly. It was about illegal immigration, it was about farm labor, migrant farm workers, and I told a very complicated story through something simple and concrete: a strawberry. We love strawberries and we eat lots of strawberries, and we eat lots of strawberries without ever thinking that each one of those strawberries has to be picked by hand. So, you want a lot of strawberries, you need a lot of hands. And that article was read at Rolling Stone magazine, and they invited me in to do the same thing for fast food.
Basically, they wanted me to go behind the counter and show all the complex systems that bring you this heavily processed food. I didn't jump at the opportunity because I eat fast food, and I didn't want to write something condescending and elitist putting down the industry, but the more I learned, the more amazed I was, and what was incredible to me was that I would be eating this food all the time without thinking about it, without having any idea where it came from or how it was being made.
Campus Progress: As a writer, I have to tell you the lead to that book is just incredible. You start out in a military base ...
E.S.: ...Cheyenne Mountain. One of our most top secret military bases, which is inside a hollowed-out mountain in Colorado.
Campus Progress: How do you come up with something like that?
E.S.: You know, it's not always premeditated. A lot of it comes out of the reporting. I was looking for a place to set Fast Food Nation, and Colorado sounded really interesting to me. It felt like, with the whole conservative religious fundamentalist culture, it was at the cutting edge of change in America. Little did I know how much that culture would take over America.
I decided to set it in Colorado Springs. There are these big military bases, so I applied to visit the base. And while I was there I started talking to them about what they eat there and it just blew my mind that, at that point, and I'm sure its no longer true post 9/11, the Domino's Pizza delivery guy would come right up to the gate at one of the most top-secret, important military installations in the United States. [If] you can get Domino's delivered to the Cheyenne Mountain air station, fast food has really infiltrated every part of American life.
Campus Progress: Tell us a little bit about your new film based on Fast Food Nation and whether you and Morgan Spurlock have a rivalry.
E.S.: Firstly, Morgan Spurlock: He made a totally disgusting film, but a really funny film. There's no rivalry whatsoever. As a matter of fact, we have a standing agreement that I will testify in his behalf when he gets sued by the industry, and he has promised to testify in mine.
The film that's based on Fast Food Nation is totally different from Super Size Me, and I love Super Size Me. This film is a fictional film, it's an independent film made by a wonderful director, Richard Linklater, who did Slacker and Dazed and Confused. It takes the title of my book and some of the themes but pretty much puts aside the book. There's nobody in the book who's literally in the film. The film is about the lives of some intersecting characters in a small town in Colorado, a lot of the film is in Spanish, some of the crucial characters are illegal immigrants, and in some ways it's an updating of [Upton Sinclair's] The Jungle on the hundredth anniversary of the publishing of that book.
Campus Progress: Why did you write your new book, Chew on This?
E.S.: Chew on This is aimed at kids, and it's aimed at the people who the fast food industry is heavily targeting with its mass marketing. When I finished Fast Food Nation and the manuscript was all done, I hired a fact-checker from The New Yorker, Charles Wilson, and his job was to make sure that every fact was right.... He came to me with the idea of doing a children's book based on Fast Food Nation, arguing that these kids are being targeted by the fast food industry, they need the same sort of information in Fast Food Nation, and they need an alternate view of the world than the one they're getting from all these ads. So it sounded like a good idea, and I recruited him to help me with it.
Campus Progress: What do you think of the recent announcement of several major soda companies, including Coke and Pepsi, to stop selling their products in elementary and high schools come this fall, and why they might be motivated to do that?
I'd like to think that they were motivated solely by concern for the health of American children. But, whatever their motivations are, I think it's a good thing. The deal was brokered by former President Bill Clinton, a Democrat, and the current governor of Arkansas, Mike Huckabee, a conservative Republican. I think it's a terrific step because it shows bipartisan support for ensuring that kids are eating healthy food in schools. I don't think it's an ideal agreement; it's going to be phased in over a number of years [and] it's a voluntary agreement. But to me it's a sign of the times, a sign that attitudes are really changing and there's a real feeling growing that we can't afford to have these companies marketing unhealthy food to kids in schools. I applaud the move by the soda companies to make voluntary changes, but I also support moves at the state and federal level to put tough restrictions on what kind of food can be sold in schools.
SNIP
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8. PETA Letter Responds to Jewish Press Editorial
Forwarded message from Bruce Friedrich. PETA Vegan Director
Sent: Friday, July 07, 2006 1:16 PM
[Since a recent JVNA newsletter had a Jewish Press editorial attacking PETA, their response is included below.]
To: 'letters@jewishpress.com'
Subject: Letter to the Editor:
Dear Editor,
Re: “Here we Go,” 7/5/06: People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) investigates both kosher and non-kosher slaughterhouses and notifies authorities whenever we witness gross mistreatment of animals and violations of the Humane Methods of Slaughter Act.
Our most popular vegetarian video by far, titled “Meet Your Meat,” documents exclusively non-kosher plants (see www.Meat.org), and our late-2004 investigation of Agriprocessors was our very first kosher investigation, in our 24 year history. Had Agriprocessors agreed, when we asked them in 2003, to allow Dr. Grandin to come in, we would never have investigated. Mr. Nathan Lewin’s condescending letter (available at www.goveg.com/feat/agriprocessors/) left us no choice but to investigate the whistleblower reports of cruelty in the plant.
We blew the whistle on AgriProcessors, not because of concerns about the principles of shechitah, but because employees were shocking animals in the face with electric prods, ripping out their tracheas while they were still fully conscious, and dumping them in their own blood to die slow and painful deaths – some animals even struggled to their feet in agony over three minutes after they were dismembered. Dr. Temple Grandin, now recognized by Agriprocessors as an authority, called what we found “The worst thing [she] had ever seen,” declaring that AgriProcessors “is doing everything wrong they can do wrong.”
It is a black eye for kosher certification that the Orthodox Union continues to declare that the kosher status at AgriProcessors was never in question. As long as that remains the OU’s stance, the kosher public will not be able to feel secure that the OU hechsher has anything at all to do with the strong Jewish tradition of kindness toward G-d’s other animals.
Jewish law mandates that animals should be treated with compassion and respect. It is this principle that we need to defend, not those companies who so cruelly abuse animals.
Sincerely,
Bruce G. Friedrich
Vice President for International Grassroots Campaigns
PETA
501 Front St.
Norfolk, VA 23510
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9. JVNA Member Publishes Book On Benefits and Uses of Nuts
JVNA member Zel Allen has published a book that covers all aspects of nuts: “The Nut Gourmet: Nourishing Nuts for Every Occasion. The book how nuts can be an essential part of a balanced diet. It shows how nuts can be used as the focal point in a variety of dishes and it provides 150 “tasty, gourmet, plant-based recipes.” The book also provides extensive information about the health benefits of nuts.
The book is endorsed by several leading vegetarian health professionals, including Neal Barnard, M.D., President of Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine,” William Harris, author of :The Scientific Basis of Vegetarianism,” and Jay Gordon, M.D., author of “Good Food Today, Great Kids Tomorrow.” Brenda Davis, R.D., author of “Becoming Vegetarian,: states: “The book is a treasure. It is beautifully written, comprehensive and entertaining. It provides accurate, detailed information about the value of nuts in the diet, numerous practical tips, charts and tables, and dozens of mouth-watering recipes. It is a delightful cookbook and a tremendous nutrition resource.”
I have had the pleasure of working with Zel and her husband Reuben for many years and I strongly commend Zel for this important contribution. I hope the book is very successful. The book can be ordered on the internet through “Vegetarians in Paradise,” an internet magazine that Zel and Reuben have edited for over 7 years
(www.vegparadise.com), or through Amazon and other online book vendors.
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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. JVNA Coordinator Noam Mohr Leads Protest Against KFC in Tel Aviv/My Letter to Editor of the Jerusalem Post
2. Commendation from Nina Natelson, JVNA Advisor and Founder and Director of Concern for Helping Animals in Israel (CHAI)
3. Israel’s Vote Helps Prevent Renewal of Slaughter of Whales
4. Campaign Against Foie Gras Production in New York State
5. Two Important New Recommended Books
6. Can We Help Rescue an Imperiled Planet?
7. Fast Food Nation Author Discusses His New Book and Movie to be Made of Fast Food Nation
8. PETA Letter Responds to Jewish Press Editorial
9. JVNA Member Publishes Book On Benefits and Uses of Nuts
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. JVNA Coordinator Noam Mohr Leads Protest Against KFC in Tel Aviv/My Letter to Editor of the Jerusalem Post
KFC diners remain unflappable in face of chicken cruelty protest
Jul. 3, 2006 Jerusalem Post Article
By JENNY MERKIN AND YAEL WOLYNETZ
The typical passerby would not likely expect to see a chicken-clad woman in the heat of a July afternoon. However, that was the scene outside of Kentucky Fried Chicken on Rehov Shaul Hamelech in downtown Tel Aviv on Monday afternoon.
A group of animal rights activists gathered outside of the restaurant to protest KFC's reputed mistreatment of their chickens. According to the KFCCruelty Web site, chickens are scalded alive after being crammed by the tens of thousands into sheds that smell of ammonia.
The rally was organized by People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) and attracted nine participants. The protesters stood outside the KFC restaurant with signs reading: "KFC Tortures Animals," and attempted to hand out flyers detailing the issue to passersby. One woman dressed up as a chicken with a crutch, in order to provide a picture of the situation.
Noam Mohr, coordinator of the demonstration, outlined the objectives of the protest, saying: "By raising awareness, we will pressure KFC to have more compassionate treatment and take steps to eliminate their very worst abuses." "These are steps their own animal welfare advisers have recommended," said Mohr, Farm Animal Research Associate for PETA.
This is the first rally about this issue in Israel, as a part of an international campaign. "The people of Israel would not want to patronize KFC any more than anyone else would if they knew that animals were being scalded alive," said Mohr.
Among the protesters was a soldier who took the day off to participate. "The only way to fight this issue is if people boycott KFC, and KFC will stop producing," said the soldier, who wished to remain anonymous due to military rules against political activism by officers.
In response to the protest, KFC employment gave out free chicken wings and passed out advertisements. KFC Manager, Salim Salyeh viewed the protest as beneficial to the restaurant. "They are doing publicity for me. It's a good thing," said Salyeh.
Despite the protest outside, people continued to eat inside KFC. Yitzchak Mokitada, one such diner, was not bothered by the issue.
"There's nothing to do. This is life and it is all part of the food chain. I have to eat," said Mokitada.
It remains to be seen how effective the protest was, but as passerby Alla Simonitz said while "it is important to be informed of such issues, you don't think of the lives of food - when you are hungry, you eat."
© 1995 - 2006 The Jerusalem Post. All rights reserved.
---------------------------------------------
My Letter to the Editor:
July 4, 2006
Editor, Jerusalem Post
letters@jpost.com
Dear Editor:
Re: “KFC diners remain unflappable in face of chicken cruelty protest” (July 4 edition)
As president of the Jewish Vegetarians of North America, I want to express kudos to Noam Mohr and others who took part in the demonstration outside Kentucky Fried Chicken to help increase awareness of the mistreatment of animals raised for food.
Certainly we have a choice about our diets, but shouldn't we consider the very negative effects of animal-based diets on our health and on environmental sustainability and how the production and consumption of animal products violate Jewish teachings on preserving human health, treating animals compassionately, protecting the environment, conserving natural resources, and helping hungry people.
Very truly yours,
Richard H. Schwartz, Ph.D.
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2. Commendation from Nina Natelson, JVNA Advisor and Founder and Director of Concern for Helping Animals in Israel (CHAI)
In a message dated 7/5/06 3:25:11 PM, chai_us@cox.net writes:
Hi Richard,
I just wanted to express deep appreciation to you for all the enormous and amazing groundbreaking work you have done over the years, on which so much of what others do, including CHAI, is based. I am pulling together some sample lesson plans for Monday's meeting and everything I know, I learned from your writings. Your name will be on these materials along with Lynne's and Rae's (they wrote modern stories to accompany the Biblical ones, and activities for kids, and arranged things in a good order for teachers, etc.) and the illustrator, of course. You will be credited with the fundamental research and writing that made this project possible, unless you object. It made the project so much easier. It just wouldn't be right to issue these materials without crediting the source.
Gratefully,
Nina
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3. Israel’s Vote Helps Prevent Renewal of Slaughter of Whales
Re-Paying Jonah’s Debt to the Whale
Commentary by Captain Paul Watson
Israel arrived like the proverbial cavalry onto the beaches of St. Kitts and Nevis this year.
Thousands of years after a whale saved Jonah, Israel has returned the favor by helping to save the whales.
After years of economic bullying, bribery, cajoling and arrogant posturing, the Japanese whaling interests had thought they had the votes to form a majority bloc at this year’s meeting of the International Whaling Commission.
The Japanese delegation arrived in the Caribbean, booked into the best hotels and began to wine and dine their bought and paid for puppet delegates from Mongolia, Senegal, Mali, Togo, and assorted other small nations that recently joined the IWC at the behest of Japan.
The Japanese had counted the heads and were confident of the votes to finally seize majority control of the world’s only whaling regulatory body.
But victory was snatched from their hands with the arrival of Israel and the defection of Belize.
Israel did not come to the table because of bribes, they came to save the whales and their enlistment as the 70th member of the IWC stopped the Japanese takeover bid in its tracks.
One of the defeated Japanese resolutions would have allowed commercial hunting of 150 Piked and 150 Byrde whales in the territorial waters of Japan, Iceland and Norway. It was defeated 31-30.
It was the Israeli vote that carried the day for the whales.
Another motion would have removed the prohibition on hunting dolphins and porpoises. The Israeli vote made the crucial difference.
The votes were cast by Esther Efrat, the head of the treaty division at the Foreign Ministry.
"The Israeli position on whaling is clear. Whaling is illegal in Israel and off of Israel's coast. We were bringing our position to the international forum," explained Mark Regev, spokesperson for the Israel Ministry of Foreign Affairs:
"Israel has a very strong commitment to environmental matters. We've got a ministry for environmental affairs whose full-time job it is to make sure the environment is looked after. Whaling is illegal in Israel and when we go to the international forum, we are making those opinions known. That's why on the whaling issue we lined up with those who believe whales should be protected," he said.
Israel joined at the last minute after an alert was sent by the US government representatives to Israel's Foreign Ministry urging Israel to join the US against theplans by Japan to take over the IWC.
Israel was not bribed but reacted to support an ally on an issue that the Israeli citizens firmly supported. Most of the nations supporting Japan are doing so in defiance of the polls that demonstrate that their citizens are opposed to whaling.
It also made a difference that Belize decided to switch allegiance to the whales and decided to vote against Japan after influential members of the Belize tourist industry pressured their government to vote for the whales. (See earlier posting on the Power of One)
Israel has never had a whaling industry. In fact the Old Testament [states] that whale and dolphin meat is prohibited by God.
By joining the IWC Israel has also assumed a position of leadership as a marine conservation nation for the Mediterranean Sea.
Israel’s own non profit NGO IMMRAC is devoted to protecting whales, dolphins and porpoises.
Mia Elasar, a committee member at IMMRAC said that hat she hopes Israel's participation in the IWC will mean the country will put its heart into local issues, such as those addressed by ACCOBAMS (Agreement on the Conservation of Cetaceans of the Black Sea, Mediterranean Sea and Contiguous Atlantic Area).
"The recent vote against whaling is expected to put Israel on the local map. It shows us that there is a place to really vote for preserving Mediterranean marine mammals,” said Elasar, who hopes Israel will take the reigns and lead awareness to marine conservation.
"There [at ACCOBAMS] we can really make an impact. This authority will affect seals and dolphins, which are a threatened species in the Mediterranean more because of fishing and less of hunting."
"There are whales in the Mediterranean," Elasar confirms. "There are six species to be found off the Israeli coast. The main problem with conservation of marine mammals is that their reproductive rates are slow. What we are doing now we will only get back in 10 or 20 years. The animals will disappear if we don't watch it."
The Mediterranean is home to the world's second highest percentage of endemic species, including the Posidonia sea grass and the critically endangered Mediterranean monk seal. Species also include 28 cetaceans, the loggerhead turtle, and the blue-fin tuna and swordfish. But currently, less than 1% of the Mediterranean is protected.
Captain Paul Watson
Founder and President of the Sea Shepherd Conservation Society (1977-
Co-Founder - The Greenpeace Foundation (1972)
Co-Founder - Greenpeace International (1979)
Director of the Sierra Club USA (2003-2006)
Director - The Farley Mowat Institute
Director - www.harpseals.org
Director - Ocean Outfall Group of California
Advisory Board Member - Telluride Mountain Film Festival
Advisory Board Member - The Animals Voice Magazine
Whom when I asked from what place he came,
And how he hight, himselfe he did ycleepe,
The Shepheard of the Ocean by Name,
And said he came far from
the main-sea deepe.
- Edmund Spenser
A.C.E. 1590
www.Seashepherd.org
Tel: 360-370-5650
Fax: 360-370-5651
Address: P.O. Box 2616
Friday Harbor, Wa 98250 USA
---------------------------------------------
Please consider emailing a message of thanks to directors of the Israeli Foreign Ministry below. Thanks.
E-mail addresses:
Foreign Minister's office - sar@mfa.gov.il
Director General's office - mankal@mfa.gov.il
Spokesman's office - dover@mfa.gov.il
Public Relations - pniot@mfa.gov.il
Ministry Address:
Ministry of Foreign Affairs
9 Yitzhak Rabin Blvd.
Kiryat Ben-Gurion
Jerusalem 91035
Tel. 972-2-5303111
Fax 972-2-5303367
sar@mfa.gov.il
mankal@mfa.gov.il
dover@mfa.gov.il
pniot@mfa.gov.il
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4. Campaign Against Foie Gras Production in New York State
Kelley Wind of the Animal Welfare Trust has contacted me re the group’s campaign to stop expansion of foie gras production in New York State. NY State has voted to provide the Hudson Valley Foie Gras Company with $400,000 to build manure processing facilities and to expand its operations. If you would like to help with this campaign or have suggestions, please contact Kelley at kelley@animalwelfaretrust.org. Thanks. There are many Orthodox Jewish camps and summer bungalows owned primarily by Orthodox Jews in the area.
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5. Two Important New Recommended Books
I don’t have much chance to read many books recently, but I read two very important ones this past Shabbat. The first is “An Inconvenient Truth” by Al Gore. It is a very fitting companion tio the movie of the same name. It is chock full of wonderful pictures, graphs, charts and explanations that provide an excellent scientific but very readable primer on all aspects of global warming including causes, threats and what people can do about it. Unlike the movie, the book does mention reducing meat consumption as something that people should do in responding to globl warming. I very strongly recommend that everyone read this book. It provides perhaps our best argument for vegetarianism in that major changes are needed to combat global warming and a shift toward global warming is an essential part of the solution.
The second book that I also strongly recommend is “Happier Meals: Rethinking the Global Meat Industry” by Danielle Nierenberg (Worldwatch Paper #171). Wile the author does not promote vegetarianism, she thoroughly documents how horribly animals are treated on factory farms and the environmental and health problems of animal-based diets and agriculture. While short (only about 67 pages of text), the volume is full of graphs, charts, and facts that can be very helpful in promoting vegetarianism. More information about the book and other Worldwatch books and other educational material can be found at www.worldwatch.org. The Worldwatch Institute is a leading group in increasing awareness of current global threats and potential responses. The group was founded by Lester Brown, whose writings are in the next item in this newsletter.
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6. Can We Help Rescue an Imperiled Planet?
Rescuing a Planet Under Stress
By Lester R. Brown
Energy Bulletin
Monday 03 July 2006
Our global economy is outgrowing the capacity of the earth to support it, pushing our early twenty-first century civilization ever closer to decline and possible collapse. In our preoccupation with quarterly earnings reports and year-to-year economic growth, we have lost sight of how large the human enterprise has become relative to the earth's resources.
A century ago, annual growth in the world economy was measured in billions of dollars. Today it is measured in trillions. As a result, we are consuming renewable resources faster than they can regenerate.
Forests are shrinking, grasslands are deteriorating, water tables are falling, fisheries are collapsing, and soils are eroding. We are using up oil at a pace that leaves little time to plan beyond peak oil, or the period during which demand for oil far exceeds all available supply. And we are discharging greenhouse gases into the atmosphere faster than nature can absorb them, setting the stage for a rise in the earth's temperature well above any since agriculture began.
Fortunately, there is a consensus emerging among scientists on the broad outlines of the changes needed. If economic progress is to be sustained, we need to replace the fossil-fuel-based, automobile-centered, throwaway economy with a new economic model. Instead of being based on fossil fuels, the new economy will be powered by abundant sources of renewable energy: wind, solar, geothermal, hydropower, and biofuels.
The throwaway economy will be replaced by a comprehensive reuse/recycle economy. Consumer products from cars to computers will be designed so that they can be disassembled into their component parts and completely recycled. Throwaway products such as single-use beverage containers will be phased out.
We can already see glimpses here and there of what this new economy looks like. We have the technologies to build it - including, for example, gas-electric hybrid cars, advanced design wind turbines, highly efficient refrigerators, and water-efficient irrigation systems.
With each wind farm, rooftop solar panel, paper-recycling facility, bicycle path, and reforestation program, we move closer to an economy that can sustain economic progress. But there is still a long way to go and a very short time to get there. Our success will depend on learning from the changing world around us and implementing those lessons we have already learned.
Lester R. Brown is president of the Earth Policy Institute, 1350 Connecticut Avenue, N.W., Washington, DC, 20036. Their web site is www.earth-policy.org. This article draws from his latest book, Plan B 2.0: Rescuing a Planet Under Stress and a Civilization in Trouble (updated and expanded), published by W.W. Norton (2006), which may be ordered online from www.wfs.org/bkshelf.htm.
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7. Fast Food Nation Author Discusses His New Book and Movie to be Made of Fast Food Nation
Five Minutes With: Eric Schlosser
By Timothy Fernholz and Ben Adler
Campus Progress
Wednesday 14 June 2006
The author of Fast Food Nation discusses his new book, the ongoing dangers of fast food and how the more things change, the more they stay the same under the Golden Arches.
Is obesity the next big American political issue? With one Republican presidential hopeful, Arkansas Governor Mike Huckabee, gaining national recognition for his personal weight loss and collaboration with former President Clinton to keep sweets out of school, it's possible. One person responsible for raising public awareness of the issue is Eric Schlosser, an award-winning journalist and modern-day Upton Sinclair who penned Fast Food Nation in 2001, a blistering expose of the dark side of the fast food industry: health risks, horrific working conditions and industry efforts to market directly to children.
Now, Schlosser is back with a fast food follow-up, Chew on This, a similar expose written with Charles Wilson; it focuses particularly on the dangers of fast food for children. But Schlosser is now set to reach an even larger audience: In the coming months we'll see a film based on Fast Food Nation, directed by Richard Linklater and featuring big name stars like Patricia Arquette, released across the country. Since we couldn't convince him to sit down with us over a burger, Campus Progress chatted with Schlosser over the phone.
Campus Progress: Fast Food Nation was a dramatic wake-up call for a lot of young people about foods we had all grown up eating. What inspired you to write that book?
Eric Schlosser: Well, I didn't come to it out of any great hatred for fast food, I used to eat it all the time. I did a big investigative piece at The Atlantic Monthly. It was about illegal immigration, it was about farm labor, migrant farm workers, and I told a very complicated story through something simple and concrete: a strawberry. We love strawberries and we eat lots of strawberries, and we eat lots of strawberries without ever thinking that each one of those strawberries has to be picked by hand. So, you want a lot of strawberries, you need a lot of hands. And that article was read at Rolling Stone magazine, and they invited me in to do the same thing for fast food.
Basically, they wanted me to go behind the counter and show all the complex systems that bring you this heavily processed food. I didn't jump at the opportunity because I eat fast food, and I didn't want to write something condescending and elitist putting down the industry, but the more I learned, the more amazed I was, and what was incredible to me was that I would be eating this food all the time without thinking about it, without having any idea where it came from or how it was being made.
Campus Progress: As a writer, I have to tell you the lead to that book is just incredible. You start out in a military base ...
E.S.: ...Cheyenne Mountain. One of our most top secret military bases, which is inside a hollowed-out mountain in Colorado.
Campus Progress: How do you come up with something like that?
E.S.: You know, it's not always premeditated. A lot of it comes out of the reporting. I was looking for a place to set Fast Food Nation, and Colorado sounded really interesting to me. It felt like, with the whole conservative religious fundamentalist culture, it was at the cutting edge of change in America. Little did I know how much that culture would take over America.
I decided to set it in Colorado Springs. There are these big military bases, so I applied to visit the base. And while I was there I started talking to them about what they eat there and it just blew my mind that, at that point, and I'm sure its no longer true post 9/11, the Domino's Pizza delivery guy would come right up to the gate at one of the most top-secret, important military installations in the United States. [If] you can get Domino's delivered to the Cheyenne Mountain air station, fast food has really infiltrated every part of American life.
Campus Progress: Tell us a little bit about your new film based on Fast Food Nation and whether you and Morgan Spurlock have a rivalry.
E.S.: Firstly, Morgan Spurlock: He made a totally disgusting film, but a really funny film. There's no rivalry whatsoever. As a matter of fact, we have a standing agreement that I will testify in his behalf when he gets sued by the industry, and he has promised to testify in mine.
The film that's based on Fast Food Nation is totally different from Super Size Me, and I love Super Size Me. This film is a fictional film, it's an independent film made by a wonderful director, Richard Linklater, who did Slacker and Dazed and Confused. It takes the title of my book and some of the themes but pretty much puts aside the book. There's nobody in the book who's literally in the film. The film is about the lives of some intersecting characters in a small town in Colorado, a lot of the film is in Spanish, some of the crucial characters are illegal immigrants, and in some ways it's an updating of [Upton Sinclair's] The Jungle on the hundredth anniversary of the publishing of that book.
Campus Progress: Why did you write your new book, Chew on This?
E.S.: Chew on This is aimed at kids, and it's aimed at the people who the fast food industry is heavily targeting with its mass marketing. When I finished Fast Food Nation and the manuscript was all done, I hired a fact-checker from The New Yorker, Charles Wilson, and his job was to make sure that every fact was right.... He came to me with the idea of doing a children's book based on Fast Food Nation, arguing that these kids are being targeted by the fast food industry, they need the same sort of information in Fast Food Nation, and they need an alternate view of the world than the one they're getting from all these ads. So it sounded like a good idea, and I recruited him to help me with it.
Campus Progress: What do you think of the recent announcement of several major soda companies, including Coke and Pepsi, to stop selling their products in elementary and high schools come this fall, and why they might be motivated to do that?
I'd like to think that they were motivated solely by concern for the health of American children. But, whatever their motivations are, I think it's a good thing. The deal was brokered by former President Bill Clinton, a Democrat, and the current governor of Arkansas, Mike Huckabee, a conservative Republican. I think it's a terrific step because it shows bipartisan support for ensuring that kids are eating healthy food in schools. I don't think it's an ideal agreement; it's going to be phased in over a number of years [and] it's a voluntary agreement. But to me it's a sign of the times, a sign that attitudes are really changing and there's a real feeling growing that we can't afford to have these companies marketing unhealthy food to kids in schools. I applaud the move by the soda companies to make voluntary changes, but I also support moves at the state and federal level to put tough restrictions on what kind of food can be sold in schools.
SNIP
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8. PETA Letter Responds to Jewish Press Editorial
Forwarded message from Bruce Friedrich. PETA Vegan Director
Sent: Friday, July 07, 2006 1:16 PM
[Since a recent JVNA newsletter had a Jewish Press editorial attacking PETA, their response is included below.]
To: 'letters@jewishpress.com'
Subject: Letter to the Editor:
Dear Editor,
Re: “Here we Go,” 7/5/06: People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) investigates both kosher and non-kosher slaughterhouses and notifies authorities whenever we witness gross mistreatment of animals and violations of the Humane Methods of Slaughter Act.
Our most popular vegetarian video by far, titled “Meet Your Meat,” documents exclusively non-kosher plants (see www.Meat.org), and our late-2004 investigation of Agriprocessors was our very first kosher investigation, in our 24 year history. Had Agriprocessors agreed, when we asked them in 2003, to allow Dr. Grandin to come in, we would never have investigated. Mr. Nathan Lewin’s condescending letter (available at www.goveg.com/feat/agriprocessors/) left us no choice but to investigate the whistleblower reports of cruelty in the plant.
We blew the whistle on AgriProcessors, not because of concerns about the principles of shechitah, but because employees were shocking animals in the face with electric prods, ripping out their tracheas while they were still fully conscious, and dumping them in their own blood to die slow and painful deaths – some animals even struggled to their feet in agony over three minutes after they were dismembered. Dr. Temple Grandin, now recognized by Agriprocessors as an authority, called what we found “The worst thing [she] had ever seen,” declaring that AgriProcessors “is doing everything wrong they can do wrong.”
It is a black eye for kosher certification that the Orthodox Union continues to declare that the kosher status at AgriProcessors was never in question. As long as that remains the OU’s stance, the kosher public will not be able to feel secure that the OU hechsher has anything at all to do with the strong Jewish tradition of kindness toward G-d’s other animals.
Jewish law mandates that animals should be treated with compassion and respect. It is this principle that we need to defend, not those companies who so cruelly abuse animals.
Sincerely,
Bruce G. Friedrich
Vice President for International Grassroots Campaigns
PETA
501 Front St.
Norfolk, VA 23510
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9. JVNA Member Publishes Book On Benefits and Uses of Nuts
JVNA member Zel Allen has published a book that covers all aspects of nuts: “The Nut Gourmet: Nourishing Nuts for Every Occasion. The book how nuts can be an essential part of a balanced diet. It shows how nuts can be used as the focal point in a variety of dishes and it provides 150 “tasty, gourmet, plant-based recipes.” The book also provides extensive information about the health benefits of nuts.
The book is endorsed by several leading vegetarian health professionals, including Neal Barnard, M.D., President of Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine,” William Harris, author of :The Scientific Basis of Vegetarianism,” and Jay Gordon, M.D., author of “Good Food Today, Great Kids Tomorrow.” Brenda Davis, R.D., author of “Becoming Vegetarian,: states: “The book is a treasure. It is beautifully written, comprehensive and entertaining. It provides accurate, detailed information about the value of nuts in the diet, numerous practical tips, charts and tables, and dozens of mouth-watering recipes. It is a delightful cookbook and a tremendous nutrition resource.”
I have had the pleasure of working with Zel and her husband Reuben for many years and I strongly commend Zel for this important contribution. I hope the book is very successful. The book can be ordered on the internet through “Vegetarians in Paradise,” an internet magazine that Zel and Reuben have edited for over 7 years
(www.vegparadise.com), or through Amazon and other online book vendors.
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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.
July 10, 2006
7/9/06 Special JVNA Newsletter - RCA Ban on Smoking
Shalom everyone,
This special Jewish Vegetarians of North America (JVNA) Online Newsletter has the following items:
1. Overview/Why This Special Newsletter
2. My Letter to the RCA/Please Write
3. My Letter to the Jewish Media
4. Draft of JVNA Press Release on the RCA Ban on Smoking
5. RCA Statement Re Their Ban on Smoking
6. Text of the RCA Ban on Smoking
7. Contact Information for RCA leaders
[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.
As always, your comments and suggestions are very welcome.
Thanks,
Richard
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1. Overview/Why This Special Newsletter
The Rabbinical Council of America (RCA), a major Orthodox rabbinic association, has banned the smoking of tobacco products because they violate Jewish teachings on health. While this is a very welcome development, its effect probably will not be too great as the negative health effects of smoking are already widely known and most people who will take the RCA’s ban seriously probably already do not smoke. I believe that we should respectfully urge RCA to also consider the negative health effects of animal-based diets. I think that it is probably too much to expect RCA to ban the eating of animal products but even if they just recommended that Jews seriously consider the negative health effects of eating meat and other animal products and reduce the amount that they consume, this could be very positive.
Of course, we should also stress hos basic Jewish mandates are violated by animal-centered diets and the very negative effects that the production of meat is having re global warming and other environmental threats.
Suggestions re my draft letters and press release below are very welcome. Many thanks.
For more information about the negative effects of smoking, please see JVNA advisor Dan Brook’s web site www.brook.com/smoke.
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2. My Letter to the RCA/Please Write
Dear Rabbis:
Kol hakavod on your important ban on Jews smoking tobacco. I hope that your bold initiative is well received and results in far fewer Jews smoking and thus a great improvement in the health of the Jewish people.
As president of the Jewish Vegetarians of North America, I believe that you can do an additional Kiddush Hashem by also considering the many studies that have conclusively linked the consumption of animal products to heart disease, several types of cancer, strokes and other chronic degenerative diseases. I am not asking you to ban the consumption of meat and other animal products, but that you recommend that Jews seriously consider the health effects of animal-based diets and reduce their consumption of animal products. Since about 1.3 million Americans die annually due to diseases conclusively linked to animal-based diets and, in some cases, smoking, why ban one risk factor while ignoring another major risk factor?
Besides the strong health reasons, which would be dayenu in themself, I believe that RCA should consider that animal-based diets contribute significantly to global warming and other serious environmental threats and that they seriously violate Jewish mandates to preserve human health, treat animals compassionately, protect the environment, conserve natural resources, and help hungry people.
If you have any questions or concerns re our recommendation or would like any further information, please let me know. I would be happy to send a complimentary copy of my book “Judaism and Vegetarianism” and a related CD to any RCA rabbi who would consider using them to help make people aware of the health and other benefits of vegetarian diets.
Thanks for your kind consideration,
Very truly yours,
Richard Schwartz
-----------------------------
PS. I am considering sending the letter and the press release below to the Jewish media, but wait a week to see how you respond before doing so. I do plan to send my letter earlier to the two Jewish weeklies that I subscribe to: the Jewish Week and the Forward, since both had items re your ban on smpking.
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3. My Letter to the Jewish Media
Dear Editor:
I believe that the Rabbinical Council of America (RCA) is to be highly commended for their recent, important ban on Jews smoking tobacco. I hope that their bold initiative will be well received and result in far fewer Jews smoking and thus a great improvement in the health of the Jewish people.
As president of the Jewish Vegetarians of North America, I believe that the RCA can do an additional Kiddush Hashem (sanctification of God’s Name) by also considering the many studies that have conclusively linked the consumption of animal products to heart disease, several types of cancer, strokes and other chronic degenerative diseases. I am not asking them to completely ban the consumption of meat and other animal products, but that they recommend that rabbis urge Jews to seriously consider the health effects of animal based diets and reduce their consumption of animal products..
Besides the strong health reasons, which should be dayenu (enough) in themself, I believe that RCA should consider that animal-based diets contribute significantly to global warming and other serious environmental threats, and that they seriously violate Jewish mandates to preserve human health, treat animals compassionately, protect the environment, conserve natural resources, and help hungry people.
An RCA recommendation on Jewish diets would show the relevance of our eternal tradition to modern issues and would greatly increase the heath of Jews and our precious, but imperiled, planet.
Very truly yours,
Richard Schwartz
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4. Draft of JVNA Press Release on the RCA Ban on Smoking
PRESS RELEASE
July 9, 2006
For Immediate Release
Contact person: Richard H. Schwartz, Ph.D. (rschw12345@aol.com; Phone (718) 761-5876
JEWISH GROUP PRAISES RABBINICAL COUNCIL OF AMERICA (RCA) BUT URGES FURTHER ACTIONS
The Jewish Vegetarians of North America (JVNA) strongly commended the Rabbinical Council of America (RCA) on their recent, important ban on Jews smoking tobacco products, but urged the rabbinic group to apply the same Jewish teachings on health that led to their decision to the consumption of animal products.
“I believe that the RCA can do an additional Kiddush Hashem by also considering the many studies that have conclusively linked the consumption of animal products to heart disease, several types of cancer, strokes and other chronic degenerative diseases,” stated Richard H. Schwartz, president of the Jewish Vegetarians of North America. We are not asking RCA to ban the consumption of meat and other animal products, but that they recommend that Jews seriously consider the health effects of animal based diets and reduce their consumption of animal products.”
“Besides the strong health reasons, which would be dayenu (enough) in themself, we believe that you should consider that animal-based diets contribute significantly to global warming and other serious environmental threats and that they seriously violate Jewish mandates to preserve human health, treat animals compassionately, protect the environment, conserve natural resources, and help hungry people. An RCA recommendation on Jewish diets would show the relevance of our eternal tradition to modern issues and would greatly increase the heath of Jews and our precious, but imperiled, planet.
Further information about JVNA and its efforts to get vegetarianism ontl the Jewish agenda can be found at the JVNA web site (JewishVeg.com) and in the over 100 articles about all aspects of Jewish vegetarianis at JewishVeg.com/Schwartz. JVNA will send a complimentary copy of Richard Schwartz’s book “Judaism and Vegetarianism” and a related CD to any rabbi who would consider using them to help make people aware of the health and other benefits of vegetarian diets.
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5. RCA Statement Re Their Ban on Smoking
RCA's Vaad Halacha Bans Use of Tobacco Products
Jul 3, 2006 -- The Va’ad Halacha of the Rabbinical Council of America, in its first decision in recent years, has issued a detailed responsum to explain why the use of tobacco is prohibited by Jewish Law.
The Va’ad Halachah (or Halacha Committee) of The Rabbinical Council of America has issued a unanimous opinion affirming that, in spite of its widespread practice even within many rabbinic and yeshiva circles, the smoking of tobacco products is prohibited by Jewish law. For some observers of Jewish life, this decision might be casually dismissed as a statement of the obvious, or in any case, as long overdue. But from a different perspective, this ruling illustrates the highly significant fact that accepted practice and illustrious precedent notwithstanding, Jewish law is fully able to incorporate new realities, recognize new and reliable scientific findings, and embrace the need to change heretofore acceptable behavior.
The ruling comes in the wake of, and is based on, impeccable halachic sources attesting to the importance of safeguarding health and preserving life. It also benefits from a keen understanding of the massive volume of medical and scientific findings on the dangers of tobacco products. And it posits that those rabbinic authorities who may have in decades passed permitted the activity (or even engaged in it themselves), would in all likelihood have a changed opinion today.
“The Torah is a book of life, both physical and spiritual. And especially on the issue of smoking, the Torah itself must be seen as a living, growing, and ever expanding source of wisdom and life-giving energy, mandating the pursuit of good health and long life,” said the chairman of the Vaad Halacha, Rabbi Asher Bush.
The decision calls on all Jews, and certainly halachically-observant Jews, to make every effort to avoid smoking in the first place, and if already in the habit, to stop doing so.
The RCA’s Vaad Halacha, chaired for many years by illustrious leaders of the RCA, most especially the late and revered Rabbi Joseph B. Soloveitchik, was recently reconstituted under the chairmanship of Rabbi Asher Bush. It has been granted a mandate to tackle some of the major issues currently confronting the Orthodox community, including organ transplantation, time of death matters, and others. It will also address issues put to it by the Orthodox Union, in the RCA’s invigorated role as halachic authority to the Orthodox Union.
In addition to the eminently qualified members of the Vaad Halacha itself, the work of the committee has benefit, and will continue to benefit, from the advisory role of its Vaad Haposkim, or Poskim Committee, composed of leading and highly respected decisors of Jewish law, within and beyond the RCA itself.
Click here for the text of the ban on tobacco, as well as the names of those who participated in the process.
© Copyright 2004 Rabbinical Council of America
All Rights Reserved.
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RABBIS CONDEMN SMOKING: THE COMPLETE TEXT OF THEIR DECISION
RCA Roundtable
5625 Arlington Avenue
Riverdale, New York 10471
R.C.A. ROUNDTABLE: PROPOSAL ON SMOKING
by,
Rabbi Jeffrey R. Woolf
Rabbi Reuven Bulka
Rabbi Saul J. Berman
Rabbi Daniel Landes
Summary:
1) Since it is an established fact that all tobacco smoke constitutes a definite and immediate danger to one's health, such activity is in violation of the Torah's injunction against harming oneself.
2) Since scientific research has shown passive smoking by those in the presence of non-smokers to be equally dangerous, it constitutes a public danger and assault (Habalah). Therefore smoking must be banned in all public arenas such as synagogues, schools, mikva'ot and all public functions.
3) Those who choose to continue smoking rely on shomer peta'im hashem [Hashem protects the simple (the uninformed) (Psalms): In light of contemporary medical knowledge, this idea no longer obtains.
I. Introduction
Over the course of the past twenty-five years, it has become increasingly clear that the smoking (or ingesting) of tobacco, constitutes a serious, inevitable danger to the user. The ingesting of tobacco smoke has been intrinsically linked to heart disease, stroke, lung cancer, pancreatic cancer, and dozens of other fatal and potentially fatal illnesses.1 Indeed, at present, it is the overwhelming opinion of the medical research community, that tobacco smoke in any amount will render immediate damage to the human physiology.2
Over the course of the past five years, it has also been conclusively demonstrated that non-smokers who inhale the smoke of other people's cigarettes are at real and significant risk of contracting the very same illnesses as the smokers themselves.3
In recognition of this fact, an increasingly large number of governments and government agencies have banned smoking in the presence of or in proximity to non-smokers, out of concern for the health rights of the latter. In light of this situation, it is both relevant and urgent that the halachic dimensions of this question be reexamined.
II. Passive Smoke (ETS)
It is axiomatic according to Torah Law, that one individual is not allowed to harm another. This point is discussed extensively in the Gemara 4 and summed up in the Shulchan Aruch as follows:5
It is forbidden for one man to strike his fellow, and if he does so, he violates a negative commandment, as it is written, "Lest he add etc," 6 And if the Torah was strict with regard to the striking of the wicked, a fortiori regarding the striking of the righteous, and he who raises his hand to strike his fellow, even though he does not do so, he is deemed to be a wicked person.
In light of the above-cited scientific evidence, it is clear that the infliction of injury on another party, by means of tobacco smoke, constitutes assault. Indeed, even prior to the publication of the lion's share of the scientific evidence concerning "passive smoke" theate Rabbi Moshe Feinstein (o.b.m.) asserted that people harmed by the smoke of others were empowered by Halakhah to sue for damages. As he himself wrote:7
But the matter (i.e. the legal implications of "passive smoke") are far worse, since smokers actually commit assault...And it is obvious that were the courts competent to adjudicate torts,8 they would be empowered to enforce collection of their estimate of the suffering caused [by the smoke], and if [the complainant] had become ill therefrom,he would be entitled to compensation of medical expenses, even if he had not incurred direct damages due to absence from his employment.9
It might be objected, though, that such a conclusion is only germane when the damage done by ETS is substantial enough to warrant suit for damages. This, however, can hardly be the case in a short period of exposure to someone's smoke, on an ad hoc basis. Such a conclusion, however, cannot be maintained. For independent of the possibility of incurring financial damages, assault constitutes a forbidden action according to the Torah, irrespective of whether there is significant damage inflicted or not.10 The point is summed up in the Shulkhan Arukh : 11 If he struck his fellow with a blow which inflicted damage less than the value of a penny, receives stripes (malkot) [as punishment], since no monetary obligation is incurred thereby.
Since, as already noted, temporary exposure to ETS has immediate, deleterious effects on one's health, it is clear that it is forbidden to allow smoking in the presence of non-smokers, even on a short-term basis. What is more, in light of the immediate effects of ETS on the physiology of the non-smoker, it seems clear that even if he or she is not immediately irritated thereby, that he may not forgo his prerogative and allow another person to smoke (mehilah).12
This is due to the well-known fact that an individual is not allowed to harm himself.13
Finally, the upshot of several key rulings in Halakhic literature, make it clear that preventing the generation of ETS, and its attendant damage to the health of those who inhale it, is not simply the responsibility of the smoker and the non-smoker, but rather that of the community generally, and especially that of the court (Bet Din). For example, Rambam writes,14 that over and beyond the obligation to erect a fence around one's roof (ma'akeh),15 the Sages forbade many things which are injurious to one's health, "and anyone who violates them and says,"I will place myself in danger and what business is it of other people [should I do so], "...one inflicts him with 'Stripes of Rebelliousness' (Makkot Mardut)." Upon this passage the Aruch HaShulchan comments, that the Rambam does not intend to imply that since the punishment is rabbinic in nature, that so is the crime.
"For certainly this involves the violation of a Torah prohibition, it is only that one cannot receives normal stripes (malkot) for it, just as there are many Torah prohibitions for the violation of which no malkot are administered."16 And the Yaffe LaLev 17 adds that not only is the crime of injuring oneself punishable, this fact plainly establishes that it is the obligation of the court to ensure that such behavior is not pursued.18
In light of the above, it is clear that rabbis and communities are obliged by Halakhah to ban smoking at all functions and meeting, buildings and facilities under their jurisdiction, pursuant to the sacred trust to secure the observance of Torah Law and to protect the physical and spiritual welfare of their members.19
III. Active Smoking
Based upon the above presentation, it ought to be equally apparent that if ETS is forbidden according to Halakhah, owing to its not only being a nuisance but actually constituting an immediate danger, the same must be said a fortiori of active smoking.20 And, indeed, this is the published opinion of both Rabbi Hayyim David HaLevi, the Sephardic Chief Rabbi of Tel Aviv,21 and of Rabbi Eliezer Waldenberg,22 both of whom are outstanding contemporary Halachic authorities. They both base themselves upon the prohibition against harming oneself and upon the explicit statement of the Rambam that the Rabbis have the authority to ban any action which harms one's health.23
The one authority who consistently refused to prohibit "active smoking" per se, was the late Posek HaDor, Rabbi Moshe Feinstein (zt'l). While he strongly urged people to stop smoking, and discouraged others from developing the habit,24 he held tenaciously to the position that smoking could not be banned on purely Halakhic grounds. In light of the preeminent position occupied by Rabbi Feinstein, any proposal to ban smoking on purely Halakhic grounds must perforce address his objections thereto.
Rabbi Feinstein heavily based his inability to forbid smoking on the argument, that when a specific action possibly entails an element of danger, and people are willing to take that risk (which albeit is only a risk) one cannot forbid people from that action for "the L-rd Protects the Simple" (Makom SheDashu Bo Rabim, Shomer Peta'im HaShem).25 As he wrote in his last responsum on the subject: 26
To generalize the principle of "the L-rd Protects the Simple" which appears in Shabbat (129b) and in Niddah (45a) relates to two cases where there is some risk of danger and [nevertheless] people are not careful [avoid them], though it certainly is true that in an average case of possible danger it is forbidden to rely on this principle ... [nevertheless] it appears obvious that as regards something which does not entail any negative effects upon the health of a large number of people...even though it does exert harm upon a distinct minority , there is still no prohibition to eat them 27 as per the possible danger involved, since the majority are not harmed therefrom...And cigarette smoking is akin to such things, since those who are accustomed to smoke enjoy it very much, and suffer from the lack of cigarettes more than the lack of certain types of good food, and even more than total food deprivation for an abbreviated amount of time. [What is more] the danger (kilkul) of becoming ill from this is in any case very small, afortiori is the possibility of developing cancer and other life threatening illnesses exceedingly small...and in a risk like this one applies the rule, "the L-rd protects the
Simple..."
The upshot of Rabbi Feinstein's presentation is that the rule of Shomer Peta'im HaShem applies when two conditions are present: 1) The activity in question only presents a possible danger to the individual and 2) Most people are willing to take the risk involved in pursuing that activity. At the time that Rabbi Feinstein wrote this responsum, both of these factors seemed to indicate Halachic license to smoke. Today, however, in light of the scientific evidence published in the decade since this responsum was written, and based upon Rabbi Feinstein's explicit definition, it is clear that neither of these considerations obtains any longer.
First, the danger involved in smoking is not merely possible, it is inevitable. And while death from lung cancer may well only affect a minority of smokers, damage to the cardio-vascular and pulmonary systems is immediate and inevitable. Thus, we have entered into a situation in which smoking is a definite danger (Bari Hezeka).28
Similar conclusions may be reached regarding the second element in Rabbi Feinstein's equation, i.e. the willingness of people to take the risk involved in smoking. Here there seems to have occurred a substantive change. Over the past ten years a large anti-smoking educational effort has been undertaken by the American Cancer Society and the Office of the Surgeon General of the United States. The results of this campaign have been that large numbers of people have stopped smoking, while others have not cultivated the habit because of the risks involved. Clearly, then, smoking is no longer a Davar SheDashu Bo Rabim. 29
Each of these considerations, taken both separately and together, leads us to one ineluctable conclusion. Namely, that based upon present research and the stated argument of Rabbi Moshe Feinstein, the smoking of cigarettes constitutes a blatant violation of the Torah's commandment against inflicting harm on oneself and hence is absolutely prohibited according to Jewish Law.30
IV. Conclusions
As a result of our discussion here it is apparent that definite action must be taken in order to eradicate smoking from the Orthodox community. This is called for both out of consideration for the health of the smoker, as well as that of the innocent bystander assaulted and harmed by the smoke he generates. In both instances, the community (as represented by the Rabbinate and Batei Din) are responsible for the enforcement of Halachic norms regulating the general welfare. As practical steps toward the realization of a smoke-free community, we recommend that our colleagues take the following steps:
1) Smoking should be banned from all synagogues, synagogue functions, Day Schools, Mikva'ot and all other institutions and events under the supervision of the rabbi.
2) Rabbis should themselves cease to smoke, and should publicly educate their congregations as to the medical and Halachic severity of smoking. This should include not tolerating smoking in their own homes and businesses, as this either facilitates or causes assault on others.
3) It must be carefully pointed out that had the present-day research been available, that scholars of previous generations who themselves smoked, would not have sanctioned this conduct.
Footnotes
1 Stanton A. Glantz and William W. Parmley, "Passive Smoking and Heart Disease: Epidemiology, Physiology, and Biochemistry," Circulation, 83 (January, 1991), p. 1. (Thanks to Dr. Fred Rosner for providing us with the periodical literature behind this topic.)
2 Ibid, pp. 1, 4-5.
3 Ibid, pp. 1-12. See also, Jonathan Fielding and Kenneth J. Phenow, "Health Effects of Involuntary Smoking," The New England Journal of Medicine, 319 (December, 1988), pp. 1452-1460; Mohammed-Reza Masjedi, Homayoun Kazemi, and Douglas C. Johnson, "Effects of Passive
Smoking on the Pulmonary Function of Adults," Thorax, 45 (January, 1990), pp. 27-31; G. H. Miller, "The Impact of Passive Smoking: Cancer Deaths Among NonSmoking Women," Cancer: Detection and Prevention, 14 (1990), pp. 497-503; C. Humble, J. Croft, A. Gerber, M. Casper, C.
G. Hames, and H. A. Tyroler, "Passive Smoking and Twenty Year Cardiovascular Disease Mortality Among Non-Smoking Wives in Evans County, Georgia," The American Journal of Public Health, 80 (May, 1990), pp. pp. 599-601; D. Janerich, W. D. Thompson, L. R. Varela, P. Greenwald, S. Chorost, C. Tucci, M. B. Zaman, M. R. Melamed, M. Kieley, and M. F. McKneally, "Lung Cancer and Exposure to Tobacco Smoke in the Household," The New England Journal of Medicine, 323(
September, 1990), pp. 632-636; S. D. Woodward and M. H. Winstanley, "Lung Cancer and Passive Smoking at Work: The Carroll Case," The Medical Journal of Australia, 153 (December, 1990), pp.
682-684.
4 Baba Kamma 91a-b.
5 Shulchan Aruch, Hoshen Mishpat 420: 1. In an edifying pamphlet on the subject of Smoking, Rabbi Menachem Slae enumerates no less than thirty-six commandments (both positive and negative) which are violated by smoking.
Among these are the commandments: 1) Not to murder 2) Causing injury to a Fellow Jew 3) Not to Curse One's Fellow Jew 4) Not To Lead One's Fellow astray ( Lifnei Iver) 5) Desecration of G-d's Name 6) Wanton Destruction ( Bal Tashchit ) 7) Not to eat Non- Kosher Food. See M. Slae,
Smoking and Damage to Health in the Halachah, Jerusalem, 1990, pp. 26-33.
6 The Torah (Deut. XXV:3) sets a limit to the number of stripes which a convicted criminal may receive. If the person administering them exceeds this number, he is himself liable for assault and the damages incurred thereby. See Sanhedrin 85a and Ketubot 36a.
7 Resp. Iggerot Moshe, Hoshen Mishpat, II, no. 76.
8 Contemporary rabbinical courts cannot address questions of criminal tort as they lack the required level of rabbinic ordination (semicha). See Shulkhan Arukh, Hoshen Mishpat, I:I and commentaries,
ad loc.
9 Rabbi Feinstein underscores the immanency of the legal obligation engendered by damage due to ETS, by noting a fundamental distinction between torts (Habalot) and fines (Kenasot), even though ajudication of both requires a court possessed of full rabbinic ordination (mumhim semuchim).
In the latter case, says Rabbi Feinstein, no liability exists for the accused, even where it is patently clear that were a competent court extant, that he would be adjudged responsible for the fines in question. This is because in the case of Kenasot it is the court which not only collects the fine, but which also creates the obligation to pay via its rendering of judgment. The instance of torts, however, is different. Here, it is the action of the defendant which generates the obligation to pay. The court merely clarifies the obligation and enforces it. In other words, the role of a court of semuchim is essential in the case of fines and a technicality in the case of torts.
The difference, Rabbi Feinstein concludes, is in the instance of whether the defendant might be morally obliged to pay (LaTzeit Yedei Shamayim). In the case of torts, where a mere technicality prevents the collection of damages by the plaintiff, there is an obligation to pay. In the case of fines however, since no competent court ever created the obligation to pay, no supererogatory requirement exists either. (Cf. Baba Metzia 91a, Rashi, ad loc, s.v. Rava; Tos.,ad loc, s.v. B'va and the important
discussion in Ketzot HaHoshen 28:1).
10 See the discussion in Encyclopedia Tamudit, XII, Jerusalem, 1978, pp. 679-746 s.v. Hovel.
11 Hoshen Mishpat, Sec. 420: 2. See also Arukh HaShulkhan, ibid, par. 3.
12 Earlier discussions of the question whether the non-smoker had the right to waive his prerogatives, were based on the assumption that smoking was merely an irritant, or only harmful in the long run. See Tzitz Eliezer, op. cit and the discussion by Rabbi Y. Grubner, Kunteres B'Issur Ishun, HaDarom 53 (1984), pp. 71-83.
13 Hoshen Mishpat, ibid, par. 21 and Aruch HaShulchan, ibid, par. 43. Both are based upon the discussion in Baba Kamma 90b. In his formulation, the Rambam makes it clear that the prohibition against injuring oneself is of equal force as that against hurting one's fellow (Hil. Hovel u'Mazik V:1). A similar position is adopted by the Rashba ( Responsa I:616) and the Rosh on Baba Kamma (VIII:13).
Others, however, assume that the prohibition is rabbinic in origin (e.g. Bet HaBehirah L'Baba Kamma, adloc.) See Slae, p. 14 n.24. This is a decidedly minority opinion, both in terms of the number and stature of those who espouse it.
14 Hil. Rotze'ah U'Shmirat Nefesh, XI: 4-5.
15 See Sefer HaHinnukh, nos. 538 and 567.
16 Arukh HaShulkhan, Hoshen Mishpat, Sec. 427 par. 8. Rabbi Moshe Feinstein, however, takes pointed exception to this interpretation of the Rambam, and argues that the Rambam simply means to exhort people to abandon potentially deleterious habits, and not to prohibit them outright. He does not, however, explain why the Rambam allows stripes to be administered.
17 Cited by Slae, p. 16 n. 42.
18 Of course this is beside the general obligation of the community to secure the general welfare and to rebuke those who violate the norms of the Torah.
19 Confirmation of the propriety of such action is found in the fact that such action was specifically and emphatically advocated by Rabbi Eliezer Waldenberg (See below, note 20).
Similar actions have been undertaken by the Lubavitcher Rebbe, Rabbi M.M. Schneerson, the Gerer Rebbe and the Rosh Yeshivah of the Ponevez Yeshivah, Rabbi Eliezer Menahem Shach. The positions of the former two authorities were published in Rabbi Y. Grubner, (above, note 11) pp. 80-83. Rav Shach's order, banning smoking in the Bet Midrash of Ponevez was published, with an explanatory cover letter, in Slae, ibid, pp. 58-61.
20 Another issue related to the impact of smoking is its effect on the fetus during pregnancy. See the discussion in Slae, ch. III.
21 JTA Daily News Bulletin, 11/28/76.
22 Resp. Tzitz Eliezer, XV, no. 39.
23 Hil. Rotze'ah U'Shmirat Nefesh, XI: 5.
24 At the conclusion of one responsum (Iggerot Moshe, Hoshen Mishpat, II, no. 76) Rabbi Feinstein writes that "it is nevertheless appropriate for every person, especially Bnai Torah, not to smoke, since it presents a potential danger to life (Hashash Sakkanah) and has no redeeming value..." (See the remarks of Dr. Fred Rosner in The Journal of Halachah and Contemporary Society, XX (1990), pp. 61-63).
A similar position was advocated quite strongly by Rabbi J. David Bleich in his "Survey of Recent Halakhic Periodical Literature," Tradition, 16 (1976-1977), pp. 121-123.
25 The concept is discussed in Shabbat 129b, Yevamot 72a, and Niddah 31a. See the extensive discussion by Rabbi Grubner (op. cit., pp. 73- 77). Rabbi Moshe David Tendler as listed in the exact formulation of this phrase.
26 Iggerot Moshe, ibid. The responsum is dated 8 Sivan 5741 (= 10 June 1981).
27 Rabbi Feinstein is referring specifically to certain types of food which can harm the health of some people.
28 Similar conclusions were offered earlier by Rabbi Waldenberg (ibid); Rabbi M. Halperin (in Assia, V(1986), pp. 244ff) and Rabbi Reuven Bulka (in Proceedings of the World Conference on Smoking and Health, Winnipeg, 1983).
29 This observation was originally made to us by Rabbi Moshe Tendler.
This conclusion does not seek to ignore the large number of people who continue to smoke. At the same time, it appears to us that this population is no longer determinative. First, the issue of Dashu Bo Rabim is a question of societal sensitivity and not absolute numbers.
Second, it is difficult to assess the element of free-will involved in "taking the risk" in light of all that we know concerning the nature of nicotine addiction and the addictive personality.
As a side issue, which transcends our discussion here, one might be moved to wonder whether at present offering a match to a smoker might not be a violation of lifn Iver Lo Toiten Mikhshol or at least of being Mesaye'a Yedei Ovrei Averah. Also, it would seem reasonable that synagogues ought no longer leave candles burning in their kitchens on Yom Tov, since in light of contemporary social realities, smoking is no longer a Davar HaShaveh L'Chol Nefesh and hence constitutes a prohibited activity (Melacha) on Yom Tov.
30 This line of argument effectively removes Rabbi Bleich's objections to a purely Halakhic ban on smoking, as well. See above, note 23.
Presented as a public service by Action on Smoking and Health (ASH), 2013 H Street, N.W., Wash., DC 20006, USA, (202) 659-4310. ASH is a 31-year-old national legal-action antismoking and nonsmokers' rights organization which is entirely supported by tax-deductible contributions. Please credit ASH, and include ASH's web address: http://ash.org
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7. Contact Information for RCA leaders
Contact Us
305 Seventh Avenue, 12th Floor
New York, New York 10001
Phone: 212-807-7888
Fax: 212-727-8452
info@rabbis.org
Rabbi Basil Herring
Executive Vice President
Phone: 212-807-7888 x 105
Cell: 646-808-4614
Fax: 212-727-8452
bherring@rabbis.org
Rabbi Dale Polakoff
President
Great Neck Synagogue
26 Old Mill Road
Great Neck, NY 11023
Phone: 516-487-6100
Fax: 516-487-6149
dpolakoff@gns.org
Rabbi Gideon Shloush
Director, Rabbinic Learning & Enrichment
Phone: 212-807-7888 x 106
Fax: 212-727-8452
gshloush@rabbis.org
Rabbi Barry Kornblau
Director of Operations & Committees
Phone: 212-807-7888 x 206
Fax: 212-727-8452
bkornblau@rabbis.org
Rabbi Moshe Rosenberg
Director of Public Affairs
Phone: 212-807-7888
Fax: 212-727-8452
mrosenberg@rabbis.org Dov Levine
Controller
Phone: 212-807-7888 x 104
Fax: 212-727-8452
dlevine@rabbis.org
Sara Grinfeld
Executive Assistant
Phone: 212-807-7888 x 103
Fax: 212-727-8452
sgrinfeld@rabbis.org
Mordechai Rothman
Rabbinic Intern
Phone: 212-807-7888
Fax: 212-727-8452
mrothman@rabbis.org
Israel Region
Rabbi Fred Hollander
Executive Director
P.O. Box 7854
Rechov Bnai Brith 18
Jerusalem, Israel
Phone: 972-2-6251-923
Fax: 972-2-6240-273
rca@netvision.net.il
Tradition
Rabbi Shalom Carmy
Editor
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Apt. 314
Brooklyn, NY 11230
traditioneditor@rabbis.org
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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 special Jewish Vegetarians of North America (JVNA) Online Newsletter has the following items:
1. Overview/Why This Special Newsletter
2. My Letter to the RCA/Please Write
3. My Letter to the Jewish Media
4. Draft of JVNA Press Release on the RCA Ban on Smoking
5. RCA Statement Re Their Ban on Smoking
6. Text of the RCA Ban on Smoking
7. Contact Information for RCA leaders
[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.
As always, your comments and suggestions are very welcome.
Thanks,
Richard
=========================
1. Overview/Why This Special Newsletter
The Rabbinical Council of America (RCA), a major Orthodox rabbinic association, has banned the smoking of tobacco products because they violate Jewish teachings on health. While this is a very welcome development, its effect probably will not be too great as the negative health effects of smoking are already widely known and most people who will take the RCA’s ban seriously probably already do not smoke. I believe that we should respectfully urge RCA to also consider the negative health effects of animal-based diets. I think that it is probably too much to expect RCA to ban the eating of animal products but even if they just recommended that Jews seriously consider the negative health effects of eating meat and other animal products and reduce the amount that they consume, this could be very positive.
Of course, we should also stress hos basic Jewish mandates are violated by animal-centered diets and the very negative effects that the production of meat is having re global warming and other environmental threats.
Suggestions re my draft letters and press release below are very welcome. Many thanks.
For more information about the negative effects of smoking, please see JVNA advisor Dan Brook’s web site www.brook.com/smoke.
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2. My Letter to the RCA/Please Write
Dear Rabbis:
Kol hakavod on your important ban on Jews smoking tobacco. I hope that your bold initiative is well received and results in far fewer Jews smoking and thus a great improvement in the health of the Jewish people.
As president of the Jewish Vegetarians of North America, I believe that you can do an additional Kiddush Hashem by also considering the many studies that have conclusively linked the consumption of animal products to heart disease, several types of cancer, strokes and other chronic degenerative diseases. I am not asking you to ban the consumption of meat and other animal products, but that you recommend that Jews seriously consider the health effects of animal-based diets and reduce their consumption of animal products. Since about 1.3 million Americans die annually due to diseases conclusively linked to animal-based diets and, in some cases, smoking, why ban one risk factor while ignoring another major risk factor?
Besides the strong health reasons, which would be dayenu in themself, I believe that RCA should consider that animal-based diets contribute significantly to global warming and other serious environmental threats and that they seriously violate Jewish mandates to preserve human health, treat animals compassionately, protect the environment, conserve natural resources, and help hungry people.
If you have any questions or concerns re our recommendation or would like any further information, please let me know. I would be happy to send a complimentary copy of my book “Judaism and Vegetarianism” and a related CD to any RCA rabbi who would consider using them to help make people aware of the health and other benefits of vegetarian diets.
Thanks for your kind consideration,
Very truly yours,
Richard Schwartz
-----------------------------
PS. I am considering sending the letter and the press release below to the Jewish media, but wait a week to see how you respond before doing so. I do plan to send my letter earlier to the two Jewish weeklies that I subscribe to: the Jewish Week and the Forward, since both had items re your ban on smpking.
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3. My Letter to the Jewish Media
Dear Editor:
I believe that the Rabbinical Council of America (RCA) is to be highly commended for their recent, important ban on Jews smoking tobacco. I hope that their bold initiative will be well received and result in far fewer Jews smoking and thus a great improvement in the health of the Jewish people.
As president of the Jewish Vegetarians of North America, I believe that the RCA can do an additional Kiddush Hashem (sanctification of God’s Name) by also considering the many studies that have conclusively linked the consumption of animal products to heart disease, several types of cancer, strokes and other chronic degenerative diseases. I am not asking them to completely ban the consumption of meat and other animal products, but that they recommend that rabbis urge Jews to seriously consider the health effects of animal based diets and reduce their consumption of animal products..
Besides the strong health reasons, which should be dayenu (enough) in themself, I believe that RCA should consider that animal-based diets contribute significantly to global warming and other serious environmental threats, and that they seriously violate Jewish mandates to preserve human health, treat animals compassionately, protect the environment, conserve natural resources, and help hungry people.
An RCA recommendation on Jewish diets would show the relevance of our eternal tradition to modern issues and would greatly increase the heath of Jews and our precious, but imperiled, planet.
Very truly yours,
Richard Schwartz
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4. Draft of JVNA Press Release on the RCA Ban on Smoking
PRESS RELEASE
July 9, 2006
For Immediate Release
Contact person: Richard H. Schwartz, Ph.D. (rschw12345@aol.com; Phone (718) 761-5876
JEWISH GROUP PRAISES RABBINICAL COUNCIL OF AMERICA (RCA) BUT URGES FURTHER ACTIONS
The Jewish Vegetarians of North America (JVNA) strongly commended the Rabbinical Council of America (RCA) on their recent, important ban on Jews smoking tobacco products, but urged the rabbinic group to apply the same Jewish teachings on health that led to their decision to the consumption of animal products.
“I believe that the RCA can do an additional Kiddush Hashem by also considering the many studies that have conclusively linked the consumption of animal products to heart disease, several types of cancer, strokes and other chronic degenerative diseases,” stated Richard H. Schwartz, president of the Jewish Vegetarians of North America. We are not asking RCA to ban the consumption of meat and other animal products, but that they recommend that Jews seriously consider the health effects of animal based diets and reduce their consumption of animal products.”
“Besides the strong health reasons, which would be dayenu (enough) in themself, we believe that you should consider that animal-based diets contribute significantly to global warming and other serious environmental threats and that they seriously violate Jewish mandates to preserve human health, treat animals compassionately, protect the environment, conserve natural resources, and help hungry people. An RCA recommendation on Jewish diets would show the relevance of our eternal tradition to modern issues and would greatly increase the heath of Jews and our precious, but imperiled, planet.
Further information about JVNA and its efforts to get vegetarianism ontl the Jewish agenda can be found at the JVNA web site (JewishVeg.com) and in the over 100 articles about all aspects of Jewish vegetarianis at JewishVeg.com/Schwartz. JVNA will send a complimentary copy of Richard Schwartz’s book “Judaism and Vegetarianism” and a related CD to any rabbi who would consider using them to help make people aware of the health and other benefits of vegetarian diets.
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5. RCA Statement Re Their Ban on Smoking
RCA's Vaad Halacha Bans Use of Tobacco Products
Jul 3, 2006 -- The Va’ad Halacha of the Rabbinical Council of America, in its first decision in recent years, has issued a detailed responsum to explain why the use of tobacco is prohibited by Jewish Law.
The Va’ad Halachah (or Halacha Committee) of The Rabbinical Council of America has issued a unanimous opinion affirming that, in spite of its widespread practice even within many rabbinic and yeshiva circles, the smoking of tobacco products is prohibited by Jewish law. For some observers of Jewish life, this decision might be casually dismissed as a statement of the obvious, or in any case, as long overdue. But from a different perspective, this ruling illustrates the highly significant fact that accepted practice and illustrious precedent notwithstanding, Jewish law is fully able to incorporate new realities, recognize new and reliable scientific findings, and embrace the need to change heretofore acceptable behavior.
The ruling comes in the wake of, and is based on, impeccable halachic sources attesting to the importance of safeguarding health and preserving life. It also benefits from a keen understanding of the massive volume of medical and scientific findings on the dangers of tobacco products. And it posits that those rabbinic authorities who may have in decades passed permitted the activity (or even engaged in it themselves), would in all likelihood have a changed opinion today.
“The Torah is a book of life, both physical and spiritual. And especially on the issue of smoking, the Torah itself must be seen as a living, growing, and ever expanding source of wisdom and life-giving energy, mandating the pursuit of good health and long life,” said the chairman of the Vaad Halacha, Rabbi Asher Bush.
The decision calls on all Jews, and certainly halachically-observant Jews, to make every effort to avoid smoking in the first place, and if already in the habit, to stop doing so.
The RCA’s Vaad Halacha, chaired for many years by illustrious leaders of the RCA, most especially the late and revered Rabbi Joseph B. Soloveitchik, was recently reconstituted under the chairmanship of Rabbi Asher Bush. It has been granted a mandate to tackle some of the major issues currently confronting the Orthodox community, including organ transplantation, time of death matters, and others. It will also address issues put to it by the Orthodox Union, in the RCA’s invigorated role as halachic authority to the Orthodox Union.
In addition to the eminently qualified members of the Vaad Halacha itself, the work of the committee has benefit, and will continue to benefit, from the advisory role of its Vaad Haposkim, or Poskim Committee, composed of leading and highly respected decisors of Jewish law, within and beyond the RCA itself.
Click here for the text of the ban on tobacco, as well as the names of those who participated in the process.
© Copyright 2004 Rabbinical Council of America
All Rights Reserved.
-------------------------
RABBIS CONDEMN SMOKING: THE COMPLETE TEXT OF THEIR DECISION
RCA Roundtable
5625 Arlington Avenue
Riverdale, New York 10471
R.C.A. ROUNDTABLE: PROPOSAL ON SMOKING
by,
Rabbi Jeffrey R. Woolf
Rabbi Reuven Bulka
Rabbi Saul J. Berman
Rabbi Daniel Landes
Summary:
1) Since it is an established fact that all tobacco smoke constitutes a definite and immediate danger to one's health, such activity is in violation of the Torah's injunction against harming oneself.
2) Since scientific research has shown passive smoking by those in the presence of non-smokers to be equally dangerous, it constitutes a public danger and assault (Habalah). Therefore smoking must be banned in all public arenas such as synagogues, schools, mikva'ot and all public functions.
3) Those who choose to continue smoking rely on shomer peta'im hashem [Hashem protects the simple (the uninformed) (Psalms): In light of contemporary medical knowledge, this idea no longer obtains.
I. Introduction
Over the course of the past twenty-five years, it has become increasingly clear that the smoking (or ingesting) of tobacco, constitutes a serious, inevitable danger to the user. The ingesting of tobacco smoke has been intrinsically linked to heart disease, stroke, lung cancer, pancreatic cancer, and dozens of other fatal and potentially fatal illnesses.1 Indeed, at present, it is the overwhelming opinion of the medical research community, that tobacco smoke in any amount will render immediate damage to the human physiology.2
Over the course of the past five years, it has also been conclusively demonstrated that non-smokers who inhale the smoke of other people's cigarettes are at real and significant risk of contracting the very same illnesses as the smokers themselves.3
In recognition of this fact, an increasingly large number of governments and government agencies have banned smoking in the presence of or in proximity to non-smokers, out of concern for the health rights of the latter. In light of this situation, it is both relevant and urgent that the halachic dimensions of this question be reexamined.
II. Passive Smoke (ETS)
It is axiomatic according to Torah Law, that one individual is not allowed to harm another. This point is discussed extensively in the Gemara 4 and summed up in the Shulchan Aruch as follows:5
It is forbidden for one man to strike his fellow, and if he does so, he violates a negative commandment, as it is written, "Lest he add etc," 6 And if the Torah was strict with regard to the striking of the wicked, a fortiori regarding the striking of the righteous, and he who raises his hand to strike his fellow, even though he does not do so, he is deemed to be a wicked person.
In light of the above-cited scientific evidence, it is clear that the infliction of injury on another party, by means of tobacco smoke, constitutes assault. Indeed, even prior to the publication of the lion's share of the scientific evidence concerning "passive smoke" theate Rabbi Moshe Feinstein (o.b.m.) asserted that people harmed by the smoke of others were empowered by Halakhah to sue for damages. As he himself wrote:7
But the matter (i.e. the legal implications of "passive smoke") are far worse, since smokers actually commit assault...And it is obvious that were the courts competent to adjudicate torts,8 they would be empowered to enforce collection of their estimate of the suffering caused [by the smoke], and if [the complainant] had become ill therefrom,he would be entitled to compensation of medical expenses, even if he had not incurred direct damages due to absence from his employment.9
It might be objected, though, that such a conclusion is only germane when the damage done by ETS is substantial enough to warrant suit for damages. This, however, can hardly be the case in a short period of exposure to someone's smoke, on an ad hoc basis. Such a conclusion, however, cannot be maintained. For independent of the possibility of incurring financial damages, assault constitutes a forbidden action according to the Torah, irrespective of whether there is significant damage inflicted or not.10 The point is summed up in the Shulkhan Arukh : 11 If he struck his fellow with a blow which inflicted damage less than the value of a penny, receives stripes (malkot) [as punishment], since no monetary obligation is incurred thereby.
Since, as already noted, temporary exposure to ETS has immediate, deleterious effects on one's health, it is clear that it is forbidden to allow smoking in the presence of non-smokers, even on a short-term basis. What is more, in light of the immediate effects of ETS on the physiology of the non-smoker, it seems clear that even if he or she is not immediately irritated thereby, that he may not forgo his prerogative and allow another person to smoke (mehilah).12
This is due to the well-known fact that an individual is not allowed to harm himself.13
Finally, the upshot of several key rulings in Halakhic literature, make it clear that preventing the generation of ETS, and its attendant damage to the health of those who inhale it, is not simply the responsibility of the smoker and the non-smoker, but rather that of the community generally, and especially that of the court (Bet Din). For example, Rambam writes,14 that over and beyond the obligation to erect a fence around one's roof (ma'akeh),15 the Sages forbade many things which are injurious to one's health, "and anyone who violates them and says,"I will place myself in danger and what business is it of other people [should I do so], "...one inflicts him with 'Stripes of Rebelliousness' (Makkot Mardut)." Upon this passage the Aruch HaShulchan comments, that the Rambam does not intend to imply that since the punishment is rabbinic in nature, that so is the crime.
"For certainly this involves the violation of a Torah prohibition, it is only that one cannot receives normal stripes (malkot) for it, just as there are many Torah prohibitions for the violation of which no malkot are administered."16 And the Yaffe LaLev 17 adds that not only is the crime of injuring oneself punishable, this fact plainly establishes that it is the obligation of the court to ensure that such behavior is not pursued.18
In light of the above, it is clear that rabbis and communities are obliged by Halakhah to ban smoking at all functions and meeting, buildings and facilities under their jurisdiction, pursuant to the sacred trust to secure the observance of Torah Law and to protect the physical and spiritual welfare of their members.19
III. Active Smoking
Based upon the above presentation, it ought to be equally apparent that if ETS is forbidden according to Halakhah, owing to its not only being a nuisance but actually constituting an immediate danger, the same must be said a fortiori of active smoking.20 And, indeed, this is the published opinion of both Rabbi Hayyim David HaLevi, the Sephardic Chief Rabbi of Tel Aviv,21 and of Rabbi Eliezer Waldenberg,22 both of whom are outstanding contemporary Halachic authorities. They both base themselves upon the prohibition against harming oneself and upon the explicit statement of the Rambam that the Rabbis have the authority to ban any action which harms one's health.23
The one authority who consistently refused to prohibit "active smoking" per se, was the late Posek HaDor, Rabbi Moshe Feinstein (zt'l). While he strongly urged people to stop smoking, and discouraged others from developing the habit,24 he held tenaciously to the position that smoking could not be banned on purely Halakhic grounds. In light of the preeminent position occupied by Rabbi Feinstein, any proposal to ban smoking on purely Halakhic grounds must perforce address his objections thereto.
Rabbi Feinstein heavily based his inability to forbid smoking on the argument, that when a specific action possibly entails an element of danger, and people are willing to take that risk (which albeit is only a risk) one cannot forbid people from that action for "the L-rd Protects the Simple" (Makom SheDashu Bo Rabim, Shomer Peta'im HaShem).25 As he wrote in his last responsum on the subject: 26
To generalize the principle of "the L-rd Protects the Simple" which appears in Shabbat (129b) and in Niddah (45a) relates to two cases where there is some risk of danger and [nevertheless] people are not careful [avoid them], though it certainly is true that in an average case of possible danger it is forbidden to rely on this principle ... [nevertheless] it appears obvious that as regards something which does not entail any negative effects upon the health of a large number of people...even though it does exert harm upon a distinct minority , there is still no prohibition to eat them 27 as per the possible danger involved, since the majority are not harmed therefrom...And cigarette smoking is akin to such things, since those who are accustomed to smoke enjoy it very much, and suffer from the lack of cigarettes more than the lack of certain types of good food, and even more than total food deprivation for an abbreviated amount of time. [What is more] the danger (kilkul) of becoming ill from this is in any case very small, afortiori is the possibility of developing cancer and other life threatening illnesses exceedingly small...and in a risk like this one applies the rule, "the L-rd protects the
Simple..."
The upshot of Rabbi Feinstein's presentation is that the rule of Shomer Peta'im HaShem applies when two conditions are present: 1) The activity in question only presents a possible danger to the individual and 2) Most people are willing to take the risk involved in pursuing that activity. At the time that Rabbi Feinstein wrote this responsum, both of these factors seemed to indicate Halachic license to smoke. Today, however, in light of the scientific evidence published in the decade since this responsum was written, and based upon Rabbi Feinstein's explicit definition, it is clear that neither of these considerations obtains any longer.
First, the danger involved in smoking is not merely possible, it is inevitable. And while death from lung cancer may well only affect a minority of smokers, damage to the cardio-vascular and pulmonary systems is immediate and inevitable. Thus, we have entered into a situation in which smoking is a definite danger (Bari Hezeka).28
Similar conclusions may be reached regarding the second element in Rabbi Feinstein's equation, i.e. the willingness of people to take the risk involved in smoking. Here there seems to have occurred a substantive change. Over the past ten years a large anti-smoking educational effort has been undertaken by the American Cancer Society and the Office of the Surgeon General of the United States. The results of this campaign have been that large numbers of people have stopped smoking, while others have not cultivated the habit because of the risks involved. Clearly, then, smoking is no longer a Davar SheDashu Bo Rabim. 29
Each of these considerations, taken both separately and together, leads us to one ineluctable conclusion. Namely, that based upon present research and the stated argument of Rabbi Moshe Feinstein, the smoking of cigarettes constitutes a blatant violation of the Torah's commandment against inflicting harm on oneself and hence is absolutely prohibited according to Jewish Law.30
IV. Conclusions
As a result of our discussion here it is apparent that definite action must be taken in order to eradicate smoking from the Orthodox community. This is called for both out of consideration for the health of the smoker, as well as that of the innocent bystander assaulted and harmed by the smoke he generates. In both instances, the community (as represented by the Rabbinate and Batei Din) are responsible for the enforcement of Halachic norms regulating the general welfare. As practical steps toward the realization of a smoke-free community, we recommend that our colleagues take the following steps:
1) Smoking should be banned from all synagogues, synagogue functions, Day Schools, Mikva'ot and all other institutions and events under the supervision of the rabbi.
2) Rabbis should themselves cease to smoke, and should publicly educate their congregations as to the medical and Halachic severity of smoking. This should include not tolerating smoking in their own homes and businesses, as this either facilitates or causes assault on others.
3) It must be carefully pointed out that had the present-day research been available, that scholars of previous generations who themselves smoked, would not have sanctioned this conduct.
Footnotes
1 Stanton A. Glantz and William W. Parmley, "Passive Smoking and Heart Disease: Epidemiology, Physiology, and Biochemistry," Circulation, 83 (January, 1991), p. 1. (Thanks to Dr. Fred Rosner for providing us with the periodical literature behind this topic.)
2 Ibid, pp. 1, 4-5.
3 Ibid, pp. 1-12. See also, Jonathan Fielding and Kenneth J. Phenow, "Health Effects of Involuntary Smoking," The New England Journal of Medicine, 319 (December, 1988), pp. 1452-1460; Mohammed-Reza Masjedi, Homayoun Kazemi, and Douglas C. Johnson, "Effects of Passive
Smoking on the Pulmonary Function of Adults," Thorax, 45 (January, 1990), pp. 27-31; G. H. Miller, "The Impact of Passive Smoking: Cancer Deaths Among NonSmoking Women," Cancer: Detection and Prevention, 14 (1990), pp. 497-503; C. Humble, J. Croft, A. Gerber, M. Casper, C.
G. Hames, and H. A. Tyroler, "Passive Smoking and Twenty Year Cardiovascular Disease Mortality Among Non-Smoking Wives in Evans County, Georgia," The American Journal of Public Health, 80 (May, 1990), pp. pp. 599-601; D. Janerich, W. D. Thompson, L. R. Varela, P. Greenwald, S. Chorost, C. Tucci, M. B. Zaman, M. R. Melamed, M. Kieley, and M. F. McKneally, "Lung Cancer and Exposure to Tobacco Smoke in the Household," The New England Journal of Medicine, 323(
September, 1990), pp. 632-636; S. D. Woodward and M. H. Winstanley, "Lung Cancer and Passive Smoking at Work: The Carroll Case," The Medical Journal of Australia, 153 (December, 1990), pp.
682-684.
4 Baba Kamma 91a-b.
5 Shulchan Aruch, Hoshen Mishpat 420: 1. In an edifying pamphlet on the subject of Smoking, Rabbi Menachem Slae enumerates no less than thirty-six commandments (both positive and negative) which are violated by smoking.
Among these are the commandments: 1) Not to murder 2) Causing injury to a Fellow Jew 3) Not to Curse One's Fellow Jew 4) Not To Lead One's Fellow astray ( Lifnei Iver) 5) Desecration of G-d's Name 6) Wanton Destruction ( Bal Tashchit ) 7) Not to eat Non- Kosher Food. See M. Slae,
Smoking and Damage to Health in the Halachah, Jerusalem, 1990, pp. 26-33.
6 The Torah (Deut. XXV:3) sets a limit to the number of stripes which a convicted criminal may receive. If the person administering them exceeds this number, he is himself liable for assault and the damages incurred thereby. See Sanhedrin 85a and Ketubot 36a.
7 Resp. Iggerot Moshe, Hoshen Mishpat, II, no. 76.
8 Contemporary rabbinical courts cannot address questions of criminal tort as they lack the required level of rabbinic ordination (semicha). See Shulkhan Arukh, Hoshen Mishpat, I:I and commentaries,
ad loc.
9 Rabbi Feinstein underscores the immanency of the legal obligation engendered by damage due to ETS, by noting a fundamental distinction between torts (Habalot) and fines (Kenasot), even though ajudication of both requires a court possessed of full rabbinic ordination (mumhim semuchim).
In the latter case, says Rabbi Feinstein, no liability exists for the accused, even where it is patently clear that were a competent court extant, that he would be adjudged responsible for the fines in question. This is because in the case of Kenasot it is the court which not only collects the fine, but which also creates the obligation to pay via its rendering of judgment. The instance of torts, however, is different. Here, it is the action of the defendant which generates the obligation to pay. The court merely clarifies the obligation and enforces it. In other words, the role of a court of semuchim is essential in the case of fines and a technicality in the case of torts.
The difference, Rabbi Feinstein concludes, is in the instance of whether the defendant might be morally obliged to pay (LaTzeit Yedei Shamayim). In the case of torts, where a mere technicality prevents the collection of damages by the plaintiff, there is an obligation to pay. In the case of fines however, since no competent court ever created the obligation to pay, no supererogatory requirement exists either. (Cf. Baba Metzia 91a, Rashi, ad loc, s.v. Rava; Tos.,ad loc, s.v. B'va and the important
discussion in Ketzot HaHoshen 28:1).
10 See the discussion in Encyclopedia Tamudit, XII, Jerusalem, 1978, pp. 679-746 s.v. Hovel.
11 Hoshen Mishpat, Sec. 420: 2. See also Arukh HaShulkhan, ibid, par. 3.
12 Earlier discussions of the question whether the non-smoker had the right to waive his prerogatives, were based on the assumption that smoking was merely an irritant, or only harmful in the long run. See Tzitz Eliezer, op. cit and the discussion by Rabbi Y. Grubner, Kunteres B'Issur Ishun, HaDarom 53 (1984), pp. 71-83.
13 Hoshen Mishpat, ibid, par. 21 and Aruch HaShulchan, ibid, par. 43. Both are based upon the discussion in Baba Kamma 90b. In his formulation, the Rambam makes it clear that the prohibition against injuring oneself is of equal force as that against hurting one's fellow (Hil. Hovel u'Mazik V:1). A similar position is adopted by the Rashba ( Responsa I:616) and the Rosh on Baba Kamma (VIII:13).
Others, however, assume that the prohibition is rabbinic in origin (e.g. Bet HaBehirah L'Baba Kamma, adloc.) See Slae, p. 14 n.24. This is a decidedly minority opinion, both in terms of the number and stature of those who espouse it.
14 Hil. Rotze'ah U'Shmirat Nefesh, XI: 4-5.
15 See Sefer HaHinnukh, nos. 538 and 567.
16 Arukh HaShulkhan, Hoshen Mishpat, Sec. 427 par. 8. Rabbi Moshe Feinstein, however, takes pointed exception to this interpretation of the Rambam, and argues that the Rambam simply means to exhort people to abandon potentially deleterious habits, and not to prohibit them outright. He does not, however, explain why the Rambam allows stripes to be administered.
17 Cited by Slae, p. 16 n. 42.
18 Of course this is beside the general obligation of the community to secure the general welfare and to rebuke those who violate the norms of the Torah.
19 Confirmation of the propriety of such action is found in the fact that such action was specifically and emphatically advocated by Rabbi Eliezer Waldenberg (See below, note 20).
Similar actions have been undertaken by the Lubavitcher Rebbe, Rabbi M.M. Schneerson, the Gerer Rebbe and the Rosh Yeshivah of the Ponevez Yeshivah, Rabbi Eliezer Menahem Shach. The positions of the former two authorities were published in Rabbi Y. Grubner, (above, note 11) pp. 80-83. Rav Shach's order, banning smoking in the Bet Midrash of Ponevez was published, with an explanatory cover letter, in Slae, ibid, pp. 58-61.
20 Another issue related to the impact of smoking is its effect on the fetus during pregnancy. See the discussion in Slae, ch. III.
21 JTA Daily News Bulletin, 11/28/76.
22 Resp. Tzitz Eliezer, XV, no. 39.
23 Hil. Rotze'ah U'Shmirat Nefesh, XI: 5.
24 At the conclusion of one responsum (Iggerot Moshe, Hoshen Mishpat, II, no. 76) Rabbi Feinstein writes that "it is nevertheless appropriate for every person, especially Bnai Torah, not to smoke, since it presents a potential danger to life (Hashash Sakkanah) and has no redeeming value..." (See the remarks of Dr. Fred Rosner in The Journal of Halachah and Contemporary Society, XX (1990), pp. 61-63).
A similar position was advocated quite strongly by Rabbi J. David Bleich in his "Survey of Recent Halakhic Periodical Literature," Tradition, 16 (1976-1977), pp. 121-123.
25 The concept is discussed in Shabbat 129b, Yevamot 72a, and Niddah 31a. See the extensive discussion by Rabbi Grubner (op. cit., pp. 73- 77). Rabbi Moshe David Tendler as listed in the exact formulation of this phrase.
26 Iggerot Moshe, ibid. The responsum is dated 8 Sivan 5741 (= 10 June 1981).
27 Rabbi Feinstein is referring specifically to certain types of food which can harm the health of some people.
28 Similar conclusions were offered earlier by Rabbi Waldenberg (ibid); Rabbi M. Halperin (in Assia, V(1986), pp. 244ff) and Rabbi Reuven Bulka (in Proceedings of the World Conference on Smoking and Health, Winnipeg, 1983).
29 This observation was originally made to us by Rabbi Moshe Tendler.
This conclusion does not seek to ignore the large number of people who continue to smoke. At the same time, it appears to us that this population is no longer determinative. First, the issue of Dashu Bo Rabim is a question of societal sensitivity and not absolute numbers.
Second, it is difficult to assess the element of free-will involved in "taking the risk" in light of all that we know concerning the nature of nicotine addiction and the addictive personality.
As a side issue, which transcends our discussion here, one might be moved to wonder whether at present offering a match to a smoker might not be a violation of lifn Iver Lo Toiten Mikhshol or at least of being Mesaye'a Yedei Ovrei Averah. Also, it would seem reasonable that synagogues ought no longer leave candles burning in their kitchens on Yom Tov, since in light of contemporary social realities, smoking is no longer a Davar HaShaveh L'Chol Nefesh and hence constitutes a prohibited activity (Melacha) on Yom Tov.
30 This line of argument effectively removes Rabbi Bleich's objections to a purely Halakhic ban on smoking, as well. See above, note 23.
Presented as a public service by Action on Smoking and Health (ASH), 2013 H Street, N.W., Wash., DC 20006, USA, (202) 659-4310. ASH is a 31-year-old national legal-action antismoking and nonsmokers' rights organization which is entirely supported by tax-deductible contributions. Please credit ASH, and include ASH's web address: http://ash.org
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