3/11/2008 JVNA Online Newsletter

Shalom everyone,

This update/Jewish Vegetarians of North America (JVNA) Online Newsletter has the following items:

1. Respectfully Challenging Rabbis to Debate “Should Jews Be Vegetarians?”

2. My Interview Posted by EVANA (European Vegetarian and Animal NewsAlliance)

3. My Interview by IVU (International Vegetarian Union)

4. Item re A SACRED DUTY at PETA Blog

5. Cute Cartoon re Downer Cows and Hamburgers

6. Videos on the Internet on Jewish and Christian Teachings on Vegetarianism

7. Chabad (Lubavitch Chassidim) Web Site Features Vegan Recipes

8. Salem, Massachusetts Mayor Proclaims March as Great American Meatout Month

9. Update on Israeli Chief Rabbi’s Statement Re Shackling and Hoisting

10. Areyvut’s “Make a Difference Day” Approaching

11. Interreligious Proclamation Against Foie Gras Production

12. Recent Significant news Articles Re Global Warming, Vanishing Fish stocks, Papal Pronouncements . . .

13. Green Zionist Workshop on Israel Scheduled

14. Response by JVNA Activist Catherine Manna to Statement at Failed Messiah Blog

15. Update on ShalomVeg Web Site

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 the kashrut, Shabbat observances, or any other Jewish observances, 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. Also, JVNA does not necessarily agree with all positions of groups whose views are included or whose events are announced in this newsletter.

As always, your comments and suggestions are very welcome.

Thanks,

Richard

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1. Respectfully Challenging Rabbis to Debate “Should Jews Be Vegetarians?”

WHY NOT DEBATE “SHOULD JEWS BE VEGETARIANS?”
Richard H. Schwartz, Ph.D.

This is a very respectful invitation to rabbis and other Jewish leaders to engage in a public dialogue/debate via email on “Should Jews Be Vegetarians?” This is something that Jewish Vegetarians of North America (JVNA) has been trying to organize for many years.

We think such a debate is very important today because the mass production and widespread consumption of meat harms people, communities and the planet and is in conflict with Judaism in at least six important areas:

1. While Judaism mandates that people should be very careful about preserving their health and their lives, numerous scientific studies have linked animal-based diets directly to heart disease, stroke, many forms of cancer, and other chronic degenerative diseases. Efforts to cure these diseases has resulted in sharp increases in medical expenditures, contributing to huge deficits, making it difficult to fund social programs that many Jews and others depend on.

2. While Judaism forbids tsa'ar ba'alei chayim, inflicting unnecessary pain on animals, most farm animals -- including those raised for kosher consumers -- are raised on "factory farms" where they live in cramped, confined spaces, and are often drugged, mutilated, and denied fresh air, sunlight, exercise, and any enjoyment of life, before they are slaughtered and eaten. A few examples of practices that are sharply at variance to Jewish teachings are that over 250 million male chicks are killed annually in the US alone immediately after birth at egg laying hatcheries because they can’t lay eggs and they have not been genetically programmed to provide much meat; hens are kept in spaces so small that they can’t even stretch a wing, and they have their beaks cut off without anesthesia, so they won’t harm other hens by pecking in their very unnatural environment; dairy cows are artificially impregnated (raped) annually, so they will be able to continually be able to give milk, and forced to give birth to calves who are whisked away from them at birth, likely to become veal calves and live a short, tortured life; and the list could go on and on.

3. While Judaism teaches that "the earth is the Lord's" (Psalm 24:1) and that we are to be God's partners and co-workers in preserving the world, modern intensive livestock agriculture contributes substantially to global warming, soil erosion and depletion, air and water pollution, overuse of chemical fertilizers and pesticides, the destruction of tropical rain forests and other habitats and other environmental damage. A 2006 UN report indicated that “livestock' agriculture emits more greenhouse gases (18 percent in CO2 equivalents) than all the cars and other forms of transportation worldwide combined (13.5 percent), and that the number of farmed animals is projected to double in the next 50 years. If that happens, the increased greenhouse gas emissions from these animals will negate reductions in other areas, and make it extremely difficult to reach the greenhouse gas levels necessary to avoid the severest effects of global climate change.

4. While Judaism mandates bal tashchit, that we are not to waste or unnecessarily destroy anything of value, and that we are not to use more than is needed to accomplish a purpose, animal agriculture requires the wasteful use of grain, land, water, energy, and other resources. As one example, in an increasingly thirsty world, it takes up to 14 times as much water to produce a person’s animal-based diet than to produce his or her vegan diet.

5. While Judaism stresses that we are to assist the poor and share our bread with hungry people, over 70% of the grain grown in the United States is fed to animals destined for slaughter, while an estimated 20 million people worldwide die because of hunger and its effects each year.

The need to produce so much food for farmed animals raises the price of grain, and makes it difficult for poor people to afford the nourishment they need for the health and proper development.

6. While Judaism stresses that we must seek and pursue peace and that violence results from unjust conditions, animal-centered diets, by wasting valuable resources, help to perpetuate the widespread hunger and poverty that eventually lead to instability and war. Seeing that the Hebrew words for bread (lechem) and war (milchamah) come from the same root, the Jewish sages deduced that a lack of grain and other resources makes it more likely that nations will go to war.

In view of these important Jewish mandates to preserve human health, attend to the welfare of animals, protect the environment, conserve resources, help feed hungry people, and pursue peace, and since animal-centered diets violate and contradict each of these responsibilities, I and JVNA argue that committed Jews (and others) should sharply reduce or eliminate their consumption of animal products.

One could say "dayenu" (it would be enough) after any of the arguments above, because each one constitutes by itself a serious conflict between Jewish values and current practice that should impel Jews to seriously consider a plant-based diet. Combined, they make an urgently compelling case for the Jewish community to address these issues.

So, this is an open invitation for rabbis to engage in a respectful debate on the above issues. We are not arguing that Jews must be vegetarians; there should be a choice, but we believe that choice should be based on the realities of the production and consumption of meat and other animal products and how they impinge on the Jewish values mentioned above. We believe that engaging in such debates would be a Kiddush Hashem (a sanctification of God’s Name) as it would lead to an improvement in the health of Jews and others, reduce the current massive mistreatment of animals on factory farms, help move our imperiled planet to a sustainable path and enhance the commitment of Jews to Judaism, by showing the relevance of our eternal teachings to current issues.

So rabbis, please contact me at president@JewishVeg.com to arrange a debate. Or, perhaps choose one rabbi to represent your views. The debate would be via email, so there would be ample time for the proper research, consulting and presenation. On the other hand, if you believe that my arguments above and our other arguments (JewishVeg.com/Schwartz) are basically correct, please let me know, as that can help get the issues onto the Jewish agenda, for the physical and spiritual benefit of Jews and the reduction of current serious environmental threats.

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2. My Interview Posted by EVANA (European Vegetarian and Animal NewsAlliance)

February 2008

http://www.evana.org/index.php?id=31442&lang=en

Some weeks ago barbaric practices at South American slaughterhouses were revealed, shocking the world community. Since South America is the largest source of kosher beef imports into Israel, the method of ‘shackling and hoisting,’ by which a fully conscious cow is chained and suspended by one leg in mid-air before being killed, has now led the Israeli rabbinate to announce plans of phasing out a slaughter method which was already outlawed in the USA years ago.

We wanted to find out more about the situation and asked Professor Richard H. Schwartz, the President of Jewish Vegetarians of North America (JVNA), about details of the present situation and his hopes for an increasingly vegetarian future.

QUESTION: Richard, we appreciate you telling our readers a bit more about the meat exports from South American to Israel. What percentage of kosher meat consumed in Israel is imported and from what countries? What changes exactly does the Israeli rabbinate envisage? Would more meat be imported from other countries with better standards in their abattoirs or will ways have be found for less cruel treatments of South America’s animals? Is there hope that improvements can be implemented rapidly?

ANSWER: Much of my response below is based on information from Nina Natelson, founder and director of “Concern for Helping Animals in Israel” (CHAI):

Around 30% of Israel's meat comes from South American countries, including Argentina, Uruguay and Brazil. Recently, the European Union and Israel stopped importing Brazilian beef because of safety issues. Israel will probably continue to import from other South American countries while waiting for shackling and hoisting to be phased out.

The spokesperson for the Israeli Rabbinate told a reporter for the Jerusalem Post that the Rabbis will soon be meeting with heads of slaughterhouses to discuss a timetable for converting to a pen. The pen costs about $50,000 and more trained workers are required to use it, so eliminating shackling and hoisting is not something that can be implemented overnight, but CHAI will keep encouraging them to do it as quickly as possible.

Although an official, written decision has not yet been issued by the Rabbinate, likely waiting for this meeting to take place, the Rabbinate's spokesperson told the Jerusalem Post reporter that he could write, "on behalf of the Rabbis" that they are "moving in this direction," meaning it will happen.

The Orthodox Union said they are avoiding the South American problem by not currently bringing meat into the U.S. from South American slaughterhouses, as there is enough meat available in the U.S. However, negative publicity from the situation falls on them, also, and they have been pressing the Israeli Rabbinate to allow them to take over the supervision of the kosher slaughterhouses in South America, as they are better able to supervise the conditions at these facilities.

The Veterinary Services in Israel has only one inspector to supervise all the slaughterhouses throughout South America.

Credit for getting the Israeli rabbinate to decide to phase out shackling and hoisting also should go to Israeli rabbi Adam Frank who, at the request of CHAI and its Israeli sister charity Hakol Chai, wrote a challenging article that was published in the Jerusalem Post and appealed to the Israeli chief rabbis to ban shackling and hoisting. CHAI and Hakol Chai also contacted the Israeli media on this issue.

JVNA has argued that the horrible treatment of animals revealed by PETA’s undercover video at the South American slaughterhouse and the resultant publicity surrounding the decision of the Israeli rabbinate to phase out shackling and hoisting should be a wake-up call to the need for Jews (and others) to reassess their diets.

QUESTION: Killing a terrified animal that feels pain just like we do and has the same strong will to live represents an act of extreme violence even under the best possible conditions. Isn't there much in the Torah re animal sacrifices and the eating of meat?

ANSWER: Yes, and this is why I stated in the preface of my book, “Judaism and Vegetarianism,” that the work was a “leap of faith, an intuition that a religion that has such powerful teachings about compassion for animals, preserving health, feeding the hungry, helping the poor and conserving resources must be consistent with Judaism.”

The great Jewish philosopher Maimonides believed that God permitted sacrifices as a concession to the common mode of worship in Biblical times. It was felt that had Moses not instituted the sacrifices, his mission would have failed and Judaism might have disappeared. The Jewish philosopher Abarbanel reinforced Maimonides' position by citing a midrash (Rabbinic teaching) that indicates God tolerated the sacrifices because the Israelites had become accustomed to sacrifices in Egypt, but that He commanded they be offered only in one central sanctuary in order to wean the Jews from idolatrous practices. Judaism eliminated child sacrifices and cruel practices, so it was a step forward in religious practice. The biblical prophets stated that God prefers mercy and justice to animal sacrifices and that sacrifices are an abomination to God if carried on alongside acts of immorality and injustice.

Re the eating of meat, God’s initial dietary regimen (in the Garden of Eden until after the flood in the time of Noah) was strictly vegan (Genesis 1:29), as will be the dietary practice in the Messianic period, according to rabbi Abraham Issac Hakohen Kook, first Chief Rabbi of pre-state Israel, based on the prophecy of Isaiah that the “wolf will dwell with the lamb … the lion will eat straw like the ox … and no one shall hurt nor destroy on all of God’s holy mountain (Isaiah 11:6-9). Hence the two ideal times in Judaism involved vegan diets. After the flood, permission to eat meat was given, but with many stipulations and restrictions, the kosher laws, designed to keep alive a sense of reverence for life and lead the Jewish people back to the original vegetarian diet.

QUESTION: In a press release, you portrayed the abuses in the South American slaughterhouses as a ‘wake up call.’ Is there really hope that such mind boggling brutality will stop people financing the profitable meat industry and go veg or at least consume less meat in the future?

ANSWER: One can only hope so and do everything possible to make this happen, and that is why I am devoting much time every day toward that goal. Vegetarianism is not only an important individual choice today – it is also a planetary imperative, necessary to help shift our imperiled planet to a sustainable world. In addition to considering the horrible treatment of billions of animals on modern intensive factory farms, we should consider how animal-based diets are causing heart disease, several forms of cancer and many other chronic degenerative diseases, and that animal-based agriculture is having devastating effects on the environment. A 2006 UN report indicated that “livestock' agriculture emits more greenhouse gases (18 percent in CO2 equivalents) than all the cars and other forms of transportation worldwide combined (13.5 percent), and that the number of farmed animals is projected to double in the next 50 years. If that happens, the increased greenhouse gas emissions from these animals will negate reductions in other areas, and make it extremely difficult to reach the greenhouse gas levels necessary to avoid global warming's severest effects.

QUESTION: All these cruelties in South American and other slaughter houses are not committed in your name because you are a vegetarian. What has been the reason for you to make this important change and when did it happen?

ANSWER: Until about 1977, I was a "meat and potatoes" person. My mother was sure to prepare my favorite dish, pot roast, whenever I came to visit with my wife and children. It was a family tradition that I would be served a turkey drumstick every thanksgiving. Yet, I have not only become a vegetarian, but I now devote a major part of my time to writing, speaking, and teaching about the benefits of vegetarianism. What caused this drastic change?

In 1975, I began teaching a course, "Mathematics and the Environment" at the College of Staten Island. The course uses basic mathematical concepts and problems to explore current critical issues, such as pollution, resource scarcities, hunger, energy, and the arms race. While reviewing material related to world hunger, I became aware of the tremendous waste of grain associated with the production of beef. (Over 70% of the grain produced in the United States is fed to animals destined for slaughter, while an estimated 20 million of the world's people die annually due to hunger and its effects.) In spite of my own eating habits, I often led class discussions on the possibility of reducing meat consumption as a way of helping hungry people. After several semesters of this, I took my own advice and gave up eating red meat, while continuing to eat chicken and fish.

I then began to read about the many health benefits of vegetarianism and about the horrible conditions for animals raised on factory farms. I was increasingly attracted to vegetarianism, and on January 1, 1978, I decided to join the International Jewish Vegetarian Society. I had two choices for membership: (1) practicing vegetarian (one who refrains from eating any flesh); (2) non-vegetarian (one who is in sympathy with the movement, while not yet a vegetarian). I decided to become a full practicing vegetarian, and since then have avoided eating any meat, fowl, or fish.

Since that decision, I have learned much about vegetarianism's connections to health, nutrition, ecology, resource usage, hunger, and the treatment of animals. I also started investigating connections between vegetarianism and Judaism. I learned that the first Biblical dietary law (Genesis 1:29) was strictly vegetarian, and I became convinced that important jewish mandates to preserve our health, be kind to animals, protect the environment, conserve resources, share with hungry people, and seek and pursue peace all pointed to vegetarianism as the best diet for Jews (and everyone else) today. To get this message to a wider audience I wrote a book, Judaism and Vegetarianism, which was published in 1982. (Revised, expanded editions were published in 1988 and 2001.)

QUESTION: It is obvious that you feel very passionately about the vegetarian lifestyle. Why do you think Jews should be vegetarians?

ANSWER: The mass production and widespread consumption of meat harms people, communities, and the planet and is in conflict with Judaism in at least six important areas:

1. While Judaism mandates that people should be very careful about preserving their health and their lives, numerous scientific studies have linked animal-based diets directly to heart disease, stroke, many forms of cancer, and other chronic degenerative diseases.

2. While Judaism forbids tsa'ar ba'alei chayim, inflicting unnecessary pain on animals, most farm animals -- including those raised for kosher consumers -- are raised on "factory farms" where they live in cramped, confined spaces, and are often drugged, mutilated, and denied fresh air, sunlight, exercise, and any enjoyment of life, before they are slaughtered and eaten.

3. While Judaism teaches that "the earth is the Lord’s" (Psalm 24:1) and that we are to be God's partners and co-workers in preserving the world, modern intensive livestock agriculture contributes substantially to soil erosion and depletion, air and water pollution, overuse of chemical fertilizers and pesticides, the destruction of tropical rain forests and other habitats, global warming, and other environmental damage.

4 While Judaism mandates bal tashchit, that we are not to waste or unnecessarily destroy anything of value, and that we are not to use more than is needed to accomplish a purpose, animal agriculture requires the wasteful use of grain, land, water, energy, and other resources.

5. While Judaism stresses that we are to assist the poor and share our bread with hungry people, over 70% of the grain grown in the United States is fed to animals destined for slaughter, while an estimated 20 million people worldwide die because of hunger and its effects each year.

6. While Judaism stresses that we must seek and pursue peace and that violence results from unjust conditions, animal-centered diets, by wasting valuable resources, help to perpetuate the widespread hunger and poverty that eventually lead to instability and war.

In view of these important Jewish mandates to preserve human health, attend to the welfare of animals, protect the environment, conserve resources, help feed hungry people, and pursue peace, and since animal-centered diets violate and contradict each of these responsibilities, committed Jews (and others) should sharply reduce or eliminate their consumption of animal products.

One could say "dayenu" (it would be enough) after any of the arguments above, because each one constitutes by itself a serious conflict between Jewish values and current practice that should impel Jews to seriously consider a plant-based diet. Combined, they make an urgently compelling case for the Jewish community to address these issues.

SNIP

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Resources:
*Why do the OU and Israel's rabbinate condone barbarity (article by Rabbi Adam Frank)
http://www.evana.org/index.php?id=30746&lang=en

*JEWISH VEGETARIAN GROUP SEES ABUSES AT SOUTH AMERICAN SLAUGHTERHOUSE AS A WAKE UP CALL
http://www.evana.org/index.php?id=30756&lang=en

*A Dialogue Between a Jewish Vegetarian Activist and a Rabbi
http://www.evana.org/index.php?id=14773&lang=en

* A SACRED DUTY: APPLYING JEWISH VALUES TO HELP HEAL THE WORLD
http://www.ASacredDuty.com and
http://www.evana.org/index.php?id=27826&lang=en

Herma Caelen spoke to Richard H. Schwartz on behalf of the European Vegetarian and Animal News Alliance (EVANA)

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3. My Interview by IVU (International Vegetarian Union)

Greetings!

I edit the IVU Online News, the IVU electronic newsletter that appears
monthly. You can read back issues at
http://www.ivu.org/news/online/index.html

IVU Online News is having a series of interviews with current leaders of IVUmember societies/associations. Would you or someone you know mind being interviewed?

If it's okay, I've listed some questions below. Feel free to modify them, delete some, or add some. Please keep your answers relatively brief, no more than 100 words per answer. If you have a lot to say on a particular question, one way to say more but with short answers is to insert an extra question. That way you can use more words in your answer.

Once you send your answers, I'll look through them and get back to you if anything is unclear or if I can think of any follow-up questions that might be of interest to readers.

Thanks for considering this. Here are the questions. -george jacobs, editor, IVU Online News, george@vegetarian-society.org
george@vegetarian-society.org

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1. What made you decide to become a vegetarian? When did that happen? How old were you at the time?

In 1975, I began teaching a course, "Mathematics and the Environment" at the College of Staten Island, which relates basic mathematical concepts to current environmental issues. While reviewing material related to world hunger, I became aware of the tremendous waste of grain associated with the production of beef. In spite of my own eating habits, I often led class discussions on the possibility of reducing meat consumption as a way of helping hungry people. After several semesters of this, I took my own advice and gave up eating red meat, while continuing to eat chicken and fish. I then began to read about the many health benefits of vegetarianism and about the horrible conditions for animals raised on factory farms. I was increasingly attracted to vegetarianism, and on January 1, 1978, at the age of 44, I decided to join the International Jewish Vegetarian Society as a vegetarian.

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2. You are a leader of a member society of IVU. How long have you been
a leader of this organisation?

I have been president of the Jewish Vegetarians of North America (JVNA) since 2003, but I edited the JVNA newsletter and played a leadership role for many years before that.

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3. What made you decide to become active in promoting vegetarianism?

I decided to become active in promoting vegetarianism after recognizing that:

* animal-based diets violate basic Jewish mandates to treat animals with compassion, preserve our health, protect the environment, conserve natural resources, help hungry people and pursue peace;

* that a shift toward vegetarianism is a societal imperative because of the many negative health and environmental effects of animal-centered diets and agriculture.

* that most people are oblivious of dietary-related realities and have many misconceptions.

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4. What is it that sustains your desire to be active?

All of the factors mentioned in my response #3 above. Also, the realization that the world is rapidly approaching an unprecedented catastrophe from global warming and other environmental threats, and that a major shift to vegetarianism, and preferably veganism, is essential in response.
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5. What obstacles do you face in remaining active in promoting vegetarianism? How do you overcome this obstacle?

The main obstacles are apathy, ignorance and denial. Unfortunately, it is very difficult to overcome them generally. Some approaches I use are talks, letters to editors, articles and personal conversations. I try to stress that vegetarianism is not just a personal decision, but also a societal imperative because the production of meat and other animal products has so many negative environmental effects.

Also, our highly acclaimed documentary “A SACRED DUTY” has the possibility of breaking through barriers.

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6. What is one of your organisation's accomplishments that makes you especially proud?

The production of “A SACRED DUTY.” I am very proud to be the associate producer and to have arranged all the interviews for the movie and to have been involved in important decisions re the final script. We were extremely fortunate to have Lionel Friedberg, a multi-award winning producer/director/writer/cinematographer, who produced the movie as a labor of love and dedication, while accepting no professional fee. Thankfully, the movie has been receiving a very favorable response from both Jews and non-Jews. There is more information about the movie and it can be seen in its entirety at ASacredDuty.com.

I am also proud that I have over 130 articles at JewishVeg.com/Schwartz and that I have written a book “Judaism and Vegetarianism’ (3rd edition, 2001).

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7. How do you try to maintain good relations and enthusiasm amongst
your organisation's members?

I have a JVNA advisory committee of over 50 people, with a wide variety of backgrounds, interests and experiences, and I seek suggestions from them before taking any actions. I also send out JVNA newsletters to members generally once a week to keep them up to date. I always seek suggestions from members and I try to respond quickly to all email messages that I receive.

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8. What is one way that your organisation cooperates with other veg organisations?

In addition to being president of JVNA, I am also president of the Society of Ethical and Religious Vegetarians (SERV) and a Councilor for the Vegetarian Union of North America (VUNA). I share articles, ideas and initiatives among these groups, so there is cross fertilization.

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9. What is one thing that other veg organisations might be able to
learn from your organisation?

a. to have an advisory committee to take advantage of the wisdom of some of its key members;
b. to send out press releases relating vegetarianism to current news articles on such issues as global warming, water shortages, etc,

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10. How does your organisation reach out to people who are trying to become veg or who are newly veg?

a. We have a web site (JewishVeg.com) which has much background material on connections between Judaism and vegetarianism and much more, including recipes.
b. We send out a generally weekly newsletters to keep people informed and interested.
c. We have leaflets, booklets and CDs, besides the DVD and book mentioned above, that we use to reach out to and inform people.

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11. Any final thoughts?

We feel that our efforts are most important for shifting our badly imperiled planet to a sustainable path. We feel that a major shift toward vegetarianism is essential if the world is to avoid disastrous results from global warming and other environmental problems. We are eager to engage in respectful dialogues/debates with rabbis and others on “Should Jews Be Vegetarians?” We are also most interested in cooperating with the IVU and other vegetarian and related groups to further our mutual objectives.

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4. Item re A SACRED DUTY at PETA Blog

New Film From Jewish Vegetarians of North America

http://blog.peta.org/archives/2008/03/new_film_from_j.php

Hey, everyone! I wanted to tell y'all about A Sacred Duty: Applying Jewish Values to Help Heal the World, a new documentary by the Jewish Vegetarians of North America (JVNA). The film has several scenes depicting very powerful footage of animal suffering. According to JVNA's Web site, A Sacred Duty reminds viewers that it is "our responsibility to apply Jewish teachings to how we obtain our food, use natural resources, and live among other creatures whom God created. It offers simple, practical measures for reducing our impact on the planet."

JVNA is offering free DVD copies of A Sacred Duty to religious groups, educational institutions, environmental organizations, cultural clubs, the media, Jewish film festivals, and others who will arrange showings. Click here to contact JVNA and request a copy.

You can view the film in its entirety online. Check it out here.

Thanks, JVNA, for showing everyone that the suffering of animals raised for food should be taken into account by those concerned about the environment and for reminding people about Jewish values of compassion for animals.

Love,

Christine

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5. Cute Cartoon re Downer Cows and Hamburgers

Thanks to JVNA advisor Rina Deych for sending us this item which provides some humor:

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?file=/gate/archive/2008/02/20/fioredowner.DTL

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6. Videos on the Internet on Jewish and Christian Teachings on Vegetarianism

a. A Sacred Duty can now be seen on the Internet at ASacredDuty.com (where much background information can be found) and on You Tube at:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y9RxmTGHZgE

b. Christian Concern For All God's Creatures. This 36-minute video explores Scripture concerning our treatment of animals based on God's Creatures Ministry's 2006 conference. The video explores our God-given responsibility towards God's animals, the reality of factory farming (the recent exposure of the treatment of sick cows at a California slaughterhouse is more common than the beef and dairy industry wants us to believe), animal research, our health, the environment and world hunger. Speakers include Stephen Kaufman, MD, chair of the Christian Vegetarian Association, Rev. Frank and Mary Hoffman, founders of www.all-creatures.org, Deborah Jones, General Secretary of Catholic Concern for Animals (CCA) and Editor of CCA's journal The Ark, Judy Carman, author of Peace to All Beings, Jan Fredericks, Founder of God's Creatures Ministry and Chair of CCA-USA, NJARA's Steve Ember, and a message from the late Rev. J. R. Hyland, Evangelical minister and author (please see her website: www.humanereligion.org). [I was invited to speak at this conference, but I could not because it was on Shabbat.]

Hard copies of the DVD are available with questions for discussion and resources.

All donations for this video will go into God's Creatures Ministry's Veterinary Charity Fund to help people with vet bills. Thank you!

We are a non-profit organization.

Here's the link to view the DVD:

http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-6617908616725944044

c. The Christian Vegetarian Association's 26-minute video Honoring God's Creation features pastors, theologians, and lay Christians describing how a plant-based diet reflects their faith. It has been well-received, and many churches have used the video, with the accompanying study guide, in Christian Education classes. In an effort to make it readily available, it can be purchased for its printing cost of $2 DVD ($10 VHS) from the CVA at www.christianveg.org/materials.htm or by sending a check to CVA, P.O. Box 201791, Cleveland OH 44120.

[After seeing this DVD, I got the idea of making a movie relating Judaism to vegetarianism, and that led to A SACRED DUTY.]

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7. Chabad (Lubavitch Chassidim) Web Site Features Vegan Recipes

Thanks to JVNA activist and author Jampa Williams for sending the following to us:

Hi! Look what popped up on Chabad.org today! It isn't "A Sacred Duty", but it is a hopeful presence. I was thrilled when I clicked on the site and saw these recipes.

http://www.chabad.org/theJewishWoman/article_cdo/aid/643927/jewish/Cooking-Vegan.htm

Be well!
-Jampa
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My posting in response:

As president of Jewish Vegetarians of North America, I am very happy to see these vegetarian recipes on this Chabad web site. For connections between Judaism and vegetarianism, please visit JewishVeg.com/schwartz, where I have over 130 articles. To see our new one-hour documentary A SACRED DUTY: Applying Jewish Values to Help Heal the World in its entirety, please
visit ASacrdDuty.com. For your health, for our imperiled world and for consistency with basic Jewish values, please shift toward a vegetarian diet. Thanks and kol tuv.

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8. Salem, Massachusetts Mayor Proclaims March as Great American Meatout Month

Subj: Official Proclamation from Mayor Kimberley Driscoll
Date: Monday, March 3, 2008

Issued by the City of Salem, Massachusetts

Kimberley Driscoll
Mayor

PROCLAMATION

WHEREAS: a wholesome diet of vegetables, fresh fruits, and whole grains promotes health and reduces the risk of heart disease, stroke, cancer, diabetes, and other chronic diseases that debilitate then kill 1.3 million Americans annually; and

WHEREAS: such a diet helps preserve topsoil, water, energy, and other essential food production resources; and

WHEREAS: such a diet helps preserve our forests, grasslands, and other wildlife habitats and reduces pollution of our waterways by crop debris, manure, and pesticides; and

WHEREAS: such a diet helps enormously in reducing emissions of greenhouse gases that produce global warming; and

WHEREAS: such a diet helps prevent the suffering and death of more than ten billion sentient animals each year in the US; and

WHEREAS: each year, dedicated Salem Meatout volunteers encourage their neighbors to explore such a diet

NOW, THEREFORE, I KIMBERLEY DRISCOLL, MAYOR OF THE CITY OF SALEM, MASSACHUSETTS, SO HEREBY PROCLAIM THE MONTH OF MARCH 2008 AS: GREAT AMERICAN MEATOUT MONTH

And encourage our citizens to explore a wholesome diet of vegetables, fresh fruits, and whole grains.

Signed, Kimberley Driscoll
Mayor

Date: February 29, 2008

Accompanying document: Official Seal of Salem; with motto: To the farthest port of the rich East.

Presented to: Salem Vegan Society

Signed: Kimberley Driscoll

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9. Update on Israeli Chief Rabbi’s Statement Re Shackling and Hoisting
[NOTE: See correction in the 3/24/2008 JVNA Online Newsletter, item #9]

Jerusalem Post article, March 4, 2008:

http://www.jpost.com/servlet/Satellite?cid=1204546399803&pagename=JPost%2FJPArticle%2FShowFull

Chief rabbi urges more humane slaughter methods
Matthew Wagner

Ashkenazi Chief Rabbi Yona Metzger met Monday evening with importers of South American kosher meat to encourage them to phase out the "shackle and hoist" slaughter method and adopt the more humane "rotating pen" method.

Although the Chief Rabbinate has condoned the shackle and hoist method for decades, a clandestine video shot in October 2007 and circulated on the Internet by People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) has sparked new scrutiny.

Metzger, who is in charge of kosher supervision for the Rabbinate, has been under pressure from animal rights groups to stop the slaughter method.

Two weeks ago The Jerusalem Post reported that Metzger intended to meet with importers to persuade them to stop the shackle and hoist method. Even the Orthodox Union, the largest kosher supervision organization in the world, has advised the Rabbinate to discontinue shackling and hoisting at slaughterhouses that provide Israel with kosher meat.

There was an "international attack initiated by organizations for the prevention of cruelty to animals against the kosher way of slaughtering," Metzger was quoted as saying during the meeting, in a press release from the Chief Rabbinate.

This quote reflected the feeling among many rabbis in the Rabbinate that PETA's criticism was designed to undermine kosher slaughtering altogether.

Sources within the Rabbinate have voiced concerns that Metzger's willingness to compromise on the shackle and hoist issue would shed a negative light on kosher slaughtering as a whole.

In the PETA video, filmed inside a slaughterhouse in Montevideo, Uruguay, a cow is shown hanging from a single leg, struggling and bellowing.

After the animal is put on the ground, it is shown writhing and being restrained by several workers who step on it and prod it before the cut. According to PETA the entire procedure takes more than three minutes.

During the meeting, Metzger told the importers that the shackle and hoist method was "primitive" and instructed the importers "to exert major pressure on the slaughterhouses they work with to make them adopt the rotating pen method."

According to this method, the cow is placed in a pen and flipped upside down. The cow is slaughtered in this inverted position.

Israel imports most of its meat, both kosher and non-kosher, from South America. Even the non-kosher meat is often derived from animals slaughtered in the shackle and hoist method. It becomes non-kosher after failing to meet various halachic requirements that have nothing to do with animal cruelty.

Most South American slaughterhouses, and several older Israeli ones, prepare cows for slaughter by tying the animal's hind leg to a shackle that is attached to a mechanical derrick and hoisting the cow off its feet.

The cow is then lowered to the ground on its side and held by three men - one at the head, one at the hindquarter and a third by one of the forelegs - while a fourth man, a shochet ritual slaughterer, cuts through the trachea and the esophagus.

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My letter to the Jerusalem Post

March 4, 2008

Editor, the Jerusalem Post
letters@JPOst.com

Dear Editor:

Kol hakavod to Chief Rabbi Yonah Metzger for urging that shackling and hoisting and other inhumane practices at kosher slaughterhouses be phased out (“Chief rabbi urges more humane slaughter methods,” March 4, 2008 article). However, I believe, respectfully, that Rabbi Metzger, like most people, is considering only the tip of the iceberg. Even if shechita is carried out perfectly, with a minimum of pain, can we ignore the widespread abuses of animals on factory farms? Also, isn’t it time that we consider the very negative effects that the production and consumption of animals have on human health and the planet’s environment and how they violate basic Jewish teachings on health, compassion and environmental sustainability.

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Nina Natelson’s letter to the Jerusalem Post:
Dear Editor,

The Chief Rabbis must act quickly to end the barbaric practice of shackling and hoisting, but cruelty to animals raised for food will only end when people become vegetarian. According to the U.N., animal agriculture is the number one cause of global warming and environmental degradation. Judaism mandates that we do everything we can to protect human health and numerous scientific studies have proved beyond a doubt that vegetarians live longer and have less cancer, heart attacks, diabetes and other degenerative diseases. Publicizing the cruelty that is slaughtering will, hopefully, be a wake up call that will result in people becoming more aware of the issues and choosing a diet that is healthier for themselves and for the planet.

Nina Natelson

Director, CHAI
www.chai-online.org

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10. Areyvut’s “Make a Difference Day” Approaching

Bringing Kindness to Communities One Kid at a Time March 2008

Areyvut's "A Kindness a Day"

March 5, 2008

Don't lose your patience. Resolve that today you will not allow yourself to become angry.

"The Holy One, blessed be He, loves one who does not get angry." (Talmud Pesachim 113b)

Go Neutral Shabbat Areyvut is Going MADD!

Areyvut's Fourth Annual Make a Difference Day is quickly approaching! Areyvut has partnered with the Jewish National Fund (JNF) to spread the word about preserving the environment and going green! This year's Make a Difference Day and GoNeutral Shabbat will take place April 4th-6th. Join the over 2,500 people that have already committed to making a difference!

You can register your school, synagogue, community agency, family or yourself by visiting www.JNF.org/makeadifferenceday.

For more information about Make a Difference Day and to find out how to get involved with pre-existing projects in your area, please contact Daniel Rothner (201) 244-6702 or daniel@areyvut.org.

PEJE ConferenceAreyvut on the Go

Areyvut will be on the road April 6th-8th while we attend the Partnership for Excellence in Jewish Education (PEJE) Conference in Boston, MA. Areyvut representatives will be able to answer your questions at the Learning, Interacting, Networking, and Collaborating (LINC) Exhibition where we will have a booth. We look forward to this opportunity to meet with community leaders about bringing Areyvut programming to their schools.

To schedule a meeting to learn more about our programs, please contact Daniel Rothner at (201) 244-6702 or daniel@areyvut.org.
Areyvut in the Community

Daniel Rothner, Founder & Director, and Michal Greenbaum, Programming Coordinator, met with Yeshivat Noam 5th grade girls and 6th grade boys and their parents on February 25th in Bergen County, NJ. This introductory session was the first of three sessions Areyvut will be leading. This workshop provided background to parents and students about Mitzvah Projects and discussed the remaining two programs, which include a Bnai Mitzvah fair as well as Individual Bnai Mitzvah Consultations. Cheli Arussy, a 16 year old student and second place winner in the 2006 Areyvut Bnai Mitzvah Essay Contest shared the impact her Mitzvah Project had on her. The students are eager to begin planning their Mitzvah Projects.

Michal @ Yeshivat Noam

For more information on the Areyvut Bnai Mitzvah Fair 3 Part Series or to find out how to bring one to your community, please contact Michal Greenbaum at (201) 244-6702 or michal@areyvut.org.

Areyvut
147 South Washington Avenue
Bergenfield, NJ07621
Phone: (201) 244-6702 Fax: (201) 338-2427
www.areyvut.org

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11. Interreligious Proclamation Against Foie Gras Production

As people from diverse religious traditions, we are united in our belief that animals have intrinsic value as part of God’s creation and are entitled to live lives free of cruelty and exploitation. We therefore invite and encourage people of all faiths to speak with one voice on behalf of those who cannot speak in an effort that will define our legacy as stewards of God’s creation. We also invite those people of good will who may not have a faith tradition to join with us in this work. In a world of increasing violence towards others, ourselves, and our environment, we believe it is essential to reclaim and recover a commitment of compassion for all of life. We believe that a commitment to compassion begins with the most vulnerable among us, which includes animals. Therefore, we believe and assert that the making and production of foie gras entails abuse and unconscionable cruelty to animals, and is totally unacceptable from the standpoint of ethics. Anything that makes animals suffer is ethically unacceptable, the fact that Moslems, Jews, Christians and Buddhist, as well as many other faith traditions agree on this point makes a very strong statement. We hear this from our respective traditions in many forms. “ We must fight against the spirit of unconscious cruelty with which we treat the animals. Animals suffer as much as we do. True humanity does not allow us to impose such sufferings on them. It is our duty to make the whole world recognize it. Until we extend our circle of compassion to all living things, humanity will not find peace.” (Albert Schweitzer, The Philosophy of Civilization) “If you have men who will exclude any of God's creatures from the shelter of compassion and pity, you will have men who will deal likewise with their fellow men.” (St. Francis of Assisi)"The Torah prohibits the torture or causing of pain to any living creature. One is duty bound to save every living creature from pain or distress, evenif it has no owner." (Hayim Halevy Donin, To Be a Jew).Also, the Talmud demands that animals be spared pain at all costs (Bava Metsia 31a-32b).A basic teaching in Judaism is tsa’ar ba’alei chayim – avoiding causing pain to animals.

We, the undersigned members of many different and diverse faith traditions, call upon the leaders of the Philadelphia City Council to use their good office and the trust placed in them by those who elect them, to stop this deliberate, systematic, and brutal form of animal cruelty that geese who are used in the making of foie gras are forced to endure. It is within your good office to stop this form of abuse against sentient beings. Any step taking to rid the world of violence and cruelty is a step in the right direction, a step towards peace and non-violence. We are speaking on behalf of these living, feeling beings who cannot speak for themselves, not on behalf of any special interest or for profit concern. Please use your good office to stop brutality to the least among us, who cannot defend themselves.

Thank you for your kind attention and your wiliness to consider stopping animal abuse.

Respectfully submitted to City Council,
pastor.dougherty@minister.com

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12. Recent Significant news Articles Re Global Warming, Vanishing Fish stocks, Papal Pronouncements . . .

a. UN Says Warming Threatens Fish Stocks

By ANGELA CHARLTON – 3 days ago

http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5hxVMzaBlanLXbdRFN_w6p_7uMW7gD8UVK1680

PARIS (AP) — Major world commercial fish stocks could collapse within decades as global warming compounds damage from pollution and overfishing, U.N. officials said Friday.

A U.N. Environment Program report details new research on how rising ocean surface temperature and other climate changes are affecting the fishing industry. It says that more than 2.6 billion people get most of their protein from fish.

"You overlay all of this and you are potentially putting a death nail in the coffin of the world fisheries," Achim Steiner, head of the program, said in a telephone news conference from Monaco.
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b. Carbon Output Must Near Zero to Avert Danger

http://www.truthout.org/issues_06/031008EA.shtml

The Washington Post's Juliet Eilperin reports: "The task of cutting greenhouse gas emissions enough to avert a dangerous rise in global temperatures may be far more difficult than previous research suggested, say scientists who have just published studies indicating that it would require the world to cease carbon emissions altogether within a matter of decades."

c. Vatican Calls Pollution a "New Sin"

http://www.truthout.org/issues_06/031008EB.shtml

From Philip Pullella, Reuters: "Thou shall not pollute the Earth. Thou shall beware genetic manipulation. Modern times bring with them modern sins. So the Vatican has told the faithful that they should be aware of 'new' sins such as causing environmental blight."

d. Go Green, Save the Indigenous

http://www.truthout.org/issues_06/031008EC.shtml

Tarjei Kidd Olsen of Inter Press Service writes: "African indigenous peoples are important custodians of their natural environments with valuable local knowledge and skills, but are struggling to survive, according to a report."

e. Pharmaceuticals Found in US Drinking Water

http://www.truthout.org/issues_06/031008HA.shtml

According to Jeff Donn of The Associated Press, "An array of pharmaceuticals - including antibiotics, anticonvulsants, mood stabilizers and sex hormones - have been found in the drinking water supplies of at least 41 million Americans."

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13. Green Zionist Workshop on Israel Scheduled

Hi Green Friends,

Please help spread the word in Southern California:

Below, please find information on an upcoming GZA workshop on Israel and the Environment to be hosted at the Shalom Center in Malibu. We still have a few places left, so please spread the good word to folks in the 20-36 range in California! The past two have been fantastic and this one will be as well!

Best,

Daniel.

Blue, White, and Green , Goes to California!

A Political and Spiritual Exploration of the Land of Israel and its Environmental Situation

Come Celebrate Shabbat, Israel and the Natural World

March 14 - 16 in Malibu, CA

• Learn what is happening to Israel's environment

• Explore your personal connection to the land

• Discuss strategies to help affect positive change

• Connect with other inspiring young adults

When: March 14 – 16, 2008

Where: Shalom Institute Camp and Conference Center in Malibu CA

Costs: $150 all inclusive camp-style accommodations, scholarships available to those who need!!

Ages: 20-36

Contact: Becca Weaver at education@greenzionism.org to sign up or if you have questions

This Event will be Carbon Neutral!

Sponsored by the Green Zionist Alliance, Marom Olami and Hagshama.

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14. Response by JVNA Activist Catherine Manna to Statement at Failed Messiah Blog

I think factory farming is deeply problematic but I would hardly classify any meat consumption as “inhumane”. I try not to second guess the Torah, which does accommodate (limited) meat consumption

Response by Catherine:

So you try not to second guess the Torah? Is that correct? Which accommodates limited meat consumption?

Well let’s see...

Did they have this problem 3,000 years ago?
Or is this a recent problem? {They didn’t have Agriprocessors back then}

And ....When the Torah says we can eat meat, doesn’t it say it has to be done properly and even states how it is to be done?

So, if this is not done the way it was instructed by Hashem, {Which it clearly is not done the way it was instructed by Hashem}

Then, don’t you think that speaks for itself?
IF it’s not kosher, then you can’t eat it.

What we have today is not kosher slaughter practices; so what are we fighting about?

You think that’s the answer, to insist the OU rabbinical authorities enforce more strict guidelines and assure us, guarantee us, this will never happen again? With constant supervision and 24 hour video surveillance, security, whatever it takes?

Or can you think, perhaps, that this is a message from Hashem, and he is speaking to us today in this way? Let’s be reasonable here. Have you seen “A Sacred Duty”?

Have you considered all the negative damage to our environment, to our health; do you know even what is in the feed of these animals? Do you think it is a coincidence that more and more people are getting diseases and sickness from meat consumption?

Recently, in our news here, it was discovered that the animal feed bag that was labeled Vegetable feed was investigated to having being found in it ground animal parts, and chicken feces. So now it’s not just an issue of humane slaughter, it’s a whole array of issues here, health wise! How do you know what the cattle are being fed before you actually sit down at a nice family dinner table to eat? You don’t!

Plus moral issues.

How can we continue to eat meat, knowing that it is causing so much problems in our world; more people are starving because there is a shortage of grain, because it’s fed to all the animals so that we can have meat on our tables...that’s why I said me me me me first generation. I should have explained myself I guess.

How can we be gluttons, against the Torah, also, knowing all these things?

Anyways, you seem to be out to get your fellow Jew, no matter how sincere the effort is when we all may be trying to reach out to you, but somehow you like to twist things around because you just are not ready for the change. And no one can help you but you.

You sure don’t display the G_dly qualities of a Torah Keeping Jew, or you wouldn’t try to be-little me or anyone’s sincere efforts to try to help our fellow Jew. You wouldn’t mock and make fun. Really, not G_dly of you at all.

So, I believe this is my last post.

I wish you well Michael ben, I’m not mad at you, I feel sorry that you feel the way you do, and I hope for you much peace and happiness in your life ... Shalom

Posted by: Catherine | March 07, 2008 at 12:41 AM

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15. Update on ShalomVeg Web Site


Member Newsletter
March 9th, 2008 - 2 Adar II, 5768

Happy Adar II! As the weather warms and we get ready for Purim, we have a few changes to share here at ShalomVeg.

Site News

The First "Question for the Kehilla"-This week we are beginning the first "Question for the Kehilla (community). A question will be posted on a regular basis in the forums section of ShalomVeg for the community to discuss. The questions will hopefully provide a way to get to know each other and learn about the issues from multiple viewpoints. (No need to write an essay--even a few words are great.) Go to the forums section to read the first question--it's an interesting one. Please login before posting your comments, and remember, only your login name will be shown.

ShalomVeg Store -The ShalomVeg store is now up and running! We have a selection of shirts and other items with Jewish vegan and vegetarian themes available for purchase from CafePress, along with animal rights and veg books and vegan treats from Amazon.com. All profits go to support the running of the site (web-hosting, program licenses etc.). Just click on the ad on the right side of the front page, or the button on the main menu.

Chat -Chat has been added to the features section of the site. While our community may still be a bit small to fill the chatrooms, stop on by and see who's there! In the future if there is interest, we can organize a time or theme for a community chat.

Activism Section Added -An "Activism" section has been added to the learning section of the site. Here you can find activist ideas, ways to avoid "burnout" and thoughts about how to speak to others about the issues.

Take The Survey -Only a few of you have filled out the survey about what you would like to see at ShalomVeg. The survey is important so that we can make the site as useful and enjoyable for you as possible. Click here to take the survey, or go to-
http://www.surveymonkey.com/s.aspx?sm=Whclcf2i44H6CdVzhCNnxA_3d_3d



See below for samples of recent articles from the site. Remember, you can comment on anything you read. Just click the comment button below the article. As usual, submissions are always welcome and questions and comments are always appreciated.

I hope everyone has a fun and meaningful Purim!

Boris Dolin,
Director, ShalomVeg.com
boris@shalomveg.com

SNIP

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