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 Lords" (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
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 food, 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 (it takes about 9 pounds
of grain to produce one pound of edible beef), while an estimated
20 million people worldwide die because of hunger and its effects
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, contrasted with the harm that animal-centered
diets do in each of these areas, 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
(much background material about Judaism and vegetarianism)
(has over 100 articles and book reviews by the author)
(web site of Micah publications, publisher of many books about judaism
and vegetarianism and animal rights).
(web site of the International Jewish Vegetarian Society)
5. Richard H.
Schwartz, Judaism and Vegetarianism, New York: Lantern Books, 2001.