| Media PRESS
RELEASE
December 10, 2004
For Immediate Release
Contact person: Richard H. Schwartz, President of the
Jewish Vegetarians of North America (JVNA) (rschw12345 aol.com;
Phone (718) 761-5876; Fax: (718) 982-3631; web site:
JewishVeg.com).
JEWISH
VEGETARIAN GROUP SEES ABUSES AT IOWA SLAUGHTERHOUSE AS A WAKE UP CALL The
Jewish Vegetarians of North America (JVNA) stated today that it is essential that
the widespread publicity over the cruel abuse of animals at the kosher slaughterhouse
in Postville, Iowa lead to much needed changes throughout the entire industry
and a reevaluation by Jews of their dietary habits. JVNA commends the Orthodox
Union (OU) for its initial steps toward ending the abuses of animals revealed
by videos at the Postville slaughterhouse, but it is urging the Jewish community
to recognize that the horrors at the facility are part of a much wider pattern
of animal abuse in today's meat industry "We should consider the current
controversy as a wake up call to end the many violations of Jewish teachings associated
with the production and consumption of animal products," asserted Richard
Schwartz, President of the JVNA. "We can no longer ignore the suffering and
abuse that many farmed animals experience for their entire lives on factory farms,
It was the Jews who invented the concept of kindness to animals and formulated
an entire code of laws forbidding cruelty to other living creatures. Many Torah
verses stress compassion to animals. JVNA is beginning a campaign to respectfully
urge Jews to apply Jewish values to the foods that we eat. The group argues that
the harsh realities of animal-based diets and agriculture contradict fundamental
Jewish teachings and laws. These include mandates to take care of our health,
treat animals compassionately, protect the environment, conserve natural resources,
and help hungry people. Also, the group asserts, rabbis (and other religious leaders)
should make their congregations and students aware of the many benefits of a shift
toward plant-based diets. These include: - Reducing the epidemic of heart
disease, cancer, and other chronic degenerative diseases currently afflicting
the Jewish community and other communities;
- Reducing current environmental
threats, including global climate change; species extinction; pollution of land,
air, and water; destruction of tropical rain forests, coral reefs, and other valuable
habitats; and shortages of water and other resources;
- Demonstrating the
relevance of Judaism to some of the most critical issues of our time, helping
to revitalize our ancient faith;
"There is an epidemic of diseases
and ailments in the Jewish community and other communities and the natural world
is imperiled as perhaps never before by many environmental threats," asserted
Schwartz, "and our rabbis would do a tremendous kiddush Hashem (sanctification
of God's name) by helping to put the many benefits of plant-based diets on the
Jewish agenda."
JVNA is offering rabbis and other congregational and
educational leaders extensive background information
on the many connections between Judaism and vegetarianism.
The nonprofit organization will send a complimentary
copy of "Judaism and Vegetarianism" by Richard
Schwartz and an associated CD to any Jewish leader who
wishes to use them as background educational material
for possible vegetarian activities. Much additional
information can be found at the group's web site (JewishVeg.com;
mailJewishVeg.com).
The group is eager to engage with rabbis and other
Jewish leaders in a respectful public or private discussion
of the issue, "Should Jews Be Vegetarians Today?"
Noam Mohr, a JVNA Coordinator, stated, "Many Jews
are surprised to learn how strongly vegetarianism is
in the spirit of Judaism."
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