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What
People Are Saying about A Sacred Duty
"We at CLAL believe that if Judaism
is going to be taken seriously by American Jews and
for that matter by all Americans, Jewish wisdom needs
to contribute to and to add value to the debates at
the center of our culture and politics. This documentary
- whether or not one agrees with every detail - is an
important contribution to one of the critical public
policy conversations facing this country and a serious
example of taking Jewish wisdom public. Produced at
a high quality, this documentary reminds us that it
is our sacred duty to become aware of current threats
and our responsibility to apply Jewish teachings to
how we obtain our food, use natural resources, and live
among other creatures whom God created. Not only does
it offer simple, practical measures for reducing our
impact on the planet, it shows how authentic religious
responses melded with science can make a major difference
in our efforts to reduce global climate change and other
environmental threats. It also challenges people to
consider the many moral issues related to our diets,
including Torah teachings on how animals are treated
on factory farms and the effects on human health and
the environment.
"Although it is primarily intended
for a Jewish audience, A Sacred Duty speaks
to people everywhere about the ethics of our relationship
to the natural world in which we live. We are honored
that JVNA has made this gift possible."
Rabbi Irwin Kula, President
CLAL (Jewish think tank)
CLAL sent DVDs to 2,000 rabbis and other Jewish leaders
who have connections to the group
"A Sacred Duty should be mandated viewing for all
people on planet Earth. Great job!"
Howard F. Lyman, the Mad
Cowboy
Former fourth generation cattle rancher who is now
a leading vegetarian activist
"A Sacred Duty is a tour de force.
Anyone who watches with an open heart and an open mind
will leave the theater deeply moved and called to action."
Bruce Friedrich, Vice-President,
PETA.
"A Sacred Duty melds modern science with
Jewish religious teachings to make a compelling case
for vegetarianism that conscientious viewers will find
hard to resist. A cheekier title might have been “What
Would Moses Eat Today?” in the face of catastrophic
global warming and environmental degradation, world
hunger and needless violence to billions of helpless
animals every year. I hope A Sacred Duty will help redefine
kosher for the 21st century Jew, for vegetarianism -
a diet infused with kindness and blessedly free of bloodshed
- is our Biblical root (“behold, I have given
you every herb bearing seed”) and our moral destiny
(“and the wolf shall dwell with the lamb”)."
Syd Baumel, writer and animal
activist, publisher of eatkind.net
"I can't find the words to tell
you how deeply I was moved by A Sacred Duty.
I've seen similar factory farming footage for decades,
but in the context of this extraordinary film, it was
particularly compelling….very moving. Poignantly
written, beautifully filmed and perfectly executed,
it was enlightening without being admonishing. A truly
monumental film not only for those of the Jewish faith,
but for the animals. Another, very subtle impression
was the fact that you were able to bring together representatives
from all corners of the Jewish faith. While just by
nature of their categories, there are things that separate
them, their words around this topic had great unison,
sounding as though they came from one voice. From the
first scene to the final word, this film is absolutely
brilliant! Thank you, Lionel, Richard, and all who were
involved, for the legacy of this contribution to our
planet, its people and its animals."
Kris Haley, Manager of Multifaith
Outreach/Animals & Religion
Best Friends Animal Society
"A Sacred Duty makes
a crystal clear argument for taking action to end factory
farming. How could any person of faith and conviction
remain indifferent after seeing this film? Humane Society
Animals & Religion was created out of the belief
that religious people can do much to end the current
state of industrial animal agriculture in this country.
At a time when people are searching for ways to apply
their spirituality to their daily lives, what better
cause than ethical, mindful, compassionate food choices?"
Christine Gutleben, Director,
Animals & Religion
The Humane Society of the United States
"A SACRED DUTY is a wake-up call for Jews
and all others who care about the fate of our planet.
A deep love for Earth, for humanity, and for our animal
cousins shines through it. This documentary shows how
compassionate dietary choices can unite Jews and other
people of faith in taking action to rescue and heal
our precious, imperiled earth."
Gracia Fay Ellwood, Editor
THE PEACEABLE TABLE, A Quaker Online Journal
"I would love to see a film like
this viewed by every religious/spiritual group in the
world. Through this film, the golden rule takes on new
meaning as we extend our definition of "Others"
to include all life. What a powerful invitation to actually
bring our lives into alignment with our values."
Rae Sikora, Anthropologist
Co-founder
of the Center for Compassionate Living and the International
Institute for Humane Education, and Founder/Director
of Simply Enough
"A SACRED DUTY is beautiful
and poetic, inspiring and optimistic, good in all possible
senses. The image of the tear shedding cow was so moving,
that I couldn't restrain myself and burst out crying!
The quotations from Tanach [the Jewish scriptures] were
very wisely selected and inserted in well-suited places.
Congratulations for all the team who prepared the movie.
Keep on assuring a good distribution of it!"
Luiza CAROL, Writer
Israeli delegate
of TEVA (World Association of Esperantist Vegetarians)
"Even knowing the issues and arguments,
being a long-term environmentalist and vegetarian, I
was taken in by the beauty and power of this remarkable
film. A Sacred Duty is a must see and a must do, so
that we and our children may live. I have already shared
the film with rabbis and others and am in the process
of scheduling screenings at my synagogue, other synagogues,
the Jewish Community Center, and my local vegetarian
society."
--Dan Brook, Ph.D.
The Vegetarian Mitzvah0
"I enjoyed the video so much that I am planning
to teach two courses on Tikun Olam next semester: one
for a 4 part adult ed series and another for a 12 part
high school program. Keep up the great work."
Rabbi Aaron Rosenberg
Temple Emanu-El
Waterford, CT
"My gut feeling is that because of the
major impression this video will make on the world the
battle to have the lives of billions of animals has
just turned in favor of the animals.
"In my opinion this is a "A
MAJOR MASTERPIECE" and officially marks the real
beginning of the end of animal factory farms and slaughterhouses
throughout the world.
"I cannot imagine any rational
person in the world, no matter what his or her religious
or spiritual beliefs may be, who will watch this video
and not be extremely moved and strongly persuaded to
stop eating animal flesh.
"Now that I have watched the
film "A Sacred Duty" for the second
time my gut instincts tell me the battle to reach the
goal of shutting down animal factory farms and slaughterhouses
is now clearly and really within reach, within a much
shorter period of time then anyone thought possible.
"You only have to watch the film
to understand and agree with my conclusion.
"In my opinion, soon to be shared
by millions of people, the film A Sacred Duty is the
most brilliant, intelligent, thought provoking, and
heart wrenching film ever produced for the benefit of
humans, farm animals, the earth, and the earth's atmosphere.
"In only "one hour"
because of the quality, the content, and the magnificent
presentation, the film "A Sacred Duty" will
reach out and grasp you in your heart and soul.
"The quality of the content and
the presentation is off the charts. You will be left
with a feeling of exhilaration because you will realize
the solutions to solving many of the worlds most serious
problems is now clearly within reach.
"The one hour long documentary
film -- A Sacred Duty -- (Applying Jewish Values
To Help Heal The World) must be viewed by a large
number of people as soon as possible.
"This MAJOR MASTERPIECE will go
a long way in reaching the goal of emancipating all
farm animals from the jaws of animal factory farms and
slaughterhouses. (FOR REAL)
"Freeing billions of Gods precious
creatures from completely unnecessary torture and murder
is "no longer a pipe dream."
"Because A Sacred Duty
is such a powerful and convincing presentation it has
the potential of persuading a large number of people
throughout the world to become vegetarians or vegans
soon. At least 90% of the people that initially watch
the DVD will probably be extremely happy to promote
it any way they can. For this important reason the DVD
needs to be provided to many government leaders in every
country. Several copies of A Sacred Duty should be provided
to every high school, college, and church in the world,
as well as a large number of newspapers. The video should
be viewed by every man, woman, and mature child in the
world."
Arthur Poletti, Author
"A Sacred Duty is exquisitely beautiful
& heartbreakingly horrific, edifying from its perspective
of assuming responsibility & certainly inspires
commitment to tikkun olam - I congradulate you on a
profoundly holy work, Lionel. Have heard lots about
your splendid talent so was expecting the film to be
quite incredible but - wow!"
Maryellen Kelley
Director/OMEGA Program
Santa Barbara Community College
"I received my copy of the
“Sacred Duty” DVD yesterday. My
wife and I, along with my two youngest children (Sam
and Jacob, 15 and 12) screened the movie last night.
My wife has been a vegetarian since the age of 8, and
the boys have never knowingly eaten meat of any kind
(I gave up red meat in 1992, fowl in 2001, and seafood
in 2004). My 18 year old son is a lifelong vegetarian,
and my 20 year old daughter vacillates (depending on
the eating habits of her boyfriend of the moment…).
"All four of us were deeply moved
by the film. The impact of the material is unquestionably
powerful from any perspective. We agreed in our discussion
afterwards that we did not want anything to do with
food whose source we could not verify as cruelty free.
This morning, we discarded all the eggs and cheese in
our refrigerator and replaced everything with locally
farmed products whose sources we could actually visit
and see with our own eyes.
"I surely hope the publicity efforts
will result in a large viewing audience. My entire family
thanks you for your personal efforts to shift the world
away from meat-based diets."
Steve Schuster, CEO
Rainier Communications - "Technology's Most Credible
Voice"
"My review: The film gives
a great Torah-spiritual rational for going vegetarian.
A human and humane, Divine and appetizing vegetarian
smorgasbord. For people of all spiritual and not so
spiritual persuasions. A kiddush Hashem [sanctification
of G-d's Name.]."
Mark Feffer, Israeli vegetarian
activist
"Greetings from Bombay.
"I immediately saw it and am deciding
to show it to an appropriate audience during my talks
on vegetarianism. Off and on I am invited to give talks
and will surely promote it.
"Two days ago I have mailed a
letter to your USA address expressing my sincere thanks.
"I must congratulate the entire
team for all their efforts in producing this DVD. On
our side we will do our best to promote it."
Hiren N. Kara
"I just received my copy of Sacred
Duty. This movie is an outstanding achievement
and is an historic achievement for the Jewish community.
I will share my review of the particulars. I believe
one of the strengths of the movie are the variety of
the interviews. Another is the Torah readings in both
English and Hebrew. What I really like is the case we
make that Kosher is a necessary but not sufficient requirement
for food production and consumption because there are
also mandates to be kind to animals, to care for our
health, and not to waste environmental resources."
Stewart Rose
"Last night it was quiet enough
for a group of us to sit and watch the video. We thought
it was worth watching twice through! I am quite impressed
by the beauty of the images and the breadth of representation
from a range of Jewish perspectives."
Susan Beckerman, active in
the Reconstructionist movement and in West End Synagogue
"I watched "A Sacred Duty"
yesterday. "Watched" is too passive a word
to describe the experience I had engaging with this
documentary, which galvanized me to become a more outspoken
and more effective environmental and animal rights activist
- and, of equal importance, brought me closer to Judaism.
The interviews in the film with Jewish leaders were
a balm to my soul and gave me greater hope than I have
felt in a very long time not only about the future of
creation, but about the future of Judaism. I shall share
the copies I received of the DVD as widely as I possibly
can, and with the greatest of passion.
"Thank you so much for producing
this film. G-d bless you."
Jampa Napthali Williams,
Author
"A Sacred Duty is very moving, intelligent
and inspiring.
"I wish every cultural group,
religious and secular, could persuade its community
to live consciously and responsibly on this planet.
A Sacred Duty attempts to do just that for
the Jewish community - and the result is a deeply inspiring
film with universal appeal.
"If ever we humans needed compassion
and justice as our guides, this is the time. 'Business
as usual' is unsustainable. Denial makes us participants
in horrific suffering and death. In an elegantly reasoned
way, A Sacred Duty shows how it is within our
power as individuals to turn things around and thereby
save ourselves, our fellow animals, and our beautiful
planet.
"I wish the film great success!"
Myriam Alaux, Producer/Director
(The Animals Film)
Watch
A Sacred Duty
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