We wanted to share this very poignant post from our friends at Jewish Veg (formerly The Jewish Vegetarians of North America).
‘At Jewish Veg, we value our partnership with Hazon, which has graciously invited us to provide a #vegan voice at their events.That said, we agree with Sapphire Fein that killing animals is wrong, is callous, and is unjustifiable’:
Sapphire’s words are below:
‘KILLING IS NOT KOSHER.
I have been deeply disturbed to find out that Hazon, a progressive group dedicated to promoting health and sustainability in the Jewish community, includes a ritual slaughter at their upcoming conference. Moreover, they are doing so in partnership with an organization that dares to call itself the Jewish Initiative for Animals As a Jew, these are not my values. Hazon IS part of an important movement, bringing together farmers, rabbis, activists, and more. Food justice for all IS part of our value system. But there is no need to kill. Please, Hazon, set an example of what a “Jewish initiative for animals” really should look like–a conference where animals, like Sarah pictured below, are free from harm!
Hazon asked, perhaps rhetorically, in their program last year, “With the vast majority of kosher meat being raised and killed in factory farm conditions, can ritually slaughtered meat still be sacred?” If you, like me, don’t think the taking of a life can be sacred, here are a few things you can do—and please participate regardless of your ethnic/religious identity:
1) Share your thoughts in a post like this one and tag @Hazon to let them know that #TraditionIsNoExcuse and #KillingIsntKosher
2) Leave a review on Hazon’s page asking them to take animals into account and promote Jewish values for them too.
3) Ask others in your community to do the same!
4) Support amazing organizations like Jewish Veg, the only Jewish organization out there that is firmly pro-vegan!’
