A Vegan US rabbi has announced £7,000 grant for UK shuls who explore a plant-based lifestyle.
The Synagogue Vegan Challenge has been introduced this year to the UK after 10 years in the United States across more than 75 communities. Launched by Shamayim, an advocacy group for animal rights, the initiative will grant £7,000 split between 5 UK communities who “pledge a year of plant-based transformation”.
The Synagogues which participate in the program will receive training and funds to organise plant-based events within their kehillahs. These can include vegan Friday Night Dinners, educational events, compassionate celebrations and screens of films which promote animal welfare.
Rabbi Dr Shmuly Yanklowitz told the Jewish Chronicle “We're confident that UK communities will take their own unique programmatic approaches to inspire their communities as well.” Shamayim has already supported “thousands of Jews regularly in celebrating delicious, nutritious food while also learning about food justice issues”
“Veganism is an authentic expression of the vision for progress built into the Torah's ideal manifestation of kashrut as a moral and spiritual vehicle to account for shemirat ha'guf (human health), shemirat ha'aretz (protecting the earth), and tz'ar baalei chaim (the Torah's mandate to reduce suffering for all sentient life).”
Rabbi Dr Shmuly Yanklowitz
Complete the application form for your shul here
Read the letter signed by over 140 rabbis supporting Shamayim’s global campaign for Jews against factory farming here