Rabbis Urge Jews to Go Vegan in Global Campaign
Dear friends around the world,
I recently came across this wonderful news which I want to share with everyone. I absolutely support this vegan movement started by the Rabbis. Our religions may be different but we share common beliefs such as the wish to not cause another living creature to suffer pain.
I sincerely hope that this common goal of ours continues to inspire more people into veganism. After all, religion should give us spiritual support and inspire us to become better human beings. Animals are sentient beings too who feel pain and love, so we should not see them as being inferior to ourselves. In fact, they were inhabiting this planet prior to humans so, by right, they should be treated with equality.
Do enjoy the article and please help to make a difference by sharing this with others.
Tsem Rinpoche
More than 70 Rabbis Sign Vegan Declaration Urging Jews to Go Veg
by Rachel Krantz – September 28, 2017
In a truly menschy move, more than 70 rabbis from around the world and from across the spectrum of denominations have signed a declaration urging Jews to switch to a vegan diet. The new statement comes at a great time; Jewish people are observing the High Holy Days right now and are getting ready to fast on the Day of Atonement, Yom Kippur, this Saturday. They will break their fast with a huge meal on Saturday night—and there is no better way to ring in a new, more ethical year than with a feast that excludes all animal suffering.
Issued by the Jewish Vegetarian Society in Britain and the American group Jewish Veg, the declaration states:
“We, the undersigned rabbis, encourage our fellow Jews to transition toward animal-free, plant-based diets. This approach to sustenance is an expression of our shared Jewish values of compassion for animals, protection of the environment, and concern for our physical and spiritual well-being.”
A vegan diet is almost by default a kosher (kashrut) diet, so there is no need for separate milk and meat plates when you go veg! Rabbi David Rosen, the former chief rabbi of Ireland, asserts that veganism is “the new kashrut, kashrut for the 21st century.” He says,
“Any other form of kashrut is problematic, highly problematic, so if you really want to be true to both the letter of the law and the spirit of law of what kashrut is all about, you should eat a plant-based diet.”
Rabbi David Wolpe, a Conservative rabbi in America, added his name to the list. According to him,
“Tza’ar ba’alei chayim, not causing pain to another living creature, is a central principle of the Jewish tradition and we violate it every time we eat something that we know was factory farmed, was debeaked, declawed, was treated cruelly.”
Or view the video on the server at:
https://video.tsemtulku.com/videos/VegRabbinicStatement.mp4
As a proud Jewish vegan myself, I couldn’t be happier that more rabbis are taking a stand on this important issue, one that is particularly appropriate for Jews to tackle. Who better to recognize that the systematic persecution of one group—simply because they are deemed “different” or “inferior”—is wrong?
It is precisely because of our history of oppression that I believe Jews have a special moral obligation to consider the suffering of animals.
Perhaps you or your family argues that eating animals is tradition, the way things have always been. As Jewish Nobel Prize winner Issac Bashevis Singer writes:
“People often say that humans have always eaten animals, as if this is a justification for continuing the practice. According to this logic, we should not try to prevent people from murdering other people, since this has also been done since the earliest of times.”
We as Jews should take a stand and say that the exploitation of all beings ends with us. Throughout history, we have never been afraid of speaking up and doing what’s right, even when it is unpopular. It makes me proud to know that Tel Aviv is now a leading vegan city, with the highest per capita number of vegans of any country. It is that kind of progressiveness that makes me proud to be Jewish—not traditions or beliefs rooted in discrimination and holding onto the way “things have always been.”
As Singer puts it:
“To be a vegetarian is to disagree—to disagree with the course of things today. … starvation, cruelty—we must make a statement against these things. Vegetarianism is my statement. And I think it’s a strong one.”
Or view the video on the server at:
https://video.tsemtulku.com/videos/OriShavitVegan.mp4
So if you’re observing Yom Kippur this year, consider breaking your fast with a vegan feast, one that truly makes a statement that you will try to inscribe yourself in the Book of Life by choosing a diet based in life rather than death.
And whether you are celebrating the High Holy Days or not, I’d urge you to check out Jewish Veg to learn more about why veganism and Judaism are truly a perfect match. For more information on transitioning to a vegan diet, including free recipes and meal plans, visit ChooseVeg.com.
Source: http://www.mercyforanimals.org/rabbis-worldwide-sign-declaration-urging
For more interesting information:
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- Vegetarian Foods with More Iron than Meat!
- Vegan Blood is Eight Times More Protective Against Cancer
- Wonderful News from Moby!
- 7 Things That Happen When You Stop Eating Meat
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- Dr Jiang’s DELICIOUS HEALTHY RECIPES/videos
- WORLD’S BIGGEST VEGAN GROCER!
- A Vegetarian Jesus?
- NEW YORK school does what??
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GREAT NEWS…..Jewish priests are promoting vegetarianism to their followers . Most modern-day Jews are not vegetarian. Following a vegetarian diet are varied but include health benefits, such as reducing life threading diseases such as heart disease, diabetes and some cancers disease. Vegetarians appear to have lower low-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels, lower blood pressure and lower rates of hypertension and type 2 diabetes . That’s very true. By not eating meat one helps to discourage the cruel treatment of animals such as cows, pigs, chickens, and other animals on factory farms for consumption. One also helps to improve the environment, insofar as factory farms are major sources of water and air pollution, including gasses that contribute to global warming. By not eating meat one helps oneself, since a vegetarian diet is far healthier for humans than a diet based on meat. Jewish Vegetarian Society and others did the right approach to values of compassion for animals, protection of the environment, and concern for health reasons and spiritual well-being.
Thank you Rinpoche for this sharing on behalf of those animals who cannot speak for themselves.
The rabbis call on their “fellow Jews to transition toward animal-free, plant-based diets.This approach to sustenance is an expression of our shared Jewish values of compassion for animals, protection of the environment, and concern for our physical and spiritual well-being.”
Several also appear in a video which has been launched on the JVS website today.
Rabbi David Rosen, the former Chief Rabbi of Ireland and now one of the leading Jewish interfaith activists, advocates veganism as “the new kashrut, kashrut for the 21st century. Any other form of kashrut is problematic, highly problematic, so if you really want to be true to both the letter of the law and the spirit of law of what kashrut is all about, you should eat a plant-based diet.”
Rabbi David Wolpe, one of America’s prominent Conservative rabbis, says “Tza’ar ba’alei chayim, not causing pain to another living creature, is a central principle of the Jewish tradition and we violate it every time we eat something that we know was factory farmed, was debeaked, declawed, was treated cruelly.”
Animals show love for humans! Cow, lions, apes, dogs, bears, parrots and more can all be very affectionate and show surprising emotions when it comes to expressing their love for people. An emotional animals hugging humans video.
https://video.tsemtulku.com/videouploads/comment-1546455946.mp4
I rejoice to see even the Jews are now promoting vegan diet in their religious and community now. I guess they start to see the benefit of having a vegan diet related to health as well as spirituality. It is just normal for human beings to adopt a diet of compassion.
It does not make sense to take the life of an animal and make them suffer just because we are hungry and we need something to fill our stomach. We are able to fulfil the same reason with a more kind and compassionate way which is eating food that does not derive from animals. Imagine how good to know that no animals are harmed in your daily lives?
Animals have feelings too. When the sole purpose of it coming to this world is to feed us and their whole life on the farm is just to wait for the moment to come. Imagine how much suffering they are going through on a daily basis. It is not nice to treat animals like that.
This is such a good news to know the Jewish Rabbi is encouraging their followers to go on a vegan diet. They understood the compassion should be for all sentient beings, not only to human beings, that is why everyone should go on a plant-based diet and stop eating meat. Most importantly, it is good for our health.
Some people say the God created the animal for human beings to eat. In my opinion, this is illogical. If God is full of love, why does he want us to murder another life to fill our stomach? Why does he want to create suffering to another living being? It is just a stupid way people justify why they cannot stop eating meat.
Now the religious teachers are running this global campaign to urge their followers to take on a plant-based diet, this is very powerful. Religious teachers are regarded as the messengers of the God, most people who are religious will listen to them. I am happy to see that more people have realised killing a life for our taste buds is not right and we should stop doing it. In long term, it will be very beneficial for our environment too.
Dear Rinpoche,
Thank you for sharing this news with us. It is very nice to see that other religions are seeing the importance of not eating animal products because it is better for the person and also the environment. Having no meat in our diets has so many benefits. It helps our body to stay healthy, and strong. It helps with our financial side because normally meat costs more than vegetables. It helps the environment when fewer animals needed to be farmed to cope with the meat demand which will lessen the emission of greenhouse gasses into the ozone. There are many more benefits to go vegan and this diet of compassion should be practiced by everyone.
Thank you.
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And
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It is very true that there is no justification to kill animals anymore. We should respect all beings and the way animals are kept, treated, killed is very bad and shows that we are not the civilised society we want to be. Not only killing but also the milk and dairy industry is not justified as we take the calf from its mother shortly after birth and keep it – for its meat.
Thinking about this is so disgusting and selfish. These animals who have feelings just as we have are denied of basic rights, treated like machines and merciless killed in front of each other.
I rejoice for the good news of the these rabbis who have started this global campaign. May we all stop hurting animals and may vegan become mainstream. This would be my wish. When we have the choice to eat vegan, we will realise that the vegan options are very tasty and much more healthy.
Thank you Rinpoche for sharing about this great news. I am happy to hear this news, as being a vegetarian is very good, because being a vegetarian, you are not hurting others being and yourself. With the change of the age, we can’t keep following the tradition, we need to change our thinking and action.
This is so encouraging to know even Jewish priests are promoting vegetarianism to their followers because to be compassionate, it should be to ALL not just human. I am happy to see more people have realised that. Human and animals are the same, we all want happiness, we don’t want sufferings. No one is born to be eaten, we must realise that.
H.E. the 25th Tsem Rinpoche loves animals and is passionate against their harm, torture, and abuse.
The few minutes a day we spend on social media creating awareness for animals who cannot speak is purely spiritual and humanistic practice because we are trying to alleviate pain from another sentient beings and that makes us more spiritual, and that makes us more spiritual and more humane.
Dear friends,
This meme is powerful. Who you hang around with and the types of attitude they have is who you will be influenced by many times and who you will become in the future. Look at your friends and the people that always surround you to know who you will become.
Tsem Rinpoche
_/\_ Rejoice. No meat =no killing =no suffering =compassion=peace
Hope that more people will become vegetarian.
Two thumbs up! I rejoice from the bottom of my heart, that many rabbis chose to challenge convention.
I am quite moved by all the Jewish people who see beyond their palette and taste buds.
This is really good news for the benefit of the earth. We all know Jews have their way of preserving their cultures and beliefs and Rabbis play an important role in their lives. With the Rabbis urging Jews to go vegan, it will definitely make an impact. I pray more and more animals are saved due to the conscious choice when we make decision on food.
*Rejoicing, _(*)_requesting *Buddha’s blessings for Tsem Rinpoche in spreading Dharma to *all living beings. _(*)_OM MANI PADME HUM.
A wonderful approach of more than 70 rabbis from around the worldwide have signed a declaration encourage and urged the Jews to switch to an animal-free, plant-based diet . Jewish people are observing the High Holy Days and which they are having a big feast the next day. Hence they are encourage to start the new year with an ethical , guilt and animal-free meal. The Rabbis were hoping their approach to sustenance which can be shared with the Jewish the values of compassion for animals, protection of the environment, and for health reason and spiritual well-being.
Veganism is a way of living that seeks to exclude, all forms of exploitation of, and cruelty to, animals for food. The Rabbis are aware that millions suffer and die from chronic diseases, all are diet-related each year. They knew billions of animals are subjected to cruelty in the meat, dairy and egg industries.
This is a wonderful announcement full of compassion and hope for the future and will inspire more and more people to go on vegan or vegetarian .
Thank you Rinpoche for these sharing.
*Rejoicing.
“Tza’ar ba’alei chayim, not causing pain to another living creature, is a central principle of the Jewish tradition ” is so very reminiscent of the Buddhist teaching on compassion and equanimity.
Here the Jews are encouraging veganism, not just vegetarianism. That means no more suffering for the animals by caging them for their eggs or getting rid of calves so that the cows can be milked. Not just about cutting meat out of our diet but a whole new way of thinking and approach to food without harming another sentient being. There is no way we can say we are not harming another being when we consume animal products.
It is not easy to switch to veganism but if we make the effort over time, it will become easier and more natural plus conscience free. It is all a matter of habit in the long run. As with all habit, with effort however small, the change can be made permanent for the better.
It’s heartening to read of the Jewish views and effort by the 70 Rabbis from a broad spectrum of denominations who have signed a declaration urging Jews to switch to a vegan diet.
Rejoice rejoice rejoice
*Rejoicing.
Thank you Rinpoche for sharing the good news with us. Upon knowing the facts that Tel Aviv is now a leading vegan city with the highest per capita number of vegans of any country, it further motivates me to encourage other people to choose for plant-based diet and spare the life of animals rather than indirectly or directly killing the animals for food. If one understands the meaning of compassion and sincerely cares for others, one will not choose to cause any pain or suffering to other living beings, be it animals, humans or even ants. One’s spirituality practice should be aligned according to one’s action so that the practice of spirituality can bring meaningful results, especially when we are dealing with our food intake daily. By consciously choosing not to take any non-vegan and non-vegetarian food each day with the motivation of allowing the animals to live happily without sufferings, we are leading a happy and peaceful life ahead. A peaceful life can provide more positive outcomes in other aspects.
May all spiritual leaders from around the world encourage their students and disciples to save the animals by not eating them and not to consume any part of the animals.
Humbly with folded hands,
kin hoe
*Rejoicing. _(*)_through the *requests of myself and *others, may all sufferings finally be extinguished. OM VAJRA WIKI WITTRANA SOHA*
Thank you Cheryl for your kind comment. I truly agree with you that all kind of sufferings should be ended. Animals are suffering on their own natural conditions. We should not increase their suffering by keeping them in farms and taking their lives and for our meal consumption.
Absolutely wonderful news !! I always had the wrong perception that Jews did not practice vegetarianism or vegan, until I read this article. Thank you Rinpoche for reasing this ignorance from our minds and also sharing the good news that there are many people in this planet that practices compassion towards all living beings.
They have created the causes for life preservation, lesser suffering, do not inflict harm to other beings deemed as “less superior than humans” and preserving our planet earth for future generations.
Awesome news, more are going on a plant-based diet! The trend now is definitely changing to a healthier and cruel-free choice of food plus less carbon.
I he power of compassion is strong among the Jewish rabbis – over 70 Rabbis from around the world signed a declaration urging all Jews to move towards animal-free plant-based diets mainly on grounds of compassion . Furthermore, as several rabbis put it, a plant-based diet is truly kosher in every sense of the word. Yes, in the spirit of true spiritualism, we should not be causing pain to any being, least of all in our eating and in our diet.
I also agree with the statement that “Eating meat is a concession to human desire”. As we evolve in spirit and mind, we should be pandering less and less to desires that involve inflicting pain on others.It is indeed beautiful to read about the plant-based diet as embodying “the most profound and sublime of Jewish tradition”!
We may have been habituated to eat meat as an integral part of our lives. But having been habituated with eating meat does not justify our eating meat, and shutting ourselves from the pain and suffering of the animals involved. We can unlearn that and relearn to accept and take to a plant-based diet.
“I alone cannot change the world, but I can cast a stone across the water to create many ripples.” ~ Mother Theresa.
This is a wonderful news on what the Jews community is doing to honor the respect to other / all sentient beings of this world. This is important news to share. As what Mother Theresa said, we can and shall help reduce the pain and suffering caused onto other sentient beings, one step at a time, and making the change one person at a time!
Thank you, Rinpoche, for this sharing!