tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10333247.post112992382964038080..comments2024-01-07T05:17:58.943-05:00Comments on Orthoprax: Vegetarianism vs OrthodoxyOrthopraxhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/11649055168953784384noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10333247.post-1130136840815035432005-10-24T02:54:00.000-04:002005-10-24T02:54:00.000-04:00heebnvegan,I've actually been in regular email cor...heebnvegan,<BR/><BR/>I've actually been in regular email correspondence with a major writer of that website, namely Richard Schwartz.<BR/><BR/>As I wrote to him and as I'll repeat here:<BR/><BR/>He said: "If a person embraces veganism except in cases where <BR/>specific mitzvot require the use of some animal product, even more good will be <BR/>done."<BR/> <BR/>I said: "You can look at it that way, but I think your dismissing the point of contradiction. If you think using animals for human purposes is wrong then how can you understand holding the same view that God commanded you to use animals for human purposes? Unless you don't think God is a moral being, then you have a serious moral conundrum here.<BR/><BR/>The very fact that such mitzvot exist is a problem for a philosophical Orthodox vegetarian.<BR/> <BR/>...<BR/><BR/>You have to understand that I agree you _can_ make room for vegetarianism within Judaism, but there is a basic moral issue here. It's of the same steam as those issues where Jews think homosexuality is morally fine (for others) and where slavery is immoral without qualification. The Torah clearly indicates otherwise. The Orthodox Jew is effectively arguing with God about morality."Orthopraxhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11649055168953784384noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-10333247.post-1130098674815502012005-10-23T16:17:00.000-04:002005-10-23T16:17:00.000-04:00There are tons of Jews of all stripes (Orthodox in...There are tons of Jews of all stripes (Orthodox included) who are vegetarian precisely because they find it the diet most consistent with Jewish teachings and G-d's preferences for humans.<BR/><BR/>An FAQ on www.JewishVeg.com addresses some of your specific concerns head-on:<BR/><BR/>"Isn't much of Judaism today related to the use of animals for teaching and ritual purposes, e.g., the Sefer Torah, tefillin, the shofar, etc.?"<BR/><BR/>"The number of animals slaughtered for these purposes is minute compared to the billions killed annually for food. The fact that there would still be some animal slaughter to meet Jewish ritual needs shouldn't stop us from doing all we can to end the horrible abuses of animals. Also, most problems related to flesh-centered diets -- poor human health, waste of food and other resources, and ecological threats -- would not occur if animals were slaughtered only to meet Jewish ritual needs. Our emphasis should be on doing a minimum amount of harm to other people, the environment, and animals. The fact that some animal products are required for sacred uses (a very small amount) should not prevent a person from becoming a vegetarian. Also, tefillin and other ritual products can be made from the leather of animals that were raised without cruelty and died a natural death."<BR/><BR/>Please visit www.JewishVeg.com for more info.heebnveganhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17781553507279284345noreply@blogger.com