Judaism - Introduction
The Animals and Religion Book Series and Website are the work of Professor Emeritus Dr. Lisa Kemmerer at Tapestry.
All of the information on this website is from Animals and Judaism. All proceeds return directly to Tapestry, which funds free access to social justice research and writing. This project, part of an ongoing and collective effort necessary to realize the peace and compassion that is central to the core ethics of each of the world’s great religions, is only possible with the support of readers like you.
4.1 Overview
In what ways does Judaism call people to a life of compassion, peace, and service, and how does this matter to animals, the earth, and what we eat? What do sacred stories, the prophets, and religious leaders teach about rightful human relations with nature and animals and how do these teachings inform the lives of Jewish activists? What changes do these teachings encourage in our daily lives? Animals and Judaism answers these questions and many more.
It is my hope that . . . the State of Israel will soon become a ‘light unto the nations’ (Isaiah 49:6) and pride itself, among other things, in having a moral and conscientious policy toward animals. (Asa Keisar, Rabbi, quoting Reuven Rivlin who was elected president of Israel in 2014)
Animals and Judaism is created at Tapestry as part of the Animals and Religion Program by professor emeritus Dr. Lisa Kemmerer, known internationally for her research and writing on the topic. Each book in this series, and each page of the Animals and Religion website, explores ethics and rightful relations with animals, focusing on core religious ethics in one of the world’s largest religions (including compassion, humility, service, and simplicity), calling for spiritual integrity and helping to build a more peaceful and compassionate world.
Helpful information about this Book/Website
Animals and Religion book series and website use the term “anymals” (a contraction of “any” and “animals,” pronounced in English as “any” and “mul”) to avoid using “animals” as if humans were not animals. Only quotes from other sources maintain an incorrect use of “animal.”
“Anymal” indicates all individuals of a species other than that of the speaker/author/signer. In other words, if a human being uses this term, they refer to all species except Homo sapiens, but if a chimpanzee signs “anymal,” they indicate all species (including human beings) except their own. Therefore, when used by the author of this book, “anymal” indicates all living beings except human beings. (See “anymal,” see Kemmerer, “Verbal Activism: ‘Anymals’” (Society and Animals 14.1, 2006: 9-14) at http://lisakemmerer.com/publications.html.)
“Anymal.” Image courtesy of lisa kemmerer, lisakemmerer.com.
Texts Across Traditions
Sacred writings are central to the work of the Animals and Religion branch of Tapestry. The core text of Judaism, the Tanakh, is sacred for three of the world’s largest religions:
Christianity inherits from Judaism, and Islam inherits from both Judaism and Christianity. In this way the Hebrew Bible, the Christian Bible and the Qur'an form one linked textual tradition . . . [and] Muslims refer to followers of all three religions as ‘People of the Book’. (“Faith: Books.” n.p.)
These texts are not only sacred for Jews but also for Christians (as the Hebrew Bible or Old Testament), and though Muslims believe that these earlier scriptures were divinely revealed, they also believe that only the Quran remains in its original form. Nonetheless, key portions of these earlier text are sacred for Muslims, including the Torah (or Tawrat/Tawrah, the first five books of the Tanakh (Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy) and Psalms (or Zabur) (as well as the Gospels, which record the life of Jesus). The teachings of these texts are therefore important for Jews, Christians, and Muslims.
Source: Scriptures
Biblical quotes in this book are from the New Revised Standard Version (accessed at Bible.com), the translation generally preferred by academics.
Photo courtesy of Danielle Meiri and Pacific Roots Magazine
Frame from Vegan Friendly’s TV ad, “Extra Fresh.” (Photo courtesy of Abigail Klein Leichman and Israel21c.)
4.1 Outline
4.2 Anymals: Sacred Texts and Teachings
Overview
I. Creation: Genesis 1 and 2
A. Kinship: Sixth Day
B. Kinship: Breath of Life
C. Rulership in The Image of God
D. Vegan Dominion
E. Creation as a Unified Good
F. Duties Assigned by God
G. Shared Purpose: Woman and Anymals
H. Humility
II. Creator
A. Sole Proprietor
B. Fully Invested—Compassionate and Attentive
C. Nature/Habitat as Good/Holy
D. In Covenant with Anymals/Earth
III. Core Law/Ethics
A. Not to Harm
B. Compassion And Mercy
C. Peace/Harmony
D. Love
Conclusion
Featured Sources
4.3 Diet: Point/Counterpoint on the Vegan Moral Imperative
Overview
I. Genesis Diet
Point: God permits the consumption of animals for food in Genesis.
Three Counterpoints:
A. God strongly dislikes violence/corruption.
B. Omnivory and vegetarianism cause fear and dread.
C. God reaffirms a plant-based diet by providing manna.
Summary Point: We Must Choose.
II. Sacrifice
Point: Animal sacrifice is described in scriptures and is indicated as pleasing to God, so how can it be wrong to harm and kill anymals for food?
Six Counterpoints
A. Eating anymals in the 21st century is not justified by scriptural descriptions of anymal sacrifice.
B. Does God delight in the smell of burning bodies?
C. Scriptures also describe grain offerings.
D. Bloodletting rituals were phased out and replaced more than 2000 years ago.
E. Scriptures indicate that anymal sacrifice was not Jewish in origin, that these rituals were merely tolerated and so were restricted by God, and that they are not currently permitted.
F. Anymals are not ours to give.
ISummary Point, Sacrifice
III. Mitzvot
Point: Eating meat allows fulfilling of mitzvot and we should therefore eat meat.
Counterpoint: A vegan life fulfills many important mitzvot and aids in observance of food laws.
IV. Kosher
Point: Anymal products are kosher.
Counterpoint: Are they? Anymal products from contemporary industries are unlikely to be kosher.
Conclusion
Featured Sources
4.4 Sacred Stories: Exploring Anymals in Narratives
Overview
III. The Snake of Genesis 3
IV. The Donkey and Balaam from Numbers 22
V. Calf, weasels, and Rabbi Yehuda HaNasi from Bava Metzia (Chapter 7, 85a).
Conclusion
4.5 Disquietudes: Traditions that Conflict with Teachings
Overview
I. Humility: A God-Centered Universe
II. Kaporos
III. The Ritual of Kaporos
IV. Disquietudes of Kaporos
V. Alternatives to Kaporos
Summary, Kaporos
Conclusion
Featured Sources
4.6 Activism: Ethics in Action
Overview
I. Judaism as a Way of Life
II. Being Holy
III. Prophets Model Activism
IV. Jewish Anymal Activism
Conclusion
4.7 Resource
Websites
Books
Downloads
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