A group of 74 rabbis bound together this week in a Rabbinic statement to advocate for a shift toward a plant-based diet. In the statement—the largest of its kind—rabbis from the United States, Israel, the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, and South Africa urged the global Jewish community to adopt a plant-based diet to better align with the morals taught within the religion. “Judaism’s way of life, its dietary practices,” former chief rabbi of Ireland David Rosen stated, “are designed to ennoble the human spirit.” The rabbi explained that Jewish principles do not align with the consumption of animal products. “It is therefore a contradiction in terms to claim that products that come through a process that involves inordinate cruelty and barbarity toward animal life can truly be considered kosher in our world,” Rabbi Rosen said. “In our world today, it is precisely a plant-based diet that is truly consonant with the most sublime teachings of Judaism and of the highest aspirations of our heritage.” The Rabbinic statement will be promoted across a number of prominent Jewish platforms and will direct followers to take the “Veg Pledge,” an initiative that promotes veganism launched by vegan nonprofit Jewish Veg.

Photo courtesy of Rabbi Shmuly Yanklowitz