[Avodah] anti-meat rhetoric "according to Judaism"

Micha Berger micha at aishdas.org
Fri Jul 9 14:06:23 PDT 2010


On Fri, Jul 09, 2010 at 07:26:03PM +0300, Shoshana L. Boublil quoted from
some Jewish Vegetarian argument:
: 1) While Judaism mandates that people should be very careful about
: preserving their health and their lives...
: 2) While Judaism forbids tsa'ar ba'alei chayim, inflicting unnecessary pain
: on animals...
: 4) While Judaism mandates bal tashchit...

The definition of risk to health, "unnecessary pain", and hashchasah are not
what the author presumes. Minor risk is permitted -- otherwise it would
be assur to cross streets or drive. TBC is allowed as long as what the
person wants (other than enjoying cruelty itself, eg bullfighting) is
not within reach in another way. Similarly bal tashchis.

The values needed to justify vegetarianism are inserted into the "while"s,
not inherent in the dinim being cited.

:-)BBii!
-Micha

-- 
Micha Berger             Man is a drop of intellect drowning in a sea
micha at aishdas.org        of instincts.
http://www.aishdas.org                         - Rav Yisrael Salanter
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