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11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Compassion and responsibility, July 17, 2001
I have read this book thoroughly, and I think it is the most informative, most complete and most readable book about vegetarianism I have ever read. The book is very well structured, the information given is presented clearly and is up to date. Since I am a vegan, I have paid extra attention to what is being said about veganism, and I found the author is objective, accurate and gives sound advice. The B12 issue is dealt with in a responsible manner and I think it is very wise to present the transition to vegetarianism and from there to veganism as a process of growth, where every step counts. The author gives many practical suggestions on how to make changes in your lifestyle without losing touch with family or friends and manages to be firm and friendly at the same time. These things alone make the book a purchase well worth the investment. For me, however, the particular merit of the book lies in the spiritual values that have inspired it. Reading the book from a non-Jewish perspective, what struck me most was that the author has chosen focal points which are relevant to people from all kinds of different backgrounds, Jews, Muslims, Christians, Hindus, Buddhists and people who are not religious in the 'traditional' sense. In short, all those who are concerned about the way we relate to our environment from a spiritual point of view. The first focal point is that ethical considerations are more important than habit, convenience, or tradition, and the second is that there will be a price to pay if we chose to ignore the ethical imperative to change our ways. There are many books explaining why it is better for your body to become a vegetarian; there are not many books explaining why it is better for your soul. Richard Schwartz makes the reader see how the themes of inclusion and compassion towards animals are woven all through the Torah. Having read theology at a fairly orthodox Christian college, I have often heard the argument that `since Man was created in the image of God, he was given dominion over all creation' as an excuse for the maltreatment of animals and their reduction to `meat-producing units'. Guided by Richard Schwartz, we are shown that according to the Torah both man and beast are creatures of God, and that our being created in the image of God is not a given, but rather a potential; something to be brought into manifestation by following the pattern God has laid out for us, and that one of the qualities we must manifest is compassion. Instead of feeling very proud of ourselves and thinking that we are like God already, we should realise that we are asked to imitate God in love and concern for all living beings. Instead of 'dominion' we should read 'compassionate stewardship', and that is something else entirely. From the idea of our potential for goodness and compassion, the theme of responsibility is developed. The author shows us how we are responsible, in the sense of being accountable for the wrongs we do not try to stop. By means of the voice of Amos and other prophets he poignantly asks how we can be content and comfortable while others are in great distress, humans or non-humans. I feel that now Europe has recently been plagued by BSE and foot-and-mouth disease, and we have watched the horrors of what is happening every night on television, this question is more pressing than ever. How are we to answer for these things? That is one side of responsibility. The other side is that human beings are called to do justice, to liberate the oppressed, to care for every living being and that it is the way we act in this world, the choices we make and the goals we chose, which form our answer, our response, to God. For me, our human capacity to answer to this call is the basis of faith in a better future for all beings and Richard Schwartz's book has given me every reason not to give up believing. Human beings have the potential to be compassionate and just, and they can learn how to express these qualities. And they will learn more willingly if they are given the facts about oppression and hunger and are shown ways how to change. This is exactly what Richard Schwartz has done. Like the good teacher he is, he shows people what their calling is, where they go wrong, and what they can do to change for the better. This calling is not just for Jews; many people feel that they have a responsibility for the planet and for all that lives there; they just don't know what exactly is going wrong and how to make it better. By enumerating the facts, by showing the consequences of present practices, and by showing the way out, Richard Schwartz makes a very strong case for the vegetarian imperative, no matter what the reader's religion is. I sincerely recommend the book.
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11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
An Outstanding Resource!, April 24, 2001
I read this book about three weeks ago, and reviewed it for[another source]. Rather than reinvent the wheel, here is the review I posted there (reposted with permission from VegSource):"Judaism and vegetarianism? Can the two be related? After all, what is a simcha (Jewish celebration) or holiday dinner without gefilte fish, chopped liver, cholent, roast beef, chicken and chicken soup? And what about passages in the Torah referring to Temple sacrifices of animals and the consumption of meat?" This question, quoted here from the preface to the first edition of Richard Schwartz's seminal work Judaism and Vegetarianism, has often plagued Jews considering a switch to a vegetarian lifestyle, as well as vegetarians considering Judaism. CAN one be Jewish and vegetarian? Don't the Scriptures sanction...indeed, appear to command...the consumption of meat? What is God's will regarding His people and their relationship with the animals, the Earth, and with other peoples? How does vegetarianism fit in (or does it?)? In this book, Professor Schwartz demonstrates that, not only is vegetarianism wholly consistent with Judaism, it may even be considered an imperative in this day of factory farming, environmental depletion, degenerating human health and worldwide hunger. Beginning, as is fitting, with the Scriptures (particularly the Torah), Schwartz takes his readers on a tour of the Bible from a vegetarian point of view. He then goes on to address specific issues, such as "Tsa'ar Ba'alei Chayim - Judaism and Compassion for Animals"; "Judaism, Vegetarianism, and Health"; "Judaism, Vegetarianism, and Feeding the Hungry"; "Judaism, Vegetarianism, and Ecology"; and "Judaism, Vegetarianism and Peace"; supporting each not only with quotes from the Scriptures, but also with insight from Jewish sages and scholars from virtually every age and tradition, as well as with substantial and timely factual material gleaned from leading authorities on animal welfare, human health, the environment and the world hunger situation. He then proceeds to address even more specific questions regarding Judaism and vegetarianism (such as "Don't Jews have to eat meat to honor the Sabbath and to rejoice on Jewish holidays?" and "If God wanted us to have vegetarian diets and not harm animals, why were the Temple sacrificial services established?") and vegetarianism in general (such as "Can't one work to improve conditions for animals without being a vegetarian?" and "If vegetarian diets are best for health, why don't most doctors recommend them?"). Finally he offers solid advice on how to make the switch to vegetarianism, including information on holiday observances and information on Jewish vegetarian groups, activities and resources, as well as an interesting and informative biographical section on famous Jewish vegetarians. He closes with this question, respectfully addressed to Jews who plan to continue to eat meat: "In view of strong Jewish mandates to be compassionate to animals, preserve our health, help feed the hungry, preserve and protect the environment, conserve resources, and seek and pursue peace, and the very negative effects animal-centered diets have in each of these areas, will you now become a vegetarian, or at least sharply reduce your consumption of animal products?" It's hard to imagine, in the face of Professor Schwartz's well-reasoned and well-documented book, that anyone could reasonably answer "no." I highly recommend Judaism and Vegetarianism to any Jew who is considering vegetarianism (or who has already made the switch and is seeking support and advice), as well as to those who are not vegetarians themselves, but who may be concerned about vegetarian friends and loved ones. It should be required reading for any rabbi who may encounter questions about vegetarianism or find himself ministering to vegetarians. Further, I would strongly recommend this book to vegetarian Christians and Muslims, who also accept the Hebrew Scriptures as authoritative?you will find information here that will both challenge and support you, and perhaps a common ground upon which the work of peace can be built.
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10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
This new edition is the best yet!, October 12, 2000
I have just finished reading the manuscript for this newly-revised third edition (due out November 21) and it is absolutely superb! Dr. Schwartz literally "wrote the book" on this topic many years ago, and, with each new edition, it just gets better and better. His book is of interest to both Jews and non-Jews who want to understand what Judaism has to say about vegetarianism and the treatment of animals, written from the perspective of Jewish law and ethics. What makes this work different from other vegetarian books is that Dr. Schwartz is himself a religous Jew (Modern Orthodox), who takes both Jewish law and his vegetarianism very seriously. Recognizing that Jews have, by and large, tended to be meat-eaters in past centuries, Dr. Schwartz does not seek to attack Judaism itself for this. Rather, he carefully examines what Jewish law has to say about the treatment of animals in the light of modern factory farms, along with the responsibity to feed the hungry and care for the environment, and comes to the conclusion that vegetarianism is the logical choice for a religious Jew today, if he or she wants to avoid causing undue suffering to both animals and fellow human beings. This book is meticulously researched, providing hundreds footnoted sources, including the famous quote by Rabbi Abraham Issac Kook, concerning his beliefs about Jews being vegetarian in the Messianic Age. (Previous editions of "Judaism and Vegetarianism" gave this quote but no original source reference, causing some anti-vegetarians to claim that it did not really exist. Thank you, Dr. Schwartz, for finally setting the record straight!) Much of the old material has been carefully updated, and new material is added, with an expanded section explaining the important kabbalistic and Hasidic doctrine of "raising up the holy sparks" in food, and how this might be reconciled with vegetarianism. All in all, this is a book that every vegetarian activist should have!
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