Letters Daily Edition 1

• Published in: The Jerusalem post
• Main Author: Terry Feldman, Richard H. Schwartz, Lewis Regenstein, David Star, Candy Shinaar, Reuven Liebman, Sol Spiegler, Chana Goldstein, Zerrick Woolfson, David Rotenberg, Josef Gilboa, Natalie Gilbert
• Format: Newspaper Article
• Language: English
• Published: Jerusalem The Jerusalem Post Ltd 16.03.2006
• Subjects: Olmert, Ehud; Pfeffer, Anshell

Sir, - As president of Jewish Vegetarians of North America (JVNA), I was shocked and saddened at the announcement by the head of the Chief Rabbinate's international ritual slaughter division, Rabbi Ezra Raful, that he would permit the importing of meat from AgriProcessors Inc. of Postville, Iowa, despite a US Agriculture Department report that found the slaughterhouse in violation of animal cruelty laws ("Rabbinate OKs meat despite cruelty to animals," March 14). This decision makes it harder for JVNA to continue to defend shehita (ritual slaughtering) and argue that Judaism teaches compassionate treatment of animals. Sir, - It is truly ironic and shameful that cruel animal slaughter methods could be undertaken with the sanction of Jewish law. Allowing this, despite revelations of illegal abuse of animals at AgriProcessors Inc. in Iowa, overlooks a fundamental fact: Judaism has an entire code of laws on preventing the suffering of animals. Indeed, the Jews invented the concept of kindness to animals. Even the Ten Commandments include a requirement that farm animals be allowed to enjoy a day of rest on Shabbat. So God must have felt that kindness to animals was not a trivial matter. Sir, - I agree with Anshel [Anshell Pfeffer] that Uzi Dayan, leader of the Tafnit Party, is nice and clean, but I beg to differ with some of Pfeffer's conclusions. Western olim aren't the only public-minded and concerned Israeli's; many others are also worried about corruption. In addition, many are aware that a main reason for Tafnit's lack of public exposure is that Dayan actually follows Israeli election laws.