ccc@cwruecmp.UUCP (Case Computer Club) (01/10/84)
Eli, Dave, and anyone else who has been confused by certain news items: ABSOLUTELY NOWHERE IN JUDAISM IS THERE A COMMAND TO EAT MEAT! This includes the Torah (the five books of Moses), the Tanach (the old testament), the Talmud (the oral law), and any other of the rabinic literature that is known and generally accepted as legitimate. In fact, the opposite is true. Many rabbinic authorities argue that the laws of Kashrut (religious laws governing food) in fact lead to and point to vegetarianism as a better way to behave. The laws of Kashrut in fact limit which animal meats one can eat, how they must be killed, and also additional difficulties and precautions that must be taken in order to eat meat within a complete and balanced diet. It is also true that if one is very strict about vegetarianism (one may even eat unfertilized eggs, cow's milk, and true fish), and one uses utensils which have never been used for non-vegetarian food, one in fact is keeping strictly kosher to the utmost! It is true that certain ultra-orthodox sects (some would say fanatical) such as Lubavitcher Chasidim (means the righteous ones) have a strong tradition to eat meat on the sabbath, but I queried one of their rabbis about this once, and he admitted that this was not required according to generally accepted Jewish texts. Enough said, and I hope this has set all of you straight once and for all on this subject. David Kushner Case Western Reserve University ...decvax!cwruecmp!ccc