Bad Science = Bad Public Policy?

Richard H. Schwartz, Ph.D., president of the Jewish Vegetarians of North America, has written an op-ed about Shechita-gate.

Good Points:

1. Noting the problem of tzaar baalei hayyim (cruelty to animals) on factory farms.
2. Criticizing the rabbis who defended throat-ripping as "humane."

Bad Points:

1. Just about everything else?

You be the judge.

Comments

[jewishwhistleblower]

http://web.israelinsider.com/Views/4766.htm

Thought you might be interested in this article.

Do Animals have rights? Not in the Bible nor in Judaism, they don't!
By Steven Plaut January 9, 2005

[Sick & Tired of Lame Justifications]

I'll save you the agony of having to wade through Steven Plaut's diatribe on why it's just fine to cause needless suffering towards animals; it boils down to-- because Torah says so! Here we go, in his own words:

"Nothing could be simpler. Cruelty towards animals that does not serve any human purpose, cruelty for its own sake, is prohibited. Cruelty required to serve any human need or desire or benefit is justified, although not mandatory.

Let us be even more clear about this. According to Jewish tradition, we are not talking about restricting cruelty towards animals when it is necessary to save a human life, even in a probabilistic sense, such as in medical experimentation (which the animal rights kooks insist cannot possibly produce any cures for human ailments, dozens of counter-proofs not withstanding).We are talking about any use of animals to serve ANY human desires other than senseless sadism. Period."

Does this sound like YOUR Judaism? It's certainly not mine- and I'm an omnivore! I'm NOT PETA- I eat meat on Shabbos, and yes, I was disgusted by the contents of the PETA video. But I'm even more disgusted by the reactions of the Orthodox Rabbinate that has gone through more contortions than the Rubber Man in the circus to explain why it was not at all problematic. Now we have Mr. Plaut telling us Agriprocessors' publicized practices are practically commendable by Torah standards! What???

It's time to figure out what's next, because these people are just going to get wackier. Is anyone else in?

[Sick & Tired of Lame Justifications]

I'll save you the agony of having to wade through Steven Plaut's diatribe on why it's just fine to cause needless suffering towards animals; it boils down to-- because Torah says so! Here we go, in his own words:

"Nothing could be simpler. Cruelty towards animals that does not serve any human purpose, cruelty for its own sake, is prohibited. Cruelty required to serve any human need or desire or benefit is justified, although not mandatory.

Let us be even more clear about this. According to Jewish tradition, we are not talking about restricting cruelty towards animals when it is necessary to save a human life, even in a probabilistic sense, such as in medical experimentation (which the animal rights kooks insist cannot possibly produce any cures for human ailments, dozens of counter-proofs not withstanding).We are talking about any use of animals to serve ANY human desires other than senseless sadism. Period."

Does this sound like YOUR Judaism? It's certainly not mine- and I'm an omnivore! I'm NOT PETA- I eat meat on Shabbos, and yes, I was disgusted by the contents of the PETA video. But I'm even more disgusted by the reactions of the Orthodox Rabbinate that has gone through more contortions than the Rubber Man in the circus to explain why it was not at all problematic. Now we have Mr. Plaut telling us Agriprocessors' publicized practices are practically commendable by Torah standards! What???

It's time to figure out what's next, because these people are just going to get wackier. Is anyone else in?