Published Letters and Op-Eds from COK’s Writers Group

In Favor of Vegetarianism

The Philadelphia Jewish Voice
March 2009

Thank you for publishing Gabrielle Loeb's compelling piece about the importance -- and ease -- of vegetarian diets. Jews across America and across the world are realizing that choosing vegetarian foods reduces the suffering of farmed animals, alleviates human health problems, and is better for the environment.

Proverbs 12:10 teaches that "The righteous person regards the life of his animal." In today's world, the overwhelming majority of animals raised for food are confined on massive factory farms where they're subjected to miserable conditions and unbelievable cruelties.

As humans, we have a special obligation to protect the rights of those who cannot speak for themselves. As a Jew -- a member of an historically persecuted religious minority -- I feel that obligation especially strongly every day. There's no better way to defend animals than to leave them off our dinner plates.

-- Max Fischlowitz-Roberts, Waltham, MA