Louis Berman says in ‘Vegetarianism and the Jewish Tradition’ that: “Jewish vegetarianism is an expression of radical traditionalism. It holds that what is most worth preserving in Jewish life are its values – compassion for all that lives, concern for health and life, and regard for the welfare of those who live in want. These are the traditions most worth cherishing, even more clearly than chicken soup and roast brisket.”

“Life-affirming and life-enhancing rather than ascetic, this new vegetarianism fulfils more completely the Biblical commandments to nurture human life and to treat with compassion all that lives. Vegetarianism expresses compassion for animals by withdrawing support to a meat industry that raises animals by aversive and cruel factory methods.”

“Vegetarianism is hygienic. It designates a diet which promotes health and combats degenerative diseases. A vegetarian diet is likely to be high in roughage, low in cholesterol and free of the hormones and additives that are found in meat products.”

“Vegetarianism allows for a more equitable sharing of the food resources of the world, and thus represents one answer to the complex problem of world hunger.” Adopting a food practice that allows for a more widespread distribution of food in our generation and in the future, is in the spirit of the Biblical command, “Thou shalt Love they neighbour as thyself.”

“For the Lord thy G-d bringeth thee into a good land, a land of brooks of water, of fountains and depths that spring out of valleys and hills; a land of wheat and barley, and vines, and fig trees, and pomegranates; a land of olive oil and honey; a land wherein thou shalt eat bread without scarceness, and thou shalt not lack any thing in it; a land whose stones are iron, and out of whose hills thou mayest dig brass. And thou shalt eat and be satisfied and bless the Lord thy G-d for the good land which He hath given thee.” Deuteronomy 8:7-10