Category: Areas of Work

Review of Animal Welfare in World Religion

Joyce D’Silva’s book Animal Welfare in World Religion; Teaching and Practice points out an anomaly that is the main reason that the world is rapidly approaching a climate catastrophe and […]

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Book Review of “Food For Thought: Planetary Healing Begins on Our Plate”

  Food For Thought: Planetary Healing Begins on Our Plate Camilla Perusello, PhD Lantern Publishing and Media 2022.       Food For Thought That Can Heal the Planet      […]

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Can We Avert a Climate Catastrophe?

by Richard Schwartz The most critical issue facing the world today is the possibility of a climate catastrophe that threatens all life on our planet. This article discusses the seriousness […]

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How kosher plant-based diets help heal our imperiled planet and why it’s so important during Passover.

by Richard Schwartz Take a look at the following 3 articles: 1. Freeing Ourselves at Passover From Diets That Hurt Us and the Planet 2. How Applying Passover Messages Can […]

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Ten Ways to Create a More Vegan World

There is increasing evidence that animal-based diets are causing an epidemic of life-threatening diseases, contributing to climate change and other environmental threats to humanity, and having other negative effects. Despite […]

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Freeing Ourselves at Passover From Slavery To Diets That Are Harmful To Us and Our Planet

     Some Jews commendably go to extraordinary lengths during Passover to avoid certain foods, in keeping with Torah mitzvot.      But at the same time, many continue eating […]

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An Open Letter To Rabbis

Shalom dear Rabbis,      Because of your collective wisdom, dedication to Jewish values, and valuable contacts, you are in a position to help shift our imperiled planet onto a […]

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There is no ‘Planet B’ – My book review of “Vegan Voices” in the March 25 Jerusalem Post magazine

The French writer Victor Hugo famously wrote, “Nothing is as powerful as an idea whose time has come.” Vegan Voices: Essays by Inspiring Changemakers, through very insightful essays by dedicated […]

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Parshat Tzav: Meat Consumption in Temple Days and Today

When the Jewish people were in the wilderness before they entered the land of Israel, the consumption of meat was associated with holiness. Every piece of meat consumed came from […]

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A Vegan View of the Biblical Animal Sacrifices

“Now we come to the great embarrassment.” Those were the opening words of a sermon delivered years ago by an assistant rabbi at the Young Israel of Staten Island, referring […]

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Interview with Rabbi Gabriel Cousens, a long-time vegan activist.

by Richard Schwartz Rabbi Gabriel Cousens functions as a Holistic Physician, Homeopath, Psychiatrist, Family Therapist, Ayurvedic Practitioner, and Chinese Herbalist. In addition, he’s a world-leading diabetes researcher, ecological leader, spiritual […]

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Compassion in the Jewish Tradition

    Compassion is one of Judaism’s highest values. God is referred to in synagogue services as Ha–rachaman (the compassionate one) and as Av harachamim (Father of compassion). Since Judaism […]

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Why Jews Should Be Vegans

This article was originally published in the February 18, 2022 Jerusalem Post There is a widely accepted aspect of modern life that contradicts many Jewish teachings and harms people, communities, […]

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Powerful sermon sent to me by NJ rabbi, Shammai Engelmayer

Shammai’s Shabbat Sermon for Mishpatim I’m going to begin with a word of caution. Some of what I have to say may be difficult to listen to. You’ll understand why […]

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Is Eating Meat a Mitzvah that Comes from an Aveirah (Sin)?

  Judaism is all about performing mitzvot, carrying out God’s commandments. However, a mitzvah haba’ah b’aveirah – a mitzvah abetted by an aveirah (sin or “illegitimate means”) – is forbidden […]

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Invitation to a Tu B’shvat Seder

Shalom,I will be facilitating two Tu B’Shvat Seders using zoom:One, for Israelis and UK residents, will be on Sunday, January 16, from 9 PM to 10:30 PM, Israeli time.The other, […]

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Eight Articles: Everything you need to know about Tu Bishvat

by Richard Schwartz Tu Bishvat is the New Year for Trees. It honors trees, fruits and other aspects of nature. It is a Jewish holiday that is typically vegetarian or […]

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Pikuach Nefesh, Climate Change, and Veganism

     Judaism stresses pikuach nefesh, the principle that everything possible must be done to save a life, even if Jewish law has to be violated to do so. Of […]

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First draft of my book, “Restoring and Transforming the Ancient Jewish New Year For Animals: An Idea Whose Time Has Come. Suggestions very welcome.

Shalom, I would very much welcome suggestions on all or part of my draft below of a manuscript, tentatively entitled, “Restoring and Transforming the Ancient Jewish New Year for Animals: […]

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Complete text of the 3rd edition of my book, “Judaism and Vegetarianism”

Please see excerpt below. Thanks.

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