You are cordially invited to attend a Zoom discussion of the historic, potentially transformative initiative to restore the ancient New Year for Animals and to transform it into a day devoted to increasing awareness of Jewish teachings about compassion to animals and how far current realities are from these teachings. It will also consider how animal-based diets and agriculture seriously violate basic Jewish teachings about preserving human health, treating animals with compassion, protecting the environment, conserving natural resources, helping hungry people, and pursuing peace. The event will take place on August 20, Rosh Chodesh Elul, when the ancient holiday was observed, at 9 PM Eastern time, 6 PM Pacific time. To join the meeting click on ZOOM link at the bottom of this page. List of speakers: Dan Brook, professor of sociology at San Jose State University; author of An Alef-Bet Kabalah and Eating the Earth; maintainer of The Vegetarian Mitzvah. Lewis Regenstein, author of Commandments of Compassion: Jewish Teachings on Protecting the Planet and Its Creatures, Replenish the Earth, and other writings on Judaism and animals; Richard Schwartz, PhD, president emeritus of Jewish Veg and author of Judaism and Vegetarianism; Jeffrey Tucker, director of Florida Earth Save Will Tuttle, Ph.D, visionary author of the international best-seller, The World Peace Diet; worldwide lecturer on veganism; recipient of the Courage of Conscience Award and Empty Cages Prize. (He will discuss how non-Jews will react to efforts to restore and transform the holiday.) Aharon Varady, community planner & Jewish educator; founding director, The Open Siddur Project; a pioneer in efforts to restore and transform the ancient holiday. Jonathan Wolf, founder of Jewish Vegetarians of North America; co-founder of L’Olam: The Jewish Environmental Network; executive director of Yashar: The Institute for Jewish Activism.
