Center For Jewish Food Ethics’ Rabbi Jonathan Bernhard Discusses Animal Compassion, Plant-Based Diet

Center For Jewish Food Ethics’ Rabbi Jonathan Bernhard Discusses Animal Compassion, Plant-Based Diet 

Staten Islander News talked with Rabbi Jonathan Bernhard about his journey to a plant based diet and the work his organization does.  CJFE works with Jewish institutions (such as synagogues, JCCs, and schools- wherever food is served) to change their menu to include either more plant-based options or offering entirely plant-based choices.  

We talked about the original biblical plan for humanity – where we are meant to be the caretakers of all the animals.  In the book of Genesis, we learn that Adam was given the instruction to hold sway over all life on Earth- along with the planet itself.  

Not only are we meant to take care of all the other animals in the way that God takes care of us- like a benevolent king,  but we’re also meant to take care of the Earth itself.  

We also talked about the Kosher dietary laws (those specifically related to the slaughter of animals for food) and how modern factory farming practices are not in accordance with Jewish tradition.  The system of raising animals for food is an incredibly cruel system, both for the animals and for the people who work in them, so it is impossible that the animals are cared for properly. Not only that, but the requirements for the treatment of animals before they are killed is also spelled out in scripture, and modern farming methods do not take this into account at all.  Close quarters, low quality (low cost) feed, and poor living conditions contribute to a life of suffering for the animals in their care.  Kosher laws provide for the care of the animals during their lives, not just their slaughter.  

Sustainability is a concept deeply rooted in Judaism.  We are meant to care for the planet, and we should be able to provide it as a gift to every generation after us.  Consequently, we’re supposed to preserve it as best we can for a long as possible.  

One of the most unsustainable activities of humans is factory farming.  Factory farms are not just cruel, but they also generate a lot of pollution.  According to CJFE, the amount of methane that all of the factory farms produce, if taken together, is more than the US and China, two of the most methane producing countries in the world.  

In addition, the feces lagoons are an awful mess.  They take the poop in hoses and they spray it on fields nearby a regular basis.  This does not seem to be for the reason of fertilizing anything, but just prevents the lagoon from overflowing.  .  This was too gross to really dwell on, but it and its effects (from pig farming) is detailed in an article on The Guardian.  The huge lagoons of poop just sit there outside of the farm, generating a terrible odor, and it also runs off whenever there’s a storm.  The costs of this unintentional disposal is incredible to the surrounding environment, and the eventual cleanup costs will pass to the taxpayers.  

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To see a bit more detail, the next two paragraphs from the article describe it in detail:

“Fifty yards from Miller’s family graveyard is a massive open-air cesspool storing the pigs’ waste – a stagnant pool containing their feces, urine, blood and other bodily fluids – often referred to as a “lagoon”, one of about 3,300 lagoons across the state. When the cesspool reaches its capacity, its contents are liquefied and sprayed into a field across the street from Miller’s house via a large, sprinkler-like apparatus. The sprayer releases a mist of waste on to the field, which, according to court documents, is about 200ft from Miller’s home at its closest rotation.

That system prevents the cesspool from overflowing, but Miller says it also makes her life miserable.”

In addition to theses animal-centered reasons, there are human-centered reasons as well.  Specifically, as it relates to SlaughterHouse Workers (SHWs), there was a study published in the journal Trauma Violence Abuse, which draws the following conclusions regarding issues that these individuals often suffer from: ” It was found that SHWs have a higher prevalence rate of mental health issues, in particular depression and anxiety, in addition to violence-supportive attitudes. Furthermore, the workers employ a variety of both adaptive and maladaptive strategies to cope with the workplace environment and associated stressors. Finally, there is some evidence that slaughterhouse work is associated with increased crime levels. The research reviewed has shown a link between slaughterhouse work and antisocial behavior generally and sexual offending specifically. There was no support for such an association with violent crimes, however….”

All of these reasons provide a compelling argument for those who follow biblical law and scripture to change their diet.  Plant-based diets can save the environment more quickly than recycling or buying an electric car. You not only save millions of gallons of water every year, but you also protect against deforestation. Acres and acres of forest are cut down every year to make more land to grow food for the cows to eat.  Since for every 100 calories of feed you give to a cow you get out about 17 calories, it’s an extremely inefficient and wasteful system.  To produce one hamburger, it takes 400-450 gallons of water, whereas a Beyond Burger takes only 2 gallons to produce. 

So for many people who have chosen to investigate this dietary change, the main conclusion they can come to from an environmental and religious perspective is that people can do more to save the planet, sustaining it for future generations in the best way possible, by going plant-based. For people of faith, we all can be worthy of holding a plant-based diet and living in a world where all creatures live in peace as a North Star,  something to aspire to.  

While it can be difficult to change one’s diet, everything worth doing in life is a challenge.  Starting a business, going to college, and adopting a plant-based diet are all challenging.  But they are all worth doing because reducing suffering is worth that effort when you see how beneficial it can be. 

Banner Image: Quote from Rabbi Bernhard. Image Credit – Rabbi Bernhard

Staten Islander News Service Staff Writer

This byline indicates that this article was penned by a member/members of the Staten Islander News Organization office team. Our staff writers are the backbone of our newspaper, performing all sorts of important tasks like conducting interviews, investigating leads, besides writing the news stories you see.