Are there Jewish Laws that dictate the treatment of food animals while alive??
Answer Dear Michael, Thanks for writing. I’ve taken this time to be certain of my facts in responding to your most sensitive note. Jews from the time of the Ten Commandments were required to rest and feed our animals a before we ourselves observe the Sabbath. From the earliest time of our laws we have considered it a “mitzvah” or divine commandment to care for our animals. Albeit still a minority position, modern Conservative Judaism has confronted the current pattern of force-feeding of geese for foi-gras and the enforced lack of activity for veal. Previously, the Law Committee ruled that “hoisting and shackling” was unacceptable for the slaughtering of animals because it was considered unnecessarily painful. Most importantly today, the Conservative Movement has taken the position that not only should the slaughtering procedure take into consideration the pain and suffering of the animal but also the ethical treatment of those human beings who work in the slaughter-houses. This came a
