Is vegetarianism kosher?
In principle, vegetarianism is compatible with Judaism. In fact, there are those who find reasons within Jewish thought supporting vegetarianism. However, Judaism categorically rejects the radical animal rights position that animals have the same rights as people. It should also be kept in mind that, in traditional circles at least, vegetarianism may be considered somewhat “strange”. From the traditional viewpoint, vegetarianism for anything other than health reasons is not supported, for the following reasons: * “Ethical Vegetarianism” is rejected because it is G-d who allows us to eat animals. The laws of shechita (ritual slaughter) are designed to provide a compassionate way to kill the animals for eating. * Eating animals actually elevates the animal. In traditional thought, animals can only do so much. When a jew makes a blessing, eats animal products, and then uses that energy to do mitzvos, (s)he is elevating the animal to G-dliness in a way that the animal could not do itself.
