Richard H. Schwartz, Ph.D. - [email protected]
Many connections can be made between vegetarianism and
the Jewish festival of Chanukah:
1. According to the Book of Maccabees, some Maccabees
lived on plant foods since they were unable to get kosher meat when they
hid in the mountains to avoid capture.
2. The foods associated with Chanukah, latkes (potato
pancakes) and sufganiyot (fried donuts) are vegetarian foods, and the
oils that are used in their preparation are a reminder of the oil used
in the lighting of the Menorah in the rededication of the Temple after
the Maccabean victory.
3. Chanukah represents the triumph of non-conformity.
The Maccabees stuck to their inner beliefs, rather than conforming to
external pressure. They were willing to say: This I believe, this I
stand for, this I am willing to struggle for. Today, vegetarians
represent non-conformity. At a time when most people in the wealthier
countries think of animal products as the main part of their meals, when
the number of McDonald's and similar fast food establishments are
growing rapidly, when almost all celebrations involve an abundance of
animal products, vegetarians are resisting and insisting that there is a
better, healthier, more humane diet.
4. Chanukah represents the victory of the few, who
practiced God's teachings, over the many, who acted according to the
values of the surrounding society. Today vegetarians are a very small
minority in most countries, but they believe that, consistent with God's
original diet (Genesis 1:29), and religious mandates to preserve our
health, treat animals with compassion, protect the environment, preserve
natural resources, and share with hungry people, vegetarianism is the
dietary approach most consistent with Jewish values.
5. Chanukah commemorates the miracle of the oil that was
enough for only one day, but miraculously lasted for eight days. A
switch to vegetarianism on the part of the world's people could help
cause an even greater miracle: the end of the scandal of world hunger
which results in the death of an estimated 20 million people annually,
while over a third of the world's grain is fed to animals destined for
slaughter.
6. It is interesting that the ratio of eight days that
the oil burned compared to the one day of burning capacity that the oil
had is the same ratio (8 to 1) that is often given for the pounds of
grain that are necessary to add a pound to a cow in a feed lot (a ratio
of 16 to 1 is often given for the amount of edible beef produced). The
miracle of the oil brings the use of fuel and other resources into
focus, and vegetarian diets make resources go much further, since far
less water, fuel, land, pesticides, fertilizer, and other agricultural
resources are required for plant-based diets than for animal-centered
diets.
7. Chanukah also commemorates the rededication of the
Temple in Jerusalem after it was defiled by the Syrian-Greeks. The
Hebrew root of the word Chanukah means dedication. Today, a shift to
vegetarianism can be a major factor in the rededication and renewal of
Judaism, because it would show that Jewish values are relevant to
everyday Jewish life and to addressing current problems, such as hunger,
pollution, resource scarcity, global climate change, and huge health
care expenditures.
8. Candles are lit during each night of Chanukah,
symbolizing a turning from darkness to light, from despair to hope.
According to the prophet Isaiah, the role of Jews is to be a "light unto
the nations" (Isaiah 42:6). Vegetarianism can be a way of adding light
to the darkness of a world with slaughterhouses, factory farms, and
vivisection laboratories, as well as other symbols of oppression.
9. Chanukah commemorates the deliverance of the Jews
from the Syrian Greeks. So, today, vegetarianism can be a step toward
deliverance from modern problems such as hunger, pollution, and resource
scarcities.
10. On the Sabbath during Chanukah, the prophetic
portion indicates that difficulties can best be overcome "not by might
and not by power, but by my spirit, says the Lord of hosts" (Zechariah
4:6). Today, Jewish vegetarians are arguing that the way to a better,
less violent world is not by exercising our power over animals, but by
applying the spirit of God, "whose tender mercies are over all of His
creatures" (Psalm 145:9).
11. The Hebrew root of the word Chanukah also means
education, Jewish vegetarians believe that if Jews were educated about
the horrible realities of factory farming and the powerful Jewish
mandates about taking care of our health, showing compassion to animals,
protecting the environment, conserving resources, and helping hungry
people, they would seriously consider switching to vegetarian diets.
12. At the morning services during each day of Chanukah,
there is a recitation of Hallel, the psalms of praise from Psalm 113 to
118. During the Sabbath of Chanukah and every other Sabbath during the
year, the morning service has a prayer that begins, "The soul of all
living creatures shall praise God's name". Yet, it is hard for animals
to join in the praise of God when in the United States alone almost 10
billion animals are killed annually for their flesh after suffering from
cruel treatment on factory farms.
In view of these and other connections, I hope that Jews
will enhance their celebrations of the beautiful and spiritually
meaningful holiday of Chanukah by making it a time to begin striving
even harder to live up to Judaism's highest moral values and teachings
by moving toward a vegetarian diet.
Richard H. Schwartz, PhD
Professor Emeritus, College of Staten Island
2800 Victory Boulevard, Staten Island, NY 10314
Phone: (718) 761-5876 Fax: (718) 982-3631
E-mail [email protected]
Author of Judaism and Vegetarianism, Judaism and Global Survival, and
Mathematics and Global Survival.
Over 100 articles at
http://jewishveg.com/schwartz
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