I run across this topic a lot, so I thought it was definitely blogworthy. I often meet Jewish vegetarians or am asked if we are encouraged not to eat meat. While I think there are many Jews, both religious and not religious, who are vegetarians, I don’t think the Jewish tradition either encourages or discourages vegetarianism.
Meat-eating began with the time of Noah. After the Flood, G-d told Noah that he was permitted to eat animals as long as they were cruelly slaughtered. Before then, all people were vegetarians, and in appreciation for Noah’s saving the animals and righteous behavior, he was allowed the privilege of eating meat.
Jews are allowed to eat meat only if it is slaughtered in a proper manner. We are not allowed to eat animals that died of natural causes or were severely mutiltated. All animals we eat (with the exception of fish) must be slaughtered by one who is knowledgeable of the laws pertaining to kosher slaughter. The actual killing is done as humanely as possible with one stroke of a sharp knife. The slaughtering has to be done in one stroke or else the animal is not kosher. All “mistakes” are sent to regular meat-processing plants and the kosher meat is saved and sold with certification.
Still, many Jews decide to avoid the option of eating kosher meat and prefer not to eat any living thing. This certainly makes keeping kosher somewhat easier, although one should be aware that natural foods and vegetables must be checked carefully for bugs. While it is a commandment to eat meat on Shabbat and holidays, I have heard one Rabbi said if someone is disgusted by the idea of eating meat, that would interfere with his enjoyment of the special day, and he needed eat meat. Different rabbis have different opinions.
I know vegetarians who are Reform, Conservative and Orthodox Jews, even Chassidim. They either don’t like meat or don’t think the way of transporting animals for kosher slaughter is sufficiently humane to justify eating meat (while acknowledging the killing itself is humane). Others aren’t sure they can rely on local kosher butchers or can’t find meat with their special kosher symbols. Some eat meat only on holidays.
Judaism allows for a variety of viewpoints on the subject of eating meat. It shows how diverse our culture is.