On this show, Lori Welcomed Richard Schwartz, Professor Emeritus, College of Staten Island and President of Jewish Vegetarians of North America. Richard announced and described his new effort to revive and modernize an ancient Jewish holiday to benfit animals and the environment. The new hoilday is called Rosh Hashana La’B’heimot (New Year for Animals), and will replace Rosh Hashana L’Ma’aser (New Year’s Day for Tithing Animals). For decades, Richard has been encouraging Jews and people of all religions to treat animals with greater respect and compasion. This renewal and transformation of a holiday is analagous to Tu b’shevat, which now is sort of an Israeli arbor day. (It bagan as the time when farmers were assessed a yearly tax.)
Richard contends that a central part of being religious is having compassion, including towards animals.
Visit his websites:
Jewish Vegetarians of North America
Online articles by Richard Schwartz
Jewish Vegetarians on facebook
Leave a Reply