Chanukah and Vegetarianism
by Richard H. Schwartz -rschw12345@aol.com
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 to "avoid being polluted like the
rest" when they hid in the mountains to avoid capture.
2. The foods associated with Channukah,
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.
3. Chanukah represents the triumph of
non-conformity. The Maccabees fought for 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 McDonald's and similar fast food establishments are
expanding, 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 rather than the values of the
surrounding society, over the many. 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 result in 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 produce a pound of edible
beef in a feed lot. 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, and soaring
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 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 annually in the
United States alone over 9 billion animals are killed for their flesh
after suffering from cruel treatment on factory farms.
Richard H. Schwartz
Professor Emeritus, Mathematics College of Staten Island
2800 Victory Boulevard Staten Island, NY 10314 USA (718) 982-3621
Email address: Schwartz@postbox.csi.cuny.edu Fax: (718) 982-3631
Author of Judaism and Vegetarianism,
Judaism and Global Survival,
and Mathematics and Global Survival.
Patron of the International Jewish Vegetarian Society.
My 100 articles on Judaism and
Vegetarianism are on the internet at
http://www.jewishveg.com/schwartz/ (Please share them with others.) My
infomercial interview is at http://www.tjwalker.com/schwartz.htm
Go on to Doggie
Christmas Carols
Return to
24 December 2000 Issue
Return to
Newsletters
** Fair Use Notice**
This document may contain copyrighted material, use of which has not been
specifically authorized by the copyright owners. I believe that this
not-for-profit, educational use on the Web constitutes a fair use of the
copyrighted material (as provided for in section 107 of the US Copyright
Law). If you wish to use this copyrighted material for purposes of your
own that go beyond fair use, you must obtain permission from the copyright
owner.
