JEWISH GROUP RELEASES DOCUMENTARY; URGES JEWISH COMMUNITY TO CONFRONT GROWING GLOBAL ENVIRONMENTAL THREATS

Jewish Vegetarians of North America (JVNA) today announced the initiation of a major campaign to get the worldwide Jewish community to respond to current global environmental threats. This coincides with the release of its groundbreaking documentary A SACRED DUTY: APPLYING JEWISH VALUES TO HELP HEAL THE WORLD.

The one-hour movie was produced by multiple-award-winning producer/director/writer and cinematographer Lionel Friedberg. It includes Scriptural readings read by the acclaimed Jewish star of Broadway and screen Theodore Bikel. The documentary features interviews with leading Israeli and American environmental, health, vegetarian and animal rights activists as well as Orthodox, Conservative, Reform, Reconstructionist and secular leaders. It incorporates compelling scenes filmed in Israel, the U.S. and many other countries.

Richard Schwartz, president of JVNA and author of “Judaism and Global Survival” stated: “Daily reports discuss the alarming and rapidly increasing effects of global climate change, such as record heat waves, severe storms, widespread droughts, and the melting of glaciers and polar ice caps. Scientists are warning that global climate change may spin out of control with disastrous consequences unless major changes are soon made. Recent evidence indicates that our oceans may be virtually free of fish by 2050. Species of plants and animals are disappearing at the fastest rate in history. It is now projected that half of the world's people will live in areas chronically short of water within three or four decades. It is essential that the Jewish community fulfill our mandates to be shomrei ha'adamah (guardians of the Earth) and a 'light unto the nations' and spearhead efforts to address these critical issues. A SACRED DUTY has the potential to inspire the Jewish community to accept this challenge.”

JVNA is urging that tikkun olam- the healing and repair of the world -- be a central issue in synagogues, Jewish schools and other Jewish institutions. “Judaism has splendid teachings on environmental conservation and sustainability, and it is essential that they be applied to respond to the many current environmental threats,” producer/director Lionel Friedberg stated.

JVNA also stated that dietary concerns should be considered in terms of its important, but generally overlooked, environmental impacts. Schwartz says: “In view of the many threats to humanity, it is scandalous that the world is not only trying to feed 6.5 billion people, but also over 50 billion farmed animals; that 70 percent of the grain produced in the United States and over a third produced worldwide are fed to animals raised for slaughter; that the standard American diet requires up to 14 times as much water as a vegan diet.”

JVNA urges rabbis and other Jewish leaders to make Jews aware of how animal-based diets and agriculture violate basic Jewish mandates to preserve human health, treat animals humanely , protect the environment, conserve natural resources and help hungry people. “For a long time we have been arguing that the production and consumption of meat and other animal products violate at least six basic Jewish teachings, Schwartz stated.” “We have been trying to have a respectful dialogue/debate on whether Jews should be vegetarians, as this is a key component to solving current environmental problems We think that rabbis should prove that we are wrong or admit that we are correct, and instruct their congregants that Jews should not continue to eat these products. Failure to do so seems inconsistent with the historic rabbinic role of educating Jews as to what actions are acceptable and non-acceptable, and misses the opportunity to help make people aware that what they put on their plates is more important than what they put into their gas tanks..”

Further information about A SACRED DUTY can be found at A Sacred Duty. Additional information about Jewish teachings on environmental, health, animal-welfare and related issues can be found at the JVNA web site Jewish Veg.

JVNA will provide complimentary copies of A SACRED DUTY and supplementary materials to members of the media and to rabbis who will contact them e-mail him) and indicate how they will use them to involve their congregations in considering Jewish teachings about responding to current threats.


Richard H. Schwartz, Ph.D.
Professor Emeritus, College of Staten Island
Author of "Judaism and Vegetarianism," "Judaism and Global Survival," and "Mathematics and Global Survival," and over 130 articles at Jewish Veg Schwartz
President of Jewish Vegetarians of North America (JVNA) Jewish Veg e-mail him Phone: (718) 761-5876 and Society of Ethical and Religious Vegetarians (SERV)
Associate Producer of A SACRED DUTY
e-mail him