The Shamayim V’Aretz Institute

Jewish ethics. Heavenly ideals. Earthly compassion.

Is Today’s Meat Kosher?

1. Noda Biyhuda, Tinyana, Yoreh De’ah 10: Actual killing is not considered causing an animal to suffer, and there is therefore no prohibition.

2. Mishna Breurah, Hilchot Yom Kippur 705:1:2: Since they (people who do kapparot) slaughter many chickens there is not enough time to be careful with the slaughter and have proper intent.

-  Kapparot: Some Jews swing chickens around their heads and then slaughter them in order to atone for their sins prior to Yom Kippur. There is a debate in the Jewish community whether this should be permitted.

3. The Nimmukei Yosef, Bava Metzia: The prohibition of Tzaar Baalei Chaim applies to great distress, but not to slight distress.

4. Rabbi Moshe Feinstein regarding veal: With regard to calf slaughter that has recommenced recently, the animals are fattened with very rich liquids that are not intended for animals, which is in opposition to what is stated in the Talmud (tractate Bechoros 39). In addition, this makes the animals ill, causing them to need all types of medication. Highly skilled ritual slaughterers have themselves only deemed some 16% of the animals as kosher . . . Therefore, it is appropriate that this should be forbidden, and G-d-fearing persons should not eat this type of veal even if their internal organs are checked. Without examining the internal organs, these animals may not be deemed kosher at all.

5. The Ohr Hachaim Hakadosh, Vayikra 17:11: We have no right to kill an animal needlessly.

6. Rabbi David Rosen, former Chief Rabbi of Ireland, Rabbis and Vegetarianism, p.53: The current treatment of animals in the livestock trade definitely renders the consumption of meat as halachically unacceptable as the product of illegitimate means.

Questions

1.  Do you think the Mishna Breurah (source 2) would consider actual killing (source 1) to be a problem if the animals suffered prior to death? To what extent do you think source 1 is okay with suffering prior to killing?

2.  How would you definite great distress and slight distress (source 3)? How does R’Moshe Feinstein view the prohibition? How does R’David Rosen?

3.  Today, when animals are not needed for food do you think the Ohr HaChaim Hakadosh would allow for their slaughter?