Use of Animals in Jewish Tradition

On June, 1964 a Commission was appointed in Scotland with the purpose of “examining the conditions in which livestock are kept under systems of intensive husbandry and to advise whether standards ought to be set in the interests of their welfare, and if so what they should be”. The Commission concluded its work recommending that for farm animals, at least 5 basic conditions, or freedoms, should be granted: Freedom from hunger and thirst; from discomfort; from pain, injury, or disease; from fear and distress; and to express normal behavior. In Judaism these concepts were already known for the last 32 centuries, being included in the Law (The Torah), even if otherwise declined; extensively commented by Sages thru generations until today; still considered valid and ethic; even influencing the Legislator or the Judiciary power. Protecting animals from harmful or dangerous situations, and minimizing any traumatic event, abstaining from any intentional traumatic action, and abstaining from any unnecessarily painful action, these are the basic teaching of Judaism relative to animal welfare. Judaism sees in animal’s protection a powerful teaching for the respect of all the Creation and its protection. Granting the animals the satisfaction of their needs does not mean placing them at same level of man. In fact, their use is allowed, while highly regulated; their killing is also permitted in order to supply food to man; and again their killing must be done in a painless manner possible. Judaism developed a highly skilled and regulated way, the shechita, for slaughtering animals considered for food production, aimed to be quick, precise and as painless as possible; exclusively using skilled professionals. Today, in several European Countries, shechita is under scrutiny, with erroneous accusations of malpractice. In other Countries, like the USA, it is legally protected and clearly included among the humane ways of slaughter which are granted to be used.