European rabbis: Shechitah could come under legislative attack in EU

Published on August 7, 2012

A prominent European rabbinical group has warned that kosher slaughter could come under further attack this year in European Union countries.

Boys and their animal instincts

By Julia Bendis
Published on September 5, 2011

Calif. synagogue holding animal blessing

Published on January 4, 2011

A Southern California synagogue is having its third annual “blessing of the animals.” Congregation Dor Hadash in San Diego holds the event in honor of Tu b’Shevat, the 15th day of Nissan, which this year falls on Jan. 20. Pet owners are invited to bring their pets to the Reconstructionist shul by noon Sunday, Jan. 9, where they will be blessed by Rabbi Yael Ridburg. Furred, winged and swimming creatures are all welcome -- from cats to turtles.

The Omnivore’s Curse [Recipe & Photos Included]

By Rob Eshman
Published on January 7, 2010

But Is It Kosher?

By Rob Eshman
Published on June 8, 2006

It surprised me that a company well-known for its concern for animal well-being and food safety would deem anything kosher treif, or unfit. Long before Whole Foods was even a glimmer in the eye of the Prius-tocracy, hadn't we Jews been telling ourselves and others that we were practicing humane slaughter and thoughtful animal husbandry -- embodied in the very laws of kashrut? What did Whole Foods know that I didn't?

Video Takes Bite Out of Kosher Slaughter

By Gabriel Sanders
Published on April 20, 2006

Jonathan Safran Foer, author of the best-selling novel, "Everything Is Illuminated" (Houghton Mifflin, 2002) and last year's "Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close" (Houghton Mifflin) released a video earlier this month in which he argues that the slaughtering practices employed by modern factory farms are out of step with the spirit of the kosher laws. The film ultimately calls upon viewers to consider vegetarianism.

For the Kids

By Abby Gilad
Published on November 20, 2003

In Old English, the month of November was called "blood month." It was a month of animal sacrifices that took place to prepare for the long winter.

For the Kids

By Abby Gilad
Published on September 4, 2003

Last week, we learned not to cut down the fruit trees of our enemies in times of war because, as the Torah says, the trees are "not our enemy."

News That’s Fit to Paw Print

By Melissa Maroff
Published on August 21, 2003

"The Pet Press is distributed to pet-related venues and many other places, including libraries, car washes and my favorite locations -- Jewish delicatessens from Calabasas to Long Beach ... and all points in between," Lori Golden said.

Wild Lessons

By Abby Gilad
Published on March 27, 2003

Kids Page

What is Your Name?

By Rabbi Ed Feinstein
Published on January 25, 2001

God created the animals and brought them, one by one, before man to see what he would name them. Man examined the essence of each creature and assigned its name. So teaches Genesis.

Briefs:  KFC protest; tradition, tradition, tradition

Published on January 10, 2001

Avital van Leeuwen, 12, took a stand against animal cruelty for her bat mitzvah project by protesting in front of a Van Nuys Kentucky Fried Chicken (KFC) on Sunday, Dec. 23.

Operation: GobbleCrying ‘fowl’ on Thanksgiving by feeding, not eating, a turkey.

By Jane Ulman
Published on November 16, 2000

Judaism commands us to be kind to animals.

Service for the Dogs and Cats

By Naomi Pfefferman
Published on November 16, 2000

The rabbi wore a pooch-print tie.
The rebbetzin sported a pussycat brooch and a doggy bone pin "to give equal time" to man's best friends. The congregants arrived two by two, with canines and felines in tow.

Let’s Hear It for the Ram

By Marlene Adler Marks
Published on September 16, 1999

Sunset on Sunday. As Rosh Hashanah was ending, the local Chabad rabbi and a friend were walking down the hillside outside my home carrying rams' horns.

Jerusalem’s Catwoman

By Naomi Pfefferman
Published on March 18, 1999

Gotham City had its Catwoman. Now Jerusalem has one of its own.

Up Front

Published on February 26, 1998

Yes, Israel has bigger problems than its cats anddogs. But, as the cliché goes -- we think it was original whenGeorge Bernard Shaw said it -- the truest measure of a society'sadvancement is how it treats its animals.

Reviving a Shul, One Goat at a Time

By Rob Eshman
Published on December 4, 1997

Note to future rabbis: If you want to make a lasting firstimpression with your congregants, nothing beats farm animals on thebimah. Just ask anyone at Temple Adat Shalom in West LosAngeles. It's been almost four months since Michael Resnick took overthere, and they're still talking about his goats.

Chabad’s Shofar Factory…

By Ruth Stroud
Published on September 25, 1997

Thousands of Los Angeles-area youngsters participate in hands-on workshops.

Chabad’s Shofar Factory…It’s a Blast

Published on August 28, 1997

Quick, what's a kosher animal with horns that can be used to makea shofar?

Uh, well, everyone knows the answer to that. A ram, right?

OK. Right. But name another kosher animal with horns good formaking a shofar.

Bzzzzzz! Your time is up.

But the several thousand Los Angeles-area day- and Hebrew-schoolchildren participating in Chabad's Traveling Shofar Factory know theanswer: The long, spiraling horns of the male kudu, a type of Africanantelope, are often used to make the shofarim employed in Sephardicsynagogues.