Bridging the Gap Between Jewish and Muslim Vegans

Judaism and Islam, two Abrahamic faiths, emphasize compassion for animals and encourage their followers to minimize or eliminate meat and dairy consumption. While their dietary laws differ, this article will explore how both traditions can be seen to view veganism not just as an ethical imperative but as a sacred duty, honoring the planet and all life as part of G-d’s divine creation. These shared values offer a powerful foundation for collaboration, uniting communities to advance compassion and sustainability through veganism.

Judaism and Islam both have dietary laws guiding permissible foods and practices that prioritize ethics and spiritual purity:

• Judaism follows the laws of Kashrut, meaning fit or proper. For meat to be considered kosher, it must be from a ruminant animal with split hooves, such as cows and sheep, and fish must have both fins and scales, like salmon. Animals have to be ritually slaughtered, a process called Shechitah, by a trained slaughterer, known as a Shochet. Blood consumption is forbidden, requiring meat to undergo the Melichah process of salting and rinsing. Shechitah is thought to have been introduced to minimize the suffering of animals, but research shows that the ritual slaughter process may not be the most advanced way to reduce suffering, and in fact, may actually increase suffering compared to more modern techniques that involve pre-slaughter stunning.

• Islam follows the laws of Halal, meaning acceptable or sanctified. Halal food must both be Tayyib, meaning good, and avoid containing forbidden Haram items like pork, decaying flesh, and blood. Again, animals must be ritually slaughtered with the Bismillah prayer, but unlike Kosher laws, the additional Melichah process is not required. 

Photo by Jack Sparrow : https://www.pexels.com/photo/falafel-and-hummus-on-plate-4046770/

While the laws of Kashrut and Halal teach Jews and Muslims about the food that they can eat, we can get a better sense of the food that we should eat by reading other parts of the holy scriptures, the Torah and the Quran, respectively. The Torah instructs Jews not to cause pain to living creatures, known as Tsa’ar ba-alei chayim, and to repair the world, known as Tikkun Olam. The Quran instructs Muslims to act as a Khalifah, meaning steward, of the earth and all within it. 

The overwhelming majority of meat and dairy comes from animals that are raised in factory farms. Being confined in barren and overcrowded cages, mutilated, and bred to maximize productivity at the expense of health and welfare, factory farming is the largest cause of animal abuse and suffering on the planet. On top of this, it is a leading cause of climate change, causing environmental damage, deforestation, greenhouse gas emissions, biodiversity collapse, and pollution. It is impossible to act as Khalifah or engage in Tikkun Olam when contributing to factory farming through the consumption of meat and dairy.

Consuming factory-farmed meat, whether Kosher or Halal, clearly conflicts with the principles of avoiding Tsa’ar ba-alei chayim and only consuming food considered Tayyib. Many Jewish and Muslim scholars affirm that adopting a vegan lifestyle is the most faithful way to uphold Kashrut and Halal, as it eliminates any doubt about causing harm to G-d’s creations. This explains why increasing numbers of Jewish and Muslim scholars, such as the authors, are encouraging people to go vegan.

Jews and Muslims, both separately and in interfaith collaboration, have created many animal welfare and vegan advocacy organizations. Examples of collaboration include this recent panel discussion hosted by The Peace Advocacy Network. Working together in this way, Jewish and Muslim animal advocates can multiply the reach and impact of their work. Coming together to promote teachings of peace, dignity, and compassion for all life and sentient beings, Muslims and Jews have an incredible opportunity to build interfaith relations and reduce suffering in the world through joint advocacy. There is no cause more noble than protecting the lives of innocent beings, and there is no better way to do this than by working together with a shared goal of peace.

Animal advocacy doesn’t just involve going vegan. There is so much we can all do to improve the lives of animals and protect the environment. If you’re not ready or able to fully give up meat and dairy, try to reduce your consumption as much as you possibly can, and be mindful of the impact you’re having when you eat meat and dairy. You can write to your local government official to ask them to support laws that improve the lives of animals, or pressure food businesses to improve their welfare policies and offer more vegan alternatives. Engage your friends, family, and community about veganism, sharing key information and relevant religious teachings to show them that veganism is the best way to live by G-d’s teachings.

With plant-based alternatives readily available, do we not have a moral duty to eliminate meat and dairy from our diets? If we can prevent animal suffering, protect the environment, and reduce diet-related diseases, why not swap schnitzel for soy protein and lamb for lentils? By going vegan, we can still eat food considered Kosher and Halal, while having the diet most aligned with the teachings of the Torah and Quran.

Authored by:

• Rabbi Shmuly Yanklowitz – CEO of Shamayim: Jewish Animal Advocacy
• Written collaboratively with a Pakistani Muslim vegan