Cracking Tradition: Should Eggs Still Have a Place in Jewish Rituals?

Cracking Tradition: Should Eggs Still Have a Place in Jewish Rituals? 

In Jewish culture, eggs play a prominent role in ritual, symbolizing renewal, rebirth, and resilience, especially on the Passover seder plate. However, the modern egg industry’s practices raise ethical questions, suggesting that eating eggs may not align with a morally conscientious Jewish lifestyle. From the cruel treatment of male chicks to misleading “free-range” labels, here we delve into the ethical issues surrounding eggs through the lens of Jewish values and tradition. 

The World Is Egg-cellent? Think Again 

Many consumers are unaware of the disturbing truths of the egg industry. Although egg production appears benign, it often involves severe suffering due to a lack of welfare standards. Male chicks, unable to lay eggs, are culled immediately after birth. This “culling” process includes methods such as suffocation and maceration (grinding the chicks alive). An estimated 6 billion male chicks are killed globally each year due to their lack of economic value. 

Female hens don’t fare much better. Though they are kept alive to lay eggs, many live in cramped environments that prevent natural behaviors, leading to both psychological and physical suffering. The “cage-free” and “free-range” labels offer limited relief, as these conditions don’t guarantee adequate space or humane treatment. 

While “free-range”/”cage-free” eggs are a slight improvement in animal welfare, there is very loose regulation around these terms. According to the USDA, free-range means the birds must have access to the outdoors for an undetermined period each day. This can mean a hen spends her life crowded in a space with tens of thousands of birds in a windowless, warehouse-style shed, with just a small door opened to the outside, sometimes not even accessible to all of the birds. Practices like “beak trimming” and “chick culling” are found on industrial farms that sell these higher welfare eggs.

Wake Up: Egg Production Does Harm Chickens 

A common misconception is that egg production doesn’t harm chickens because they’re not killed for meat. But the facts reveal otherwise: hens are bred to lay eggs at an unnaturally high rate to meet industrial demand, which results in serious health issues. Selective breeding has led hens to lay 250 to 300 eggs per year, compared to 10 to 15 annually in natural conditions. This high production causes reproductive issues, osteoporosis, and increased mortality rates among hens. 

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The Commandment of Tza’ar Ba’alei Chayim and Jewish Ethics 

The principle of tza’ar ba’alei chayim emphasizes that humans must prevent animal suffering whenever possible. This ethical mandate challenges the continued use of industrially produced eggs, given the harm inflicted on animals. Additionally, eggs are classified as pareve (neutral) in Jewish dietary law, meaning they are neither dairy nor meat. This neutrality provides a pathway for some confusion for some Jews to forego seeing eggs as connected to a potential violation of ethical standards given the dietary rules. One can be oblivious of the animal cruelty involved given the pareve status. 

For individuals who observe religious and ethical principles, the suffering caused by industrial animal products merits careful reflection. Acknowledging this suffering aligns with tza’ar ba’alei chayim, the Jewish commandment against causing unnecessary harm to animals, which urges humane treatment.  

An Egg’s Symbolism of Liberation During Passover 

Eggs hold symbolic significance in Jewish observances, particularly on the Seder plate during Passover, where they represent the cycle of life and rebirth, as well as Jewish perseverance. However, placing an egg on the Seder plate is a custom rather than a requirement. Many Jewish vegans substitute a roasted mushroom to honor this symbolism without endorsing animal suffering.

This substitution resonates with Passover’s liberation theme, inviting us to reflect on our impact on sentient beings. Just as Passover celebrates the Jewish people’s freedom from oppression, choosing egg alternatives allows individuals to practice compassion in a world where animals are often systemically exploited. 

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Egg-Free Alternatives for Jewish Dishes 

Fortunately, there are many vegan recipes that honor Jewish traditions without eggs. Shamayim: Jewish Animal Advocacy, a Jewish animal advocacy organization, offers a recipe for egg-free challah as part of its efforts to promote compassionate Jewish cooking. Ingredients like applesauce and flaxseed can replace eggs without sacrificing texture or flavor. Shamayim’s Egg-Free Challah Campaign demonstrates that egg substitutes allow Jews to uphold traditions while honoring animals. 

Vegan egg alternatives, such as JUST Egg and Follow Your Heart VeganEgg, replicate the function and texture of eggs in recipes. From chickpea flour omelets to tofu scrambles, plant-based options for classic Jewish foods are accessible and delicious. 

Protecting our Air, Land, and Water

Eggs are not the most environmentally-friendly foods either. Did you know that it takes roughly 600 gallons of water to produce one dozen eggs? (50 gallons per egg) For animal-sourced foods like eggs, the water needed to produce the product is much higher than plant-based foods since the feed going to the animals counts towards the water footprint. Most of the water required for eggs comes from feeding the chickens, which is typically a soy or corn-based feed. To put it into perspective:

If your congregation baked 5 loaves of challah every Shabbat and used 3 eggs in each loaf, that adds up to 750 gallons of water a week, or 39,000 gallons of water per year just for the eggs used in Challah.

A Call for Compassion in Jewish Lifestyle 

Beyond dietary choices, the hidden cruelty of the egg industry urges a deeper conversation about ethics in Jewish practices. Rabbi Abraham Joshua Heschel once stated, “In a free society, some are guilty, but all are responsible.”  For those following Jewish values, consuming industrially produced eggs raises significant ethical questions. Embracing veganism aligns with Jewish principles of compassion and mercy, serving as an active stance against oppression. 

The humane treatment of all creatures, justice, and liberation are principles central to Jewish teachings. By opting for vegan eating and egg-free alternatives, Jews can honor the Exodus themes of resilience and freedom in a way that extends beyond humanity, fostering an inclusive approach to all sentient beings.