| Student Opinion |
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| Written by Aaron Sussman | |||||
| Wednesday, 22 December 2004 | |||||
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A Bunch of Animals: PETA and the Laws of Shechitah In Israel and throughout the Middle East, pita is usually filled with falafel, shawarma, or other assorted delicacies. The other kind of PETA, though, is full of something else. One of the recent targets of PETA’s whining has been AgriProcessors, a kosher slaughtering facility that PETA claims violates humane slaughter laws. This is a classic case of a mom-and-pop business being attacked by Big Animal Rights (whoever started AgriProcessors was probably somebody’s pop – or, though it’s unlikely, mom). Humane slaughter laws state that an animal has to be anesthetized before being made delicious, but Jews, the “Chosen Meat Packers,” are exempted through a Talmudic loophole known as “Kosher Law.” Under this “law,” the fully conscious animal must be killed through the simultaneous cutting of the carotid arteries by the sharpest possible knife. PETA accused AgriProcessors of adhering neither to humane slaughter laws or the kosher ritual of killing the animal, known as “shechitah.” PETA does not understand that the letter of the law – “the animal must be killed painlessly” – is different than the spirit of the law – “let’s eat.” PETA’s web site implores, “Maybe after seeing the fear and pain on the faces of the animals we captured on videotape, you will go vegetarian and persuade family and friends to join you.” Hey PETA: maybe after seeing the fear and pain on the face of my Uncle Heshy when he can’t get his brisket, you will understand the plight of the Jewish people and then persuade your imaginary family and friends to join you. AgriProcessors is a victim here – a faceless, corporate, water-polluting, EPA-investigated victim. Regardless of how unethical the Angels of Death at AgriProcessors are, at least they can say, “we’re not out of our minds,” unlike the folks at PETA. The latter are the same people who sent a stern letter to Arafat decrying the death of a donkey used in a bombing in Israel. These are also the same people who launched an ad campaign comparing the treatment of chickens to the Nazis’ treatment of Holocaust victims. PETA occasionally has a useful purpose in keeping checks on the corporations in the food production industry. But for an animal-rights organization to so often be at odds with Jewish groups is highly suspect, providing more than enough reason to believe that they use their limited platform as a way to convey their views on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. If PETA members want to take a break from their bestial pleasures and weigh in on issues in the Middle East, that is fine. But don’t hide behind animal-rights just to outrage the Jewish community.
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