Asa Keisar facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Asa Keisar
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| אסא קיסר | |
Keisar at the Kibbutzim College in 2014
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| Born | September 1, 1973 Kiryat Ono, Israel
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| Nationality | Israeli |
| Years active | 2014-present |
| Known for | Vegan advocacy |
| Children | 4 |
Asa Keisar (born September 1, 1973) is an Israeli Jewish scholar and rabbi. He is well-known for supporting veganism. He believes that being vegan is important in the Torah (Jewish teachings). He says it helps avoid being cruel to animals. He also thinks it is the best way for people to live.
Contents
Early Life and Education
Asa Keisar grew up in Kiryat Ono, Israel. His family followed a religious Jewish lifestyle. His family background is Yemenite Jewish. He was raised as a vegetarian. Later, he chose to become a vegan. He served in the Israeli army. After that, he studied at a religious school called a yeshiva in Israel.
Why Asa Keisar Supports Veganism
Keisar became a vegan after learning about how animals are treated. He found out about problems in large egg and dairy farms. In 2015, he wrote a book called Velifnei Iver. This name means Before the Blind. It refers to a rule in the Book of Leviticus. This rule says, "Do not put a stumbling block before the blind."
Veganism and Jewish Law
In his book, Keisar argues that eating meat and animal products is not allowed today. This is because of the cruelty animals face in modern farming. He uses ideas from the Bible, Talmud, and halachic (Jewish law) sources. He believes that veganism is the ideal way to eat for Jewish people.
He explains that while the Torah allows eating meat, not everything allowed should be done. He says eating meat was permitted as a special case. It was like how owning slaves was allowed long ago. Keisar encourages people in Israel to eat plant-based foods. This is because of how animals are treated in farms. He says that modern factory farms are cruel to animals. He believes this goes against Jewish law.
Spreading the Message
Keisar's book, Velifnei Iver, was given out to religious schools in Israel in 2016. He also gives a ten-minute talk called Religious Veganism. In this talk, he shares what Jewish texts say about eating meat. He has given this talk at many places. These include universities, high schools, and yeshivas across Israel.
A video of his talk was put on YouTube in 2018. A shorter two-minute version was also released. Both videos have been watched millions of times. On November 15, 2017, the President of Israel, Reuven Rivlin, wrote to Keisar. He thanked him for his work on veganism. He saw it as a moral and Jewish duty.
Keisar's second book, Velifnei Iver Hashalem, came out in 2018. It was also given away for free to yeshivas. This book was much longer than his first one. It included updates and corrections. Important rabbis supported this book.
In 2020, Keisar started a special symbol called Vegan Kosher. This symbol helps companies show their products are vegan and follow Jewish law. Orthodox Jewish rabbis in Israel manage this symbol.
Documentary Film
Asa Keisar took part in making a documentary. The film is called Holy Vegans. It started being filmed in 2016. The movie is about vegans and vegan culture in Israel. As of 2023, the film was still being made.
Personal Life
Keisar lives in Petah Tikva, Israel. He has four children.
