Jewish Veg Facts for Kids

Jewish Veg is a group that helps Jewish people learn about and choose plant-based diets. This means eating foods mostly from plants, like fruits, vegetables, grains, and beans. They believe this way of eating fits with important Jewish ideas such as being kind to animals, taking care of our health, and protecting the environment. The group used to be called Jewish Vegetarians of North America (JVNA).

How Jewish Veg Started
What Jewish Veg Does Now
See also

How Jewish Veg Started

Jewish Veg began in 1975. It was first called the Jewish Vegetarian Society of America. A person named Jonathan Wolf started it after a big meeting about vegetarianism. He believed that being vegetarian was a very important part of Judaism. He said it showed kindness to animals, helped with world hunger, and protected nature.

Jonathan Wolf was the first leader of the group. Other early leaders included Charles Stahler, Debra Wasserman, and Richard H. Schwartz. Later, Israel and Eva Mossman took over in the 1980s. Rabbi Noach Valley was president in the 1990s. In 2002, Richard H. Schwartz became president, and he is now an important advisor for the group.

What Jewish Veg Does Now

Since 2012, Jeffrey Cohan has been the main leader, called the executive director. Under his guidance, Jewish Veg has grown. They now have more staff, a board of directors, and special groups of rabbis and advisors who help them.

Helping People Go Plant-Based

In 2015, Jewish Veg started a "Veg Pledge" program. This program helps people try out plant-based eating. If you take the pledge, you can even get connected with a mentor who can guide you.

Working with Other Groups

Jewish Veg works with other well-known Jewish organizations. These include Hazon, Hillel International, and Birthright Israel. With Birthright Israel, Jewish Veg has even helped create special tours of Israel that focus on vegan food and experiences.

Speakers and Education

Jewish Veg has a team of speakers who give talks at Jewish places all over the country. One important speaker is Dr. Alex Hershaft. He is a Holocaust survivor and started a group called Farm Animal Rights Movement (FARM), which helps farm animals.

In 2015 and 2016, Jewish Veg also organized tours for speakers at college campuses. A vegan leader from Israel named Ori Shavit visited many colleges. He talked to students about Jewish veganism.

Local Chapters and Recipes

Jewish Veg has local groups, called chapters, in cities like Houston, Philadelphia, and Washington, D.C. These groups are run by volunteers. They help teach Jewish people in their areas about veganism. They also create a community for Jewish vegans.

The Jewish Veg website also shares plant-based recipes for traditional Jewish foods. You can find recipes for things like challah, matzah ball soup, and kugel that are made without animal products.

Rabbis Support Veganism

In 2017, Jewish Veg shared a statement signed by 75 rabbis. These rabbis encouraged Jewish people to move towards a vegan diet. Many well-known rabbis signed this statement, including Jonathan Wittenberg, David Wolpe, and David Rosen. By 2023, nearly 200 rabbis had signed it.

Jewish Veg facts for kids

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