Jewish Veg Facts for Kids

Jewish Veg is a group that helps Jewish people eat more plant-based foods. This means eating foods that come from plants, like fruits, vegetables, grains, and beans, instead of meat, dairy, or eggs. The group believes this way of eating fits with Jewish values. These values include being kind to animals, caring for our health, and protecting the environment. Jewish Veg used to be called Jewish Vegetarians of North America (JVNA). Before that, it was known as the Jewish Vegetarian Society of America.

How Jewish Veg Started
What Jewish Veg Does Today
See also

How Jewish Veg Started

The Jewish Vegetarian Society of America began in 1975. It was founded by Jonathan Wolf after a big meeting about vegetarianism. Jonathan Wolf said that being vegetarian is a very important part of Judaism. He explained that Jewish values like being kind to animals, helping with world hunger, and caring for nature are all shown through vegetarianism.

Jonathan Wolf was the first president of the group. Other early leaders included Charles Stahler and Richard H. Schwartz. Later, Israel and Eva Mossman took over leadership in the mid-1980s. Rabbi Noach Valley was president in the 1990s and early 2000s. Richard H. Schwartz became president in 2002. He is now the president emeritus, which means he is a respected former president.

What Jewish Veg Does Today

Since 2012, Jeffrey Cohan has been the executive director of Jewish Veg. He was the first full-time staff member. Under his leadership, the group has grown. They now have more staff, a board of directors, and special councils of rabbis and advisors.

Helping People Eat Plant-Based

In 2015, Jewish Veg started a "Veg Pledge" campaign. This campaign helps people try out plant-based diets. If someone takes the pledge, they can even get connected with a vegan mentor. A mentor is someone who can guide them and answer questions about eating vegan.

Working with Other Jewish Groups

Jewish Veg works with many important Jewish organizations. These include Hazon, Hillel International, and Birthright Israel. Working with Birthright Israel, Jewish Veg has even created special vegan tours of Israel.

Speakers and Education

Jewish Veg has a team of speakers who give talks. They visit Jewish places all over the country. One well-known speaker is Dr. Alex Hershaft. He is a Holocaust survivor and started a group called Farm Animal Rights Movement (FARM).

In 2015 and 2016, Jewish Veg also organized campus speaking tours. An Israeli vegan leader named Ori Shavit visited colleges. He spoke to students about Jewish veganism.

Local Chapters and Resources

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

The Jewish Veg website offers many plant-based recipes. You can find vegan versions of traditional Jewish foods. These include challah, matzah ball soup, and kugel.

In 2017, Jewish Veg shared a statement signed by 75 rabbis. These rabbis encouraged Jewish people to move towards a vegan diet. Many famous rabbis signed this statement. By 2023, nearly 200 rabbis had signed it.

Jewish Veg facts for kids

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