AR-News: (Israel) Queen Esther was a vegetarian

[Animalara2003 at aol.com]

By Richard H. Schwartz, Ph.D  March 5, 2004


There are many connections between vegetarianism and the Jewish festival of 
Purim: 

1. According to the Talmud, Queen Esther, the heroine of the Purim story, was 
a vegetarian while she lived in the palace of King Achashverus. She was thus 
able to avoid violating the kosher dietary laws while keeping her Jewish 
identity secret. 

2. During Purim it is a mitzvah to give "mat'not evyonim" (added charity to 
poor and hungry people). In contrast to these acts of sharing and compassion, 
animal-based diets involve the feeding of over 70 percent of the grain in the 
United States to animals, while an estimated 20 million people die of hunger 
and its effects annually. 

3. During the afternoon of Purim, Jews have a "seudah" (special festive 
meal), when family and friends gather to rejoice in the Purim spirit. Serving only 
vegetarian food at this occasion would enable all who partake to be consistent 
with Jewish mandates to preserve health, protect the environment, share with 
hungry people, conserve resources, and treat animals with compassion (as well 
as the vegetarian practices of Queen Esther). 








full story:

http://web.israelinsider.com/bin/en.jsp?enPage=ViewsPage&enDisplay=view&enDisp
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