Comments on: Where my Meat Comes From… http://jcarrot.org/where-my-meat-comes-from%e2%80%a6/ Jews, Food, and Contemporary Issues Fri, 21 Nov 2008 22:36:38 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.3.2 By: Rabbi Shmuel http://jcarrot.org/where-my-meat-comes-from%e2%80%a6/#comment-1827 Rabbi Shmuel Wed, 25 Jul 2007 11:25:48 +0000 http://jcarrot.org/where-my-meat-comes-from%e2%80%a6/#comment-1827 I don't know any shochtim in Israel per se - I worked in Denmark at the "slagtheif" and personally, I was very uncomfortable with the shoichet's levity during the shechita - he was kidding around a bit much for my taste. Parenthetically, the shechita itself didn't bother me but I was extremely upset (nightmares) at the slaughtering of horses (it was in the municipal slaughterhouse where kosher & non-kosher are processed) I had nightmares over the horses which taught me that much has to do with cultural and societal acclimation and (de) sensitization. Ironically, the best shechita I witnessed was in Postville (aah the dreaded "R" word) where the shochtim approached the job with an almost apologetic reverence for the "netilas neshama" - the letting of life - there was a solemnity appropriate for the task at hand. I know that you are sincere and I wish you luck but I suspect that you'll find that the wagons are drawing in tighter as not every kosher meat processor is able to quickly discern where a legitimate interest ends and a hidden (or not so hidden) agenda (or camera) begins. I don’t know any shochtim in Israel per se - I worked in Denmark at the “slagtheif” and personally, I was very uncomfortable with the shoichet’s levity during the shechita - he was kidding around a bit much for my taste. Parenthetically, the shechita itself didn’t bother me but I was extremely upset (nightmares) at the slaughtering of horses (it was in the municipal slaughterhouse where kosher & non-kosher are processed) I had nightmares over the horses which taught me that much has to do with cultural and societal acclimation and (de) sensitization. Ironically, the best shechita I witnessed was in Postville (aah the dreaded “R” word) where the shochtim approached the job with an almost apologetic reverence for the “netilas neshama” - the letting of life - there was a solemnity appropriate for the task at hand.
I know that you are sincere and I wish you luck but I suspect that you’ll find that the wagons are drawing in tighter as not every kosher meat processor is able to quickly discern where a legitimate interest ends and a hidden (or not so hidden) agenda (or camera) begins.

]]> By: Jeff Yoskowitz http://jcarrot.org/where-my-meat-comes-from%e2%80%a6/#comment-1821 Jeff Yoskowitz Tue, 24 Jul 2007 22:48:34 +0000 http://jcarrot.org/where-my-meat-comes-from%e2%80%a6/#comment-1821 Thanks Shmuel for your insight. As for the Shechting in Israel, we weren't planning on synthesizing Shochet training into a one week "cram course." Naf and I, two meat eating Jews who care about where our food comes from and how it gets on our plates, are interested in understanding the art of kosher animal slaughter. How else can one do that? We don't know. We don't want to become slaughterers ourselves, nor do we plan on becoming experts. We just want to understand the processes from which we American Jews are so far removed. We will both be in Israel this coming winter and are currently looking for a Shochet who would be willing to spend a week with us to show us the process and allow us to participate however we can. We would also like to look an animal in the eye in a Jewish context. Shmuel, Perhaps you know a Shochet in Israel who could show two conscious consuming Jews where our kosher meat comes from? Thanks Shmuel for your insight. As for the Shechting in Israel, we weren’t planning on synthesizing Shochet training into a one week “cram course.” Naf and I, two meat eating Jews who care about where our food comes from and how it gets on our plates, are interested in understanding the art of kosher animal slaughter. How else can one do that?

We don’t know. We don’t want to become slaughterers ourselves, nor do we plan on becoming experts. We just want to understand the processes from which we American Jews are so far removed. We will both be in Israel this coming winter and are currently looking for a Shochet who would be willing to spend a week with us to show us the process and allow us to participate however we can. We would also like to look an animal in the eye in a Jewish context. Shmuel, Perhaps you know a Shochet in Israel who could show two conscious consuming Jews where our kosher meat comes from?

]]> By: Rabbi Shmuel http://jcarrot.org/where-my-meat-comes-from%e2%80%a6/#comment-1820 Rabbi Shmuel Tue, 24 Jul 2007 21:41:10 +0000 http://jcarrot.org/where-my-meat-comes-from%e2%80%a6/#comment-1820 good thoughts Jeff - I'm glad that you allowed Tisha B'av to elevate your thinking. Having worked in shechita (nasty work by any stretch of the imagination) I'm curious as to where you & Naf are going for your 1 week quickie course. Could the Adamah curriculum be compressed down into an intensive week crash cram course? or is the time spent together building bonds and reflecting critically as much a part of the process as the hardcore knowlege of intercropping and growing? so why would shechita be any different? some things just don't lend themselves to cliff notes or "Shechita for dummies" type treatments - good luck and why not consider giving the goat meat to a non-Jew would would appreciate the chesed (kindness) that you would be showing both him and D'vash as a grower I was particularly struck by something I believe Michael Pollan wrote ' he said you should never eat an animal unless you were prepared to look it in the eye!! truly food for thought good thoughts Jeff - I’m glad that you allowed Tisha B’av to elevate your thinking.

Having worked in shechita (nasty work by any stretch of the imagination) I’m curious as to where you & Naf are going for your 1 week quickie course. Could the Adamah curriculum be compressed down into an intensive week crash cram course? or is the time spent together building bonds and reflecting critically as much a part of the process as the hardcore knowlege of intercropping and growing? so why would shechita be any different? some things just don’t lend themselves to cliff notes or “Shechita for dummies” type treatments - good luck and why not consider giving the goat meat to a non-Jew would would appreciate the chesed (kindness) that you would be showing both him and D’vash

as a grower I was particularly struck by something I believe Michael Pollan wrote ‘ he said you should never eat an animal unless you were prepared to look it in the eye!! truly food for thought

]]> By: Jeff http://jcarrot.org/where-my-meat-comes-from%e2%80%a6/#comment-1818 Jeff Tue, 24 Jul 2007 17:26:34 +0000 http://jcarrot.org/where-my-meat-comes-from%e2%80%a6/#comment-1818 Becoming a conscious consumer means, from my perspective, that I should eat the meat. I have yet to reconcile this with my kashrut. Just a few days ago I thought that after Tisha B'Av I would be ready and willing to eat D'vash's meat, but today, on Tisha B'Av, I no longer feel the same way. I'm having serious doubts. Today has been a very introspective experience for me and I've been questioning what I truly value. I believe I value conscious consumption through a kosher framework. Things may change in the next few days, but that's where I'm at now. A friend of mine here, Naf, approached me about spending a week in Israel studying with shochet (kosher animal slaughterer) so we can learn how to be a part of the meat eating process in the most kosher of ways. Planning that experience with him really relieved me. We're hoping to do this in Israel in late December or January, and if anyone will be there and is interested, email me at Jeffrey.Yoskowitz@gmail.com. Becoming a conscious consumer means, from my perspective, that I should eat the meat. I have yet to reconcile this with my kashrut. Just a few days ago I thought that after Tisha B’Av I would be ready and willing to eat D’vash’s meat, but today, on Tisha B’Av, I no longer feel the same way. I’m having serious doubts. Today has been a very introspective experience for me and I’ve been questioning what I truly value. I believe I value conscious consumption through a kosher framework. Things may change in the next few days, but that’s where I’m at now.

A friend of mine here, Naf, approached me about spending a week in Israel studying with shochet (kosher animal slaughterer) so we can learn how to be a part of the meat eating process in the most kosher of ways. Planning that experience with him really relieved me. We’re hoping to do this in Israel in late December or January, and if anyone will be there and is interested, email me at Jeffrey.Yoskowitz@gmail.com.

]]> By: natalie http://jcarrot.org/where-my-meat-comes-from%e2%80%a6/#comment-1817 natalie Tue, 24 Jul 2007 15:50:22 +0000 http://jcarrot.org/where-my-meat-comes-from%e2%80%a6/#comment-1817 I'm impressed that you could participate in such a surreal experience - especially with a goat you had known personally and affectionately. Does becoming a conscious consumer mean that you will then eat the meat? And how do you reconcile that with kashrut if that is an issue for you? I’m impressed that you could participate in such a surreal experience - especially with a goat you had known personally and affectionately. Does becoming a conscious consumer mean that you will then eat the meat? And how do you reconcile that with kashrut if that is an issue for you?

]]> By: Becki http://jcarrot.org/where-my-meat-comes-from%e2%80%a6/#comment-1809 Becki Mon, 23 Jul 2007 21:32:22 +0000 http://jcarrot.org/where-my-meat-comes-from%e2%80%a6/#comment-1809 Oh this same thing happened at our friend's cattle ranch. As we arrived we saw just a hind end up in the water tank. I knew it the minute I saw it, and I could see by my friends face. She went from being happy and excited to pale and sullen. And then she darted away from us calling over her shoulder, "keep the kids back". So I had to explain to my kids, who are older teens what they learned long ago in the Lion King..The Circle of Life. Seems that the power went out and knocked out the water pump. Since the water level dropped, the little calf leaned in to get water. It got it's leg caught up and could not get itself upright. Even sadder the momma cow was bellering for the baby calf. Even after the calf was removed from the water tank, the momma cow just kept bellering. My friend felt like it was her fault. She felt like she designed the water tank setup wrong. But really it was not her fault at all...the storms knocked the power out. An act of G-d. Isn't everything? Oh this same thing happened at our friend’s cattle ranch. As we arrived we saw just a hind end up in the water tank. I knew it the minute I saw it, and I could see by my friends face. She went from being happy and excited to pale and sullen. And then she darted away from us calling over her shoulder, “keep the kids back”. So I had to explain to my kids, who are older teens what they learned long ago in the Lion King..The Circle of Life.
Seems that the power went out and knocked out the water pump. Since the water level dropped, the little calf leaned in to get water. It got it’s leg caught up and could not get itself upright. Even sadder the momma cow was bellering for the baby calf. Even after the calf was removed from the water tank, the momma cow just kept bellering.
My friend felt like it was her fault. She felt like she designed the water tank setup wrong. But really it was not her fault at all…the storms knocked the power out. An act of G-d.
Isn’t everything?

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