The PETA people say that kosher slaughter is “more humane” than other forms of animal slaughter “if done properly,” but are publicly asking for the end of shechita munachas (in a recumbent restraining device), a method of kosher slaughter in which the animal is on its back that is the standard in Israel, Europe (accepted as humane by the European Union), and elsewhere.
Besides, who gave PETA the right to declare something inhumane when U.S. law says it is humane? And who gave PETA the right to circumvent U.S. law and ask kosher slaughter to follow standards by the FMI (Food Marketing Institute) which represents the nation’s supermarkets, when the FMI kosher slaughter guidelines were drafted by a Conservative Jewish consultant and an animal rights expert without any input from the kosher community? FMI, a public organization, has even refused for a year now to grant a cross-section of the Orthodox community a hearing. What an outrage in this day and age.
The well-financed PETA and its supporters say they are being true to the values of Judaism, but they apparently do not have a clue as to the Torah’s view on either the permissibility of shechita or the Torah’s concern for the humaneness of the practice. Surely PETA cannot be intimating that the Torah has no concept of animal slaughter, that there is no Mesechet Chulin, and that Jews did not offer korbanos and do not pray and hope that when Moshiach comes they will again be able to offer korbanos in the bais hamikdosh. Nowhere is it mentioned that Jews will be eating soy-based foods in the bais hamikdosh.
It should be clear to anyone that any debate with PETA is no different than engaging those who over the centuries have sought our demise. Simply put: PETA would like to put an end to shechita in the U.S., cutting off the supply of kosher meat to millions. In the process the organization has trampled on some of the most precious values of Judaism, the supremacy of U.S. law, the authority of rabbis, and ultimately the rights of every consumer. On all these lofty principles, there can be no debate.
