- Family and Society
- Ways of Redemption
more questions on vegetarianism
Question
No I’m not vegetarian. ^why not? Do you know any rabbis who are? As I wrote, only after the God of History enabled us to reveal protein substitutes, refrigeration, etc. did it become practical to be a vegetarian, so all those rabbis probably ate meat. ^are you speaking about supplements and vitamins? Do you think all of those rabbis would be vegetarians if they were incarnated in todays society? thanks
Answer
I personally, like most rabbis, am not a vegetarian yet, because we still have much room to improve in our obligatory morality towards fellow Jews and mankind in general, and as Rav Kook suggests, don't want to be distracted by dedicating time and effort to lower and non-obligatory issues which constantly surround us and would preoccupy us. On the other hand, Rav Kook feels it important already to speak and educate on this topic, to know what should be our general direction.
Yes I know rabbis who are vegetarians.
Not necessarily supplements and vitamins but mainly various types of proteins from vegetable and milk products.
I generally prefer not to relate to "what if he/they were alive today?", for as mentioned above, many great rabbis are vegetarians and most still are not, so we can't know. On the other hand, I definitely wouldn't be surprised if those great rabbis would be vegetarian if they were alive.

Use of the shofar
Rabbi Ari Shvat | Adar I 16, 5776

Solomans third temple
Rabbi David Sperling | Elul 8, 5773

Bringing the End
Rabbi Elchanan Lewis | 3 Elul 5765

gematriyot- number cycles and equations
Rabbi Ari Shvat | Iyyar 10, 5772

Rabbi Ari Shvat
Lectures at various yeshivot, michlalot and midrashot. Has published many books & Torani articles and is in charge of Rav Kook’s archives.

Orlah fruit trees
Adar I 5, 5771

Evils Spirits & Ghosts
Adar II 25, 5771

baruch hamavdil
Adar I 23, 5771

Orla
Shevat 19, 5771

Scooter on Shabbat
Rabbi Chaim Tabasky | 30 Cheshvan 5767

Naming a baby girl Romi
Rabbi Ari Shvat | Nisan 18, 5774

Wedding during Mourning Period
Rabbi David Sperling | Iyyar 1, 5773
Genesis 24: 2-9 – Put your hand under my thigh
Rabbi Moshe Leib Halberstadt | Tevet 26, 5770

Torah vs. Tanak additions
Rabbi Ari Shvat | Shevat 4, 5783
Apartment Eviction
Rabbi Moshe Leib Halberstadt | Shevat 9, 5783

Follow-up question on names
Rabbi Yoel Lieberman | Shevat 9, 5783
