Q&A: Vegetarianism Nowadays
Vegetarianism Nowadays
Question
To the Rabbi:
The Rabbi wrote (https://mikyab.net/posts/2357#_ftn1; https://mikyab.net/%D7%A9%D7%95%D7%AA/%D7%A2%D7%9C-%D7%98%D7%91%D7%A2%D7%95%D7%A0%D7%95%D7%AA) that nowadays there is an outright prohibition on assisting the animal-food industry.
Why does this not fall under the definition given by the halakhic decisors (Terumat HaDeshen, sec. 105; Rema, Even HaEzer sec. 5) that causing suffering to animals for a need is permitted, and therefore, since today the need is greater (quantitatively), the industrial method is defined as causing suffering to animals for a need?
Also, according to the Rabbi's view, why is there no prohibition on buying in places that sell meat? After all, in the end this indirectly causes meat to be sold to people (at least according to the view of the halakhic decisors that the prohibition of causing suffering to animals includes an active obligation to prevent suffering; the Minchat Chinukh (commandment 80) made this depend on the dispute whether causing suffering to animals is Torah-level or rabbinic).
Thank you very much!
Answer
Using animals for our needs is permitted. But not torturing them. There is a big gap between the torment they undergo and the level of our need.
The question of how far to take this prohibition is difficult. There is common sense, and when most people eat meat it is hard to say that there is a prohibition on buying in a store that also sells meat. But it certainly seems to me preferable to buy in a different store.
Seemingly, based on the words of the halakhic decisors, one could say that even though objectively it appears to be torture, in the halakhic definition it is causing suffering to animals for a need, since there is no way to supply the requested quantity of meat by any other method without this torment?