Question

In honor of Rabbi Michael Abraham,
I am N., a student in a mekhina program, and I would like to ask you a halakhic question.

I have been a vegetarian for nearly four and a half years, and the issue of animal rights is very close to my heart. I assume you are aware of the suffering that animals in general, and cows in particular, go through—from their transport to Israel to the conditions in which they are kept before being brought to slaughter (that is: overcrowding, physical violence such as shocking them with an electric prod, etc.). I would be happy to change this entire process from the ground up through a certain reform, which may even be difficult in practical terms, but if implemented it could bring about real change in this whole issue:

I thought that if meat that had undergone one form of abuse or another were declared non-kosher, the living conditions and transport of animals to Israel would improve, since most people in our country eat kosher and such meat cannot be eaten if it does not have kosher certification.

Just to clarify, I spoke with one rabbi and he argued that it is a nice idea, but that it necessarily involves mixing categories that do not belong together.
I do not think so. As far as I am concerned, Jewish law has great power, and the Torah itself explains that animals must be respected and not caused unnecessary suffering (the prohibition of eating a limb from a living animal, the commandment of unloading an animal’s burden, sending away the mother bird from the nest, and of course the issue of slaughter itself, which must be done with minimal suffering). Therefore, I am asking to involve it in this issue and to demand an appropriate solution to the problem. Likewise, I am not asking to make a change in kosher certification that would cause a major upheaval, but only to expand the rules related to it and no further. I believe that Jewish law needs to develop over time, and that we have an obligation to preserve the good things in Jewish law and to add to it if we see that small corrections are needed.

In the end, I believe that one must always remember the principle that the more something causes suffering to the animal, and the less necessary it is for the human being, the more appropriate it is to act with compassion toward the animal. Therefore, the current reality cannot continue this way.

And now I have three important questions for you:

1. From a halakhic perspective, can this idea actually be implemented? Is there anything preventing it from being realized?
2. If the idea is practical—how should I continue with it from here?
3. I thought that in order to put this idea into practice, I should find a sufficient number of rabbis who support the idea and would essentially give me backing. Would you be interested in supporting this idea officially?
My aspiration is to speak with members of Knesset and try to implement this idea. I would be happy if I could write your name on the list of rabbis who support this initiative,
of course you are not obligated to do so if you are not interested

Thank you and have a good day,