Meat, Morality, and Meaning: The Torah’s Perspective on Vegetarianism

Many people wonder about the Torah's permission to eat animal meat. Although it has been proven that kosher slaughter (shechita) causes no suffering to the animal, one might still ask: how does the Torah allow the killing of a living creature for the sake of eating its flesh? Isn’t that inherently cruel?

The answer can be understood through a parable:

A king deeply desired that his son, the crown prince, become a scholar, an artist, and a man of wisdom. He encouraged him to pursue higher education and participate in music and art classes. Unfortunately, the prince rejected these aspirations and began leading an idle life. As is known, idleness leads to boredom, and boredom often leads to immoral behavior.

Seeing his son’s downward spiral, the king, with no other option, assigned him a plot of land to cultivate. The prince, now a farmer, found joy and pride in the vegetables that grew from his labor. Though visitors from afar wondered why a great king allowed his son to do manual labor, those who knew the full story understood it was a wise move.

Similarly, when Adam was first created, G-d intended for him to have a spiritually elevated role in creation. At that time, he was not permitted to eat meat- only plants. As it says: "And G-d said: Behold, I have given you every herb bearing seed... and every tree... it shall be for food."

However, when humanity deteriorated morally by stealing, murdering, and living without law, G-d permitted them to kill animals for food, for two primary reasons:

1. To teach human superiority and the sanctity of human life. By permitting the killing of animals but not humans, people would understand the value of human life and refrain from murder.

2. To prevent cannibalism. Like the cannibals in remote jungles, morally degraded people might consume human flesh. By permitting animal meat, this desire would be redirected.

This allowance began in the post-flood era. As it says: "And G-d blessed Noah and his sons... Every moving thing that lives shall be food for you; just as I gave you the green plants, I give you everything."

Until humanity reaches spiritual perfection- as it will in the Messianic era- prohibiting the consumption of animal meat would be misguided and even dangerous.

When the Torah was given and the Jewish people were chosen to be a "kingdom of priests and a holy nation," most animals were prohibited. Predators, scavengers, and those that dwell in filth were banned. Only the gentler animals- pure in body and temperament- were permitted, as their consumption does not harm the Jewish soul or body. 

Even regarding permitted animals, the Torah commands us to cover the blood of slaughtered wild animals and birds, as a sign of modesty and awareness that humanity has not yet reached its intended spiritual level. Domesticated animals however, which rely on human care, do not require this act as less shame is associated with their consumption.

Moreover, we are forbidden to eat animal blood, as it contains the essence of the soul. Consuming it is spiritually harmful and promotes cruelty. Meat must therefore be salted or roasted to remove as much blood as possible.

In the future, when the world is spiritually perfected and animals return to their elevated status, meat consumption will once again be forbidden. Until then however, we must recognize our spiritual limitations. Forbidding meat today could paradoxically lead to cruelty toward humans.

Indeed, we see that some show exaggerated compassion for animals while harming fellow humans. As it says: "They sacrifice humans and kiss calves."

Psychologically, two opposing forces act within a person:
A. A destructive instinct that urges harm to anyone who opposes their will.
B. A conscience demanding kindness, compassion, and generosity.

A person who indulges their destructive urge toward other people may ease their guilt by showing excessive mercy to animals, as animals don’t threaten or compete with them, unlike fellow humans.

The reverse is also true: one who extends more compassion to animals than the Torah demands, may end up being cruel to people.