Search

The consumption of meat depends first of all on religious prescripts: unlike Christianity, Judaism and Islam prohibit certain meats. Then comes the cultural status (distinct from the legal status) of animals: in Europe, the consumption of rabbits has declined due to his assimilation to a "pet". After an increase in the post Second World War period, meat consumption has been declining in Europe since the 2000s; similarly, in North Africa and the Middle East, its consumption tends to be closer to that of Europe. These fluctuations owe more to changes in living modes and standards than to animalist activism. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

While meat food is valued socially and symbolically as a part of traditional Jewish culinary culture, vegetarianism and veganism among Jews increased quite spectaculary over the past decade, especially in the USA and in Israel. According to rabbis and to interviewees themselves this new way of eating rooted in the Hebrew Bible and in the rabbinic literature. Indeed causing any cruelty or suffering to animals is prohibited according to these sacred sources; this is an absolute principle. Such changes are having effects on the increment of the products that are certified "green" and on the increase of vegan friendly restaurants in Israel. The narrative of Jewish women about their food and culinary practices shows those ongoing changes which are often not the result of ideological radical choices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]