Shamayim: Jewish Animal Advocacy

A D'var Torah for Parashat Tetzaveh. We Jews may find ourselves asking - what does the Torah want from us anyway? This week's parsha offers us an answer from an unlikely topic: Animal Sacrifices. Parashat Tetzaveh focuses heavily on the priestly order instituted in the Torah, as well as some of the earliest commands regarding the sacrificial system - an uncomfortable topic for many contemporary readers, especially folks who eat plant-based. Nevertheless, a discussion between a few Rabbinic Sages may offer fresh insights about sacrifices and what the Torah asks of us.

Recorded & edited by Alex Weisz

"Uniq - Japan" is under a Royalty Free license. Photo of the license: http://bit.ly/2sTETUQ Music promoted by BreakingCopyright: https://youtu.be/MAiHpRUbc0k

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An interview with Shark Tank alumna Jenny Goldfarb, Founder & CEO of Mrs. Goldfarb's Unreal Deli. One of the most exciting new meat alternatives on the market today, Jenny went from creating her kosher & vegan deli meats in her kitchen for a Hanukkah party to being invested in by Mark Cuban in less than a year! Folks fail blind taste-tests all the time, so you have to try her sandwiches at a retail near you. We discuss the story behind the sandwich, her experience on Shark Tank, advice for vegan entrepreneurs, and we even hear some of her favorite vegan cookbooks!

Want to find Mrs. Goldfarb's Unreal Deli products near you? Find a retailer here!

Recorded & edited by Alex Weisz

"Uniq - Japan" is under a Royalty Free license. Photo of the license: http://bit.ly/2sTETUQ Music promoted by BreakingCopyright: https://youtu.be/MAiHpRUbc0k

Follow Shamayim on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/shamayimjewishanimaladvocacy/

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A D'var Torah for Parashat Mishpatim. This week's parsha presents laws regarding numerous topics - including animal welfare! However, the location of this law is peculiar, the meaning of which has considerably more significance than meets the eye.

Recorded & edited by Alex Weisz

"Uniq - Japan" is under a Royalty Free license. Photo of the license: http://bit.ly/2sTETUQ Music promoted by BreakingCopyright: https://youtu.be/MAiHpRUbc0k

Follow Shamayim on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/shamayimjewishanimaladvocacy/

Follow us on Instagram at @shamayimjewishanimaladvocacy

An interview with Rabbi David Wolpe, the Max Webb Senior Rabbi at Sinai Temple in Los Angeles. Rabbi Wolpe is among the leading figures of American Judaism, a colomnist for Time Magazine, and perhaps the most recognizable plant-based Rabbi of our time. We discuss how he navigates addressing his diet publicly and from the pulpit, some of his favorite vegan foods, as well as the optimism he feels for the future of the plant-based movement.

Recorded & edited by Alex Weisz

"Uniq - Japan" is under a Royalty Free license. Photo of the license: http://bit.ly/2sTETUQ Music promoted by BreakingCopyright: https://youtu.be/MAiHpRUbc0k

Follow Shamayim on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/shamayimjewishanimaladvocacy/

Follow us on Instagram at @shamayimjewishanimaladvocacy

A D'var Torah for Parashat Yitro. In this week's parsha, the Israelites receive the Ten Commandments at Mt. Sinai. Not only are animals given some pretty radical rights here, but there is foreshadowing for next week's narrative of the golden calf with a warning against idols of silver & idols of gold. We are plagued with some radical worshipers of these idols - Big Agriculture, who exploit animals, undocumented laborers, the small farmers they put out of business, and the American taxpayers who are made to bail out these mega-corporations when they intentionally overproduce. We explore how we can combat them in this week's Dvar.

Want to fight Big Ag? Support our friends at the Agriculture Fairness Alliance, who are lobbying for reasonable reform to agriculture legislation in Washington DC. You can donate to them here.

Recorded & edited by Alex Weisz

"Uniq - Japan" is under a Royalty Free license. Photo of the license: http://bit.ly/2sTETUQ Music promoted by BreakingCopyright: https://youtu.be/MAiHpRUbc0k

Follow Shamayim on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/shamayimjewishanimaladvocacy/

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A D'var Torah for Parashat Bo. In this week's parsha, the Israelites are commanded to be reminded of the Exodus with a symbol on the arm and between the eyes: tefillin! Tefillin are somewhat controversial in the Jewish vegan world - but are there options to minimize the impact of this mitzvah? We explore them in this week's episode.

Recorded & edited by Alex Weisz

"Uniq - Japan" is under a Royalty Free license. Photo of the license: http://bit.ly/2sTETUQ Music promoted by BreakingCopyright: https://youtu.be/MAiHpRUbc0k

Follow Shamayim on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/shamayimjewishanimaladvocacy/

Follow us on Instagram at @shamayimjewishanimaladvocacy

A D'var Torah for Parashat Vaera. The Israelites are plagued with crushed souls, Pharaoh is plagued with a hardened heart, and the Egyptians are plagued with numerous environmental calamities. All are reflections of normal human responses to our world. How can we overcome these feelings in our time, despite our overwhelming circumstances facing us?

Recorded & edited by Alex Weisz

"Uniq - Japan" is under a Royalty Free license. Photo of the license: http://bit.ly/2sTETUQ Music promoted by BreakingCopyright: https://youtu.be/MAiHpRUbc0k

Follow Shamayim on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/shamayimjewishanimaladvocacy/

Follow us on Instagram at @shamayimjewishanimaladvocacy

An interview with Rabbi Dr. Shmuly Yanklowitz, Founder & President of Shamayim: Jewish Animal Advocacy. He has authored multiple books on Judaism and veganism, including "the Jewish Vegan", "Kashrut & Jewish Food Ethics" and "Jewish Veganism & Vegetarianism: Studies and New Directions." He can be found on Instagram at @rabbi_shmuly and on Facebook here.

Recorded & edited by Alex Weisz

"Uniq - Japan" is under a Royalty Free license. Photo of the license: http://bit.ly/2sTETUQ Music promoted by BreakingCopyright: https://youtu.be/MAiHpRUbc0k

Follow Shamayim on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/shamayimjewishanimaladvocacy/

Follow us on Instagram at @shamayimjewishanimaladvocacy

A D'var Torah for Parashat Shemot. Centuries have passed, and a xenophobic Pharaoh has enslaved the Israelites because he fears them. A loving mother breaks the law, and her "illegal" child grows up and becomes the greatest leader the Jewish people have ever seen. Nevertheless, Moses is an odd choice for numerous reasons - and yet, he is the one chosen to raise his voice to liberate his people.

Recorded & edited by Alex Weisz

"Uniq - Japan" is under a Royalty Free license. Photo of the license: http://bit.ly/2sTETUQ Music promoted by BreakingCopyright: https://youtu.be/MAiHpRUbc0k

Follow Shamayim on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/shamayimjewishanimaladvocacy/

Follow us on Instagram at @shamayimjewishanimaladvocacy

A D'var Torah for Parashat Vayechi. As we conclude the book of Genesis with this week's parsha, we take a look back at the opening book of the Torah, and how we can apply its major themes through action in our lives. True strength, as portrayed by Genesis, is needed now more than ever before.

Recorded & edited by Alex Weisz

"Uniq - Japan" is under a Royalty Free license. Photo of the license: http://bit.ly/2sTETUQ Music promoted by BreakingCopyright: https://youtu.be/MAiHpRUbc0k

Follow Shamayim on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/shamayimjewishanimaladvocacy/

Follow us on Instagram at @shamayimjewishanimaladvocacy