Being a Jewish Vegan August 3, 2009
Posted by Marta | Permalink | Comments ( 5 ) | TrackBack
TAGGED:
Here's a special guest post from my fellow peta2 staffer and cookbook co-author Starza about being Jewish and vegan. Enjoy!
-Marta
I was raised Jewish and my family kept a kosher household—that's right, we had "meat" plates and "dairy" plates that had to be kept separate, and you couldn't eat meat if the meal had dairy and vice versa. Because of this, my brother and I would often fantasize about cheeseburgers, pepperoni pizza, and what would happen if we secretly ate steak on a "dairy" plate.
I decided to go vegetarian a few months after my Bat Mitzvah because I didn't want animals to suffer for my meals. I found out that veganism was automatically kosher because there's no worry about whether or not a meal had meat or dairy in it. On top of that, I could eat "cheese" burgers and "pepperoni" pizza by using their faux alternatives. I even ventured out and made the most un-Kosher-but-Kosher-because-it's-vegan snack I could think of—"ham" roll-ups—which were crazy delicious! There's a recipe for them in PETA's Vegan College Cookbook which I'm also sharing with you here, so that you too can experience their Koshery goodness!
Sham "Ham" Roll-UpsIf you're curious about vegetarianism, Judaism, and how they are related, check out this article. It explains how the act of being vegetarian is a mitzvah (good deed) and a form of tzedakah (charitable giving)—something all Jews are required to practice on a regular basis.
You've always wanted to make something with chives because they sound fancy—admit it.
1 (8-ounce) container vegan cream cheese
1 tablespoon chopped chives
Salt and pepper, to taste
1 (5.5-ounce) package vegan ham deli slices
Mix the cream cheese, chives, salt, and pepper together. Spread
the mixture on the deli slices and roll up. Use a toothpick to
hold together.
Makes 4 servings.
So there you go, yet another reason why being vegetarian rocks. I know my Bubbe would be proud!
Shalom!
-Starza
Comments
No one in my girlfriend's family is Jewish, but we always eat 'Jew Food.' Haha, it's delish! (Vegan, of course.) :D
Posted by: Contessa at August 3, 2009 3:18 PMI am a proud Jewish vegan, too!
People ask me if it's hard, because so many Jewish holiday are celebrated with traditional very non-vegan meals, but I remind them that it makes keeping Kosher a breeze!
I too an a proud Jewish vegan. Raised 'half-kosher' growing up- We couldn't mix meat/dairy during meals, but we didn't eat on separate plates. I have been vegan for several months now upon seeing a graphic PETA video which opened my eyes and changed my world, and I know that this is a lifelong change. Being vegan is the best thing that's ever happened to me. Eating without a guilty conscience is important to me from all realms (animal most importantly, and health comes in 2nd).
Posted by: Rachel at August 5, 2009 10:00 PMGreat post...found it humorous and insiteful.
Posted by: Vegan Being at September 28, 2009 2:48 PMPost a comment
Heads up: By signing up here and giving us your details, we're taking that as acknowledgment that you've read and agreed to our privacy policy.
isn't the woman behind Post Punk Kitchen also Jewish?
Posted by: dia at August 3, 2009 2:28 PM