Musings on Meat and Vegetarianism

While it is true that HaShem has permitted the eating of meat both for Jews and non-Jews, this is a permitted practice but not a required one, except in the case of the qorbanot (sacrifices). The mandatory consumption of sacrificial meat generally is restricted to the Kohanim, with Israelites and Levites consuming only the meat of voluntary offerings. One case where meat consumption is required of all Jews is the mitzvah of Qorban Pesach. The only other Torah requirement regarding meat consumption is to fulfill the mitzvah of rejoicing on Yom Tov (a Biblical holiday)through eating meat and drinking wine (Pesachim 109b). Without the Beit Hamikdash, qorbanot consumption obviously is not possible, and the Torah obligation of rejoicing on Yom Tov is fulfilled entirely by drinking wine (Beit Yosef, Orach Chaim 529). Devarim 12:15 and 12:20-21 discuss the permission to eat meat beyond the qorbanot, and make it dependent on the soul’s “strong desire” to eat meat. To get a sense of the nature of that desire, one should note that the word used - ta'avah - actually is used elsewhere in the Torah for strong craving, lust. Without such a strong desire to eat meat, this permission is not applicable. Thus, under Halacha (Jewish Law) no Jew currently MUST eat meat.

Nonetheless, some have argued that eating meat is a mitzvah. This position is rooted in the Kabbalistic idea of “raising the sparks”. In brief, as discussed by the Arizal (Rabbi Yitzchak Luria, zts”l), during the creation of the universe, there were holy vessels that were intended to contain flow of “light” from G-d, which were shattered, and “sparks" of holiness (netzotzot) fell to “lower” levels, ultimately becoming entrapped in material things. Human beings, especially Jews, are tasked with “raising” these “sparks”. When it comes to consumption, that role has been described thus (http://www.chabad.org/parshah/
article_cdo/aid/2941/jewish/Meat.htm):

“When a person drinks a glass of water, eats an apple, or slaughters an ox and consumes its meat, these are converted into the stuff of the human body and the energy that drives it. When this person performs a G-dly deed -- a deed that transcends his natural self and brings him closer to G-d -- he elevates the elements he has incorporated into himself, reuniting the sparks of G-dliness they embody with their source.”

Elevating the “holy sparks” in food and drink is primarily done through the brachot (blessings) offered over the food or drink and the mitzvot done with the energy derived from them.

However, the “sparks” are not the only issue involved in eating/drinking. The Arizal also discusses the passage of human souls into animals, plants, and inanimate objects – gilgul ha-neshamot (Sha’ar HaGilgulim, Hakdamah 22). The soul of a sinner may be present in the animal, plant or other object, awaiting a tikkun – “repair”, “rectification” – which will release it to move onto its next destination – be it another body or not. The sinner’s soul that may be in inanimate objects or plants can be rectified simply by the mitzvot performed by anyone who consumes them (cf. Tzidkas HaTzaddik by R. Tazdok HaKohen of Lublin, Perek 240). It should be noted that for most fruits, grains, and vegetables, as well as all inanimate objects (water, etc.), the item consumed does not require taking its life. Unlike some root vegetables that must be uprooted, causing the death of the plant, most consumed vegetation is either harvested after the plant has died (like grain or legumes) or represents the produce of a plant that is removed without killing the plant (like an eggplant, apple, tree nut, etc.), and one may suppose that the sinner's soul that may be there either will remain in the living plant from which the produce has been removed or will have departed upon the natural death of the plant prior to harvest, having fulfilled its term in the full natural cycle of the plant's life. Indeed, R. Yosef Chaim (Otzrot Chaim I, Tikkun Ha-M'gulgolim B'Domem, Tzomei'ach, Chai, Medeber) raises a concern about the presence of a sinner's soul when consuming only those vegtables that have grown entirely in the ground - i.e., need to be uprooted (killed) for consumption.

For the sinner’s soul in animals, matters are more complicated. For products discharged from animals, like milk and non-fertile eggs, which don’t involve taking the animal's life, little is said in Kabbalistic sources, and one may presume that the situation is similar to that with plant produce, namely that the sinner's soul that may be present is retained in the living animal from which the product has come. With respect to animal flesh, the tikkun depends upon the slaughtering of the animal. The moment when the animal’s life is taken is a moment when the human soul there may or may not be rectified. When it comes to land animals and birds, it all depends on the actions and concentration (kavannah) of the slaughterer (shochet). As R. Nosson Sternhartz (Likkutei Halachos, Shechitah 4:3) states:

The shochet must be extremely pious and G-d-fearing. He must recite the blessing prior to the act of slaughter with deep concentration, and exercise the greatest care concerning every detail of the laws involved [my note – the laws include a perfectly sharp knife with no nicks, showing the knife to a Torah Sage, and a seamless cut across the arteries and windpipe, etc. to mimimize pain to the animal as much as possible]. Thus, he will redeem the soul within the animal and elevate it to the human level. (translated by R. Dovid Sears – The Vision of Eden, Orot 2003)

Ideally, the shechitah will have been done as cleanly and painlessly as possible and the kavannah of the shochet will have been sufficient so that any such reincarnated soul will have been sent on its way from the animal flesh long before any person consumes it. Otherwise, there is a concern that the consumer will be subjected to negative influences from the reincarnated soul of a sinner that may still be present in the meat. See what is written in the Ramak’s (Rabbi Moshe Cordovero's) Shiur Komah, Daf 84c regarding the transmigration of a sinner’s soul into an animal:

Thus a conscientious person should avoid eating meat, as it is possible that the soul of a wicked person may cleave to him - sometimes hastening his death. The editor adds: “In the light of this, one should never eat meat unless the divine mysteries have been revealed to him, and he knows that it does not contain the reincarnated soul of a transgressor” (translated by R. Dovid Sears in The Vision of Eden, Orot 2003, from R. Chaim Chizkiyahu Medini’s Sdei Chemed, Inyan Achilat Basar).

So, even in the pre-industrial conditions of the sixteenth century, when most knew the slaughterer or did the slaughtering oneself and the shechitah was not under the kind of time pressures that factory farming have rendered to it, there was so much concern that the shechitah may not have been done properly, that it was advised to avoid eating meat unless “divine mysteries have been revealed” and its is known that the animal “does not contain the reincarnated soul of a transgressor”. The requirement for a “revelation” means one cannot simply assume that the shochet has done his job properly. How much more so in our day, when industrial conditions exist in most shechitah contexts, should one be concerned that such conditions may have lessened the shochet’s kavanah and/or cleanness and painlessness of the shechitah. It is such concern that led R. Shlomo Goren zts”l (once Chief Ashkenazi Rabbi of Israel) to give up meat after visiting a kosher slaughtering plant and that led R. Mordechai Eliyahu shlita (former Rishon LeTzion and Zakein HaMekubalim) to only eat meat when he has been able to personally inspect the knife and watch the shechitah.

What about fish, which are not subjected to the laws of shechitah – can they be consumed without such a concern about the soul of a human sinner remaining in the flesh one consumes? Generally, fish appear to be less of an issue. Many sources suggest that human souls that are incarnated in fish typically are not those that have committed particularly grave sins, and that the tikkun for such souls is easier than for those in land animals and birds (cf. Sefer Kedushas HaAchilah 164; Shiv’chei Baal Shem Tov [A. Rubenstein, ed.] 74; Kochvei Ohr, Anshei Moharan by R. Abraham ben Nachman Chazan, 38ff). However, there are cases in which there are human souls in fish that are those that have committed grave sins, even to the extent that such a soul has no tikkun. See, for example, the case of the soul in a fish that even the Tzaddik of Kallo could not rectify (Degel Machaneh Yehudah Sect. 4). In such a case, consuming the flesh of the fish, would no doubt subject one to the same problem discussed by the Ramak above. So, the concern persists.

What about Shabbat (the Sabbath) and Yom Tov? Some have argued that the potential for a sinner’s soul to still be in the flesh consumed is not a concern on Shabbat and Yom Tov. For example, R. Ariel Bar Tzadok has stated (http://www.koshertorah.com/PDF/noah.pdf): “On Shabat, even an Am HaAretz raises up the fallen souls when he eats meat, regardless of his specific intentions. The reason for this is that the holiness of the Shabat and the Yamim Tovim arouse the souls to ascend.” This idea appears to be problematic. First, it is clear that some souls cannot be rectified in their present state, even in kosher animals – like the fish that the Tzaddik of Kallo could not correct (Degel Mahaneh Yehudah Sect. 4). No mention is made of using Shabbat or Yom Tov as an opportunity to correct this soul, it simply could not be corrected at that point in its transmigrations. Second, if souls are always corrected simply by consumption of meat on Shabbat, how could the Beit Yosef’s Maggid prevent him from buying meat for Shabbat in order to teach him that meat was not necessary for Shabbat (Maggid Mesharim 35C)? This would have been both denying a particular opportunity to correct souls and also presenting a teaching, if heeded, which could prevent such future opportunities. Not to mention what we have already quoted from the Ramak’s Shiur Komah 84c. There we see that one must be “never” eat meat unless one knows from a special “revelation” that there is no sinner’s soul in it – “never” makes no exception from Shabbat or Yom Tov.

According to Kabbalistic considerations, it has been argued that there is a holy path possible in meat consumption, but, as we have seen above, it is one fraught with danger, especially in our day, no matter whether one eats meat and fish or fish alone, and no matter whether one does it on any weekday or only on Shabbat or Yom Tov. Without such danger, there also is a holy path in a strictly vegetarian diet. This is made clear in a variety of places. I present some of these below.

The holiness of the vegetarian path is also manifest in the lives of those Gedolim and Mekubalim who have refrained from meat at all times, even Yom Tov and Shabbat. In addition to the Sage R. Raphael Pinchas Yehoshua DeSegura mentioned by R. Medini below and that Chaver of the Arizal to whom R. Cohen refers below, we have R. Seckel Loeb, zts”l (the Baal Shem of Michelstadt), who from an early age never ate anything derived from animals, including milk and eggs; R. David Cohen zts”l, the Nazir of Jerusalem, who refrained from meat and fish at all times from early adulthood; and, R. Yitchak Kaduri, zts”l, who only ate a bite of fish twice a year (on Erev Yom Kippur and on Purim) and not any meat at all for much of his life.

From R. Chaim Chizkiyahu Medini, Sdei Chemed, Inyan Achilat Basar (translated by R. Dovid Sears – The Vision of Eden, Orot 2003):

On the subject of eating meat nowadays, our master [R. Chaim Benveniste] in his Knesses HaGedolah (Yoreh De'ah 28) citing the Rashal, states that we may rely upon the Ri and the Ran, and eat meat for the sake of bodily nourishment, and not afflict ourselves at all. However, the Chida [R. Chaim Yosef David Azulai] in his Chaim Sha'al, 43:6, states: "It all depends upon the nature of the individual. If one can afflict oneself in order to atone for one's sins-for 'there is no person free from sin'-that is well and good." As for ourselves, what can we say to this, in such an orphaned generation when the number of our sins is beyond calculation and our plight is almost unbearable, may God forgive us.

This view is shared by [R. Raphael Pinchas Yehoshua DeSegura] in Os Hi L'Olam, 63c. Here we find support and justification from a well known sage, may the Merciful One protect and sustain him, who for many years abstained completely from eating meat. Heaven forefend that anyone disparage him; happy will be his lot. He abstained even from wine, except when performing a religious precept (e.g., Kiddush, Havdalah, or the Four Cups of the Passover Seder meal). It has been said that all of a person's labor is for the sake of food; therefore, gluttony often leads to transgression. We have already cited the words of the Ari [R. Yitzchak Luria], "Happy is the person who is able to abstain from meat and wine all week long." Also note [R. Yehudah Tiktin] in Ba'er Heitiv on Orach Chaim 134:1, sec. 3: "There is an accepted practice not to eat meat or drink wine on Monday and Thursday, since the Heavenly Court is then sitting in judgment... Happy is the person who is able to refrain from meat and wine the entire week." Also see Yakhel Shlomo on Orach Chaim 529:2.

It is true that [the Talmud states] that on the Sabbath one dines on meat and wine. However, that is a person's right, not his obligation. Our sages taught, "One should eat on the Sabbath just as on a weekday [in order to avoid taking charity]" (Shabbos 118a). [Therefore, the consumption of meat cannot be construed as obligatory.] This is also the ruling of [Rabbi Moshe Isserles] in Darkei Moshe on Yoreh De'ah 341. In Reishis Chochmah [the classic introduction to the Kabbalah by R. Eliyahu de Vidas] (129b) there is a lengthy discussion that concludes that one should not consume the flesh of any living creature. And [R. Eliyahu HaKohen of Izmir] in Shevet Mussar, 192a, states that meat is only permitted to a perfectly righteous person. However, all this only pertains to the devout, and a common person is not actually forbidden to eat meat. Nevertheless, we have learned that it is correct to refrain from doing so if one is able to endure privation. Such an individual is considered mighty and holy. Also note Kerem Shlomo on Yoreh De'ah (chap. 1), which explains at length that there is no actual religious duty to consume meat and wine even on the Sabbath or Festivals.

I have recently seen the Kabbalistic work Shiur Komah by Rabbi Moshe Cordovero, and one of my students, who shall always remain dear to me, has shown me page 84c regarding the transmigration of the soul into the vital spirit of an animal. [There it states,] "Thus a conscientious person should avoid eating meat, as it is possible that the soul of a wicked person may cleave to him - sometimes hastening his death." The editor adds: "In the light of this, one should never eat meat unless the divine mysteries have been revealed to him, and he knows that it does not contain the reincarnated soul of a transgressor. Similarly the Ari in Sha'ar HaMitzvos, in the Torah portion Eikev, cautions us not to eat much meat for this reason. He adds that certainly one must never consume the heart of any animal, beast, or bird, as therein dwells the life force".

From a 2002 email to me from R. She’ar Yashuv Cohen shlita (Chief Ashkenazi Rabbi of Haifa):

The following story [is] in the name of the saintly Rabbi Chaim Vital:

And it happened in the courtyard of our Holy Master (the saintly Rabennu Yitzchak Ashkenazy – known as Ha’ari Ha’kadosh) that one of the chaverim (fellows) well known for his piety and erudition took upon himself not to eat or enjoy anything that was alive. And the members of our court “the chaverim” started rebuking him and say: “This way of life is not permitted in our place. It is not the way of Israel”. And the holy master (meaning the Ari) heard about it and immediately called them in and scolded them and said: “Do not dare to speak against him, a holy man of G-d shall be said about him and that is his way in the Holiness”.