The global authority on Judaism and animal protection describes the grave challenges and exciting opportunities for repairing the world and saving the planet.
For over four decades, Richard Schwartz has engaged with two ethically rich ways of living that, as he charts in this book, he came to appreciate in middle age: Judaism and veganism. Having been born into a secular Jewish family, it was his marriage and an increasing commitment to social justice that propelled him to study and rediscover the essence of his Jewish faith. That sense of social justice further raised his awareness of the environmental movement, and, ultimately, led to animal rights and veganism.
In Vegan Revolution: Saving Our World, Revitalizing Judaism, Schwartz shows how, now perhaps more than ever, veganism offers a pathway for all of us of whatever faith (or no faith) to reduce hunger, conserve the environment, save water, reinstitute justice, and care for animals and the Earth. It is no coincidence, as Schwartz demonstrates, that many of these ideas are mandates in Jewish scripture, and that reincorporating a care for the world (tikkun olam) can itself reinvigorate the spirit of a faith and galvanize its practitioners to act.
“This pioneering book by Richard Schwartz, the world’s greatest living authority on the teachings of Judaism on protecting animals and nature, provides nothing short of the revolution in our way of thinking and acting that is now required in efforts to avert a climate catastrophe and other environmental disasters. This compelling, magisterial book is a must read. Its message must be heeded. Our future depends on it.”—Lewis Regenstein, author Replenish the Earth
“For those Jews positively inclined to consider a vegan diet, reading Schwartz’s book is like having a personal mentor.”—Jerusalem Post
“Schwartz is still trying to apply Jewish values to the basic arguments for veganism. But he has gone considerably beyond this now. He has incorporated quite a bit of material that is completely new—on cultivated meat, on climate change, on fish, on animal rights, and other topics. Even the subjects that were covered in the previous book [Judaism and Vegetarianism] have been reworked and completely updated.”—Keith Akers in Animals 24-7
“Vegan Revolution: Saving Our World, Revitalizing Judaism is thought-provoking and sure to interest Jewish people and anyone new to or considering vegan living.”—PETA Blog
“This is an inspirational book that not only helps people to become vegan but is very supportive of vegans already living this way. The deeper message of the book and the moral ethic of Torah teachings is that which is good for human health and spirit is also good for the health of the planet and all life thereupon. One of the most important points that Schwartz makes is that beyond all question the repair, the future, and the survival of the planet are strongly supported by the consciousness and practice of Torah-based veganism. This is an excellent book, which I strongly recommend to all those considering veganism as well as those who already are vegans.”—Rabbi Gabriel Cousens, Tikkun
“The Vegan Revolution was published at a most opportune time. With its emphasis on practical and spiritual ways to combine Judaism and Veganism to produce a real, long-lasting solution to climate change and other important issues, this volume is both timely, relevant and truly inspirational.”—Julie Rosenfeld, Jewish Vegetarian Society (UK)
“For vegan activists out there, understanding religious ideas, can be an additional method to promote their cause. For religious people, veganism can be another way to live their religious beliefs.”—Charles Stahler, Vegetarian Resource Group
“We highly recommend Vegan Revolution to everyone, for its extremely well documented references can help people to exchange their formerly distructive worldly ways back into the ways that God originally intended for us to live.”—Frank Hoffman, All-Creatures.org
