Editing Vegetarianism (section)

===Judaism===
{{Main|Jewish vegetarianism}}
While classical Jewish law neither requires nor prohibits the consumption of meat, Jewish vegetarians often cite Jewish principles regarding [[Jewish ethics#Treatment of animals|animal welfare]], [[Jewish ethics#Environmental ethics|environmental ethics]], moral character, and [[Jewish ethics#Health and self-respect|health]] as reasons for adopting a vegetarian or vegan diet.<ref>Mary L. Zamore, ed. The Sacred Table: Creating a Jewish Food Ethic (New York, NY: CCAR Press, 2011).</ref>

Rabbis may advocate vegetarianism or veganism primarily because of concerns about animal welfare, especially in light of the traditional prohibition on causing unnecessary "pain to living creatures" ([[Tza'ar ba'alei chayim|tza'ar ba'alei hayyim]]).<ref>{{Cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=KPOODwAAQBAJ|title=Jewish Veganism and Vegetarianism: Studies and New Directions|last1=Labendz|first1=Jacob Ari|last2=Yanklowitz|first2=Shmuly|date=March 25, 2019|publisher=SUNY Press|isbn=978-1-4384-7361-1|access-date=November 27, 2019|archive-date=April 5, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230405220129/https://books.google.com/books?id=KPOODwAAQBAJ|url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book|title=Rabbis and Vegetarianism: An Evolving Tradition|last=Kalechofsky|first=Roberta|publisher=Micah Publications|year=1995}}</ref> Some Jewish vegetarian groups and activists believe that the [[halakha|halakhic]] permission to eat meat is a temporary leniency for those who are not ready yet to accept the vegetarian diet.<ref>{{cite web |title=Judaism & Vegetarianism |publisher=Jewishveg.com |url=http://www.jewishveg.com/torah.html |access-date=August 9, 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090902154013/http://www.jewishveg.com/torah.html |archive-date=September 2, 2009 |url-status=dead}}</ref>

The [[book of Daniel]] starts in its first chapter with the benefits of vegetarianism.<ref>{{cite web | url=http://www.mechon-mamre.org/e/et/et3401.htm | title=Daniel 1 / Hebrew Bible in English / Mechon-Mamre }}</ref> Due to its size, its late time of origin and its revealing content, the book is of particular importance for the time of the following exile, which lasts now for 2000 years and technically still goes on until the Temple in Jerusalem is rebuilt. A diet described as "pulse and water" is presented along benefits such as accordance with the biblical dietary laws, health, beauty, wisdom and vision. Vegetarianism can be seen as a safeguard around the dietary laws or the beautification of them.

Jewish vegetarianism and veganism have become especially popular among [[Israeli Jews]]. In 2016, Israel was described as "the most vegan country on Earth", as five percent of its population eschewed all animal products.<ref>{{Cite news|url=http://www.thetower.org/article/how-israel-became-the-global-center-of-veganism/|title=How Israel Became the Global Center of Veganism|work=The Tower|access-date=May 23, 2018|archive-date=December 23, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201223220922/http://www.thetower.org/article/how-israel-became-the-global-center-of-veganism/|url-status=live}}</ref> Interest in veganism has grown among both non-Orthodox and Orthodox Jews in Israel.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.tabletmag.com/jewish-life-and-religion/197361/life-after-brisket|title=The Rise of Israel's Orthodox Vegan Movement|website=Tablet Magazine|access-date=May 23, 2018|date=February 16, 2016|archive-date=May 9, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190509192452/https://www.tabletmag.com/jewish-life-and-religion/197361/life-after-brisket|url-status=live}}</ref>