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The government of Holland has banned kosher slaughter, becoming the sixth
European country to do so. The local Agriculture Ministry informed Jewish
community leaders there that they would no longer be permitted to
slaughter cows in a kosher manner [shechitah] because of its cruelty to
the animals. Deputy Foreign Minister Rabbi Michael Melchior, the former
Chief Rabbi of Norway, says he is not convinced that concern for the
animals is the real motivation behind the new regulation: "They simply
don't want foreigners and they don't want Jews. I won't say that this is
the only motivation, but it's certainly no coincidence that one of the
first things Nazi Germany forbade was kosher slaughter. I also know that
during the original debate on this issue in Norway, where shechitah has
been banned since 1930, one of the parliamentarians said straight out, 'if
they don't like it, let them go live somewhere else.'" Melchior also says
the cruelty accusations against shechitah are simply untrue:quote "The
Torah forbids cruelty to animals, and the shechitah process ensures that
the animal loses consciousness immediately.
We have been dealing with this issue for many years, and there are many
scientific studies that back us up." M, a religious Jew from Holland, does
not appear worried: "The main concern is whether there is kosher meat in
the store or not... Of course the principle of the matter worries me. But
I have heard on the inside that it was not done as a matter of policy, but
rather just a few individuals who were able to convince the government to
make this decision..." Rabbi Melchior plans to organize a Foreign Ministry
campaign to respond to the European lies being disseminated about the
so-called cruelty involved in shechitah. He will also have to respond to
such accusations here at home. MK Avraham Poraz of the anti-religious
Shinui party has congratulated Holland on its decision, saying that
shechitah is cruel.
Melchior said, "It is certainly infuriating to see a respected Knesset
Member plays into the hands of Jewish enemies and thus cause harm to the
Jewish community in Europe. The lie that ritual slaughter is cruel simply
shows a hatred for Jewish life."
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