David Sears, The Vision of Eden:
Animal Welfare and Vegetarianism in Jewish Law and Mysticism (first ed.
Orot 2003).
Cover design: Baruch Gorkin
Cover art: Jan Breughel the Elder
Index: Rossinna Ippolito
The newly revised 2015 Meorei Ohr edition
is now available for single copy or bulk purchases through Amazon. It includes
significant new material, updated statistics and industry-related data,
expanded notes and a number of corrections.
See the Amazon page here.
The Vision of Eden is a sourcebook of Judaic texts
that draws upon a wide range of both Talmudic and Kabbalistic teachings, with a
special focus on the issues of animal welfare and vegetarianism. While
sympathetic to vegetarianism, the author is not a polemicist, but presents a
balanced discussion of these issues, representing diverse points of view. Much
of this material has never before been translated, including copious selections
from the writings of the Chassidic masters and Rav Abraham Isaac Kook.
Samples may be read here:
Excerpts from Rabbinic Approbations:
Every reader of this unique and holy
book will benefit extensively from it. Indeed, this book, The Vision of Eden, makes one
feel that he has been handed a key to open the closed gates of the Garden of
Eden that were shut to us ever since Adam was expelled, and the angels with
swords in hand surrounded it, preventing us even from knocking on its gates,
let alone entering it…
Rabbi Shear-Yashuv Cohen, Chief
Rabbi of Haifa
The Torah teaches compassion for
every living creature. To study its detail is to study the essence of God.
Rabbi Sears has done extensive and valuable research into a topic the world
depends on for its existence…
Rabbi Yaacov Haber, Jerusalem,
Israel
What
Jewish Vegetarians Are Saying About "The Vision of Eden"
"Currently
most Jews eat meat and other animal products, and relatively few Jews seem
concerned about the cruel mistreatment of animals on factory farms and in other
areas. However, David Sears’ landmark book, with its many examples of Jewish
teachings about compassion for animals, has the potential to change all of
this…His book goes beyond those of other Jewish scholars who have written about
Jewish teachings on animals because he combines his extensive knowledge of
Judaism with an awareness of how far realities related to how society treats
animals differ from the demands of Jewish teachings, and he is committed to
making others aware of the need to end these discrepancies."
Richard
Schwartz
Author: Judaism
and Vegetarianism,
Judaism
and Global Survival
President,
Jewish Vegetarians of North America
"David
Sears has written a remarkable book that, while brilliantly researched within
the context of the Jewish religion, is universal in the themes presented. The
Vision of Eden is a book that everyone seeking a deeper connection to
their spiritual identity needs to read."
Rene
David Alkalay
Author: Kabbalah
in Motion
Executive
Director: The Genesis Society
"This
is a wonderful book, a necessary book, a just book which will contribute much
to clarifying where Judaism stands on the issue of meat, vegetarianism, and
animal welfare. …Sears seems to know - and to
have gathered together to our great advantage - all the
texts that pertain to tsa'ar ba'alei chaim (the Jewish tradition that states
that it is forbidden to cause pain to an animal except under specific
conditions of human need, and that that pain should be as minimal as
possible.)"
Roberta
Kalechovsky
General
Editor: Micah Publications
Author:
Vegetarian Judaism
"Sears is lucid, accessible (even to the uninitiated) and thorough. He seems to have integrated every conceivable Jewish source pertaining to animal welfare… To his credit, Sears does not omit or misconstrue sources that are contrary to current religious or political agendas. Nor does he gloss over the "marked ambivalence" of the Jewish tradition toward vegetarianism… [However, he] respectfully encourages the Gedolei Yisrael to resolve the halachic challenges posed by factory-farm conditions — not only tza'ar baalei chayim but also "kashrut problems" that result from "an increase in sickness among animals" and the "inevitably higher margin of error in mass production" of meat, as well as the health and ecological harm caused by animal-based diets."
Phineas
E. Leahey, The Jewish Press
Reviews
Some activists greatly overstate the case for vegetarianism, cherry-picking sources and ignoring history. In contrast, Rabbi David Sears presents an honest survey of the issues and different views. He masterfully describes the halachic, philosophical and kabbalistic arguments, incorporating translations of key texts and extensive endnotes. While himself a vegetarian, Rabbi Sears clearly demonstrates that eating meat is religiously acceptable. According to some, vegetarianism is an Edenic goal toward which one should strive. According to others, eating meat shows the difference between humans and animals, perhaps even elevating the animals to a higher level of existence. But all agree that we should minimize cruelty to animals and eat healthily. ... Even a limited vegetarianism -- perhaps only during weekdays -- can help us think differently about food and its purpose in our daily lives.
Gil Student, Jewish Action, Winter 5776/2017
In The Vision of Eden [Dovid Sears] presents what is surely every possible authentic Torah source which shows us how carefully and with what great sensitivity an animal must be treated, including sources which powerfully convey the importance of not being unfeeling or brutish towards animals.
Whether or not you agree with the author’s conclusions regarding the consumption of meat, you’ll most likely agree that this is the only book on the subject of Jewish vegetarianism with broad appeal—not only because of the author’s Torah scholarship, but because he doesn’t proselytize. Yes, Dovid Sears believes deeply that there are spiritual and physical benefits of not consuming meat, but he draws his conclusions from Holy sources, without cherry-picking and without condemnation of those who do choose to eat meat. Rabbi Sears respects his readers as he educates.
Healthy Jewish Cooking, March 2015
About the Author
David Sears (sometimes
spelled Dovid Sears) is the author of more than a dozen books on Jewish
thought, including The Breslov Pirkey Avot and The Path of the Baal
Shem Tov. A skilled artist, he also has written and illustrated a number of
children’s books, including The Lost Princess, A Chassid’s Journey, and Tales
From Reb Nachman. In the field of Jewish music, he has co-produced and
written liner notes for several recordings by clarinetist-mandolinist Andy
Statman, including Between Heaven and Earth: Music of the Jewish Mystics
and Songs of Our Fathers (with David Grisman). Since 1997, Rabbi Sears
has directed the Breslov Center of New York, an outreach organization under the
guidance of Rabbi Elazar Mordechai Kenig, leader of the Breslov community in
Tzefat, Israel.
Also by the
Same Author:
Chayei
Nefesh: An Exploration of the Role of the Tzaddik by Rabbi Gedaliah Aharon Kenig. Translated
by Dovid Sears and Dovid Zeitlin, late 1980s. Online version (Part I) here:
The Path of
the Baal Shem Tov (Jason
Aronson / Rowman & Littlefield 1997)
Anthology of
original translations of the Baal Shem Tov's teachings, with some of his
customs and practices; plus several essays.
Compassion
for Humanity in the Jewish Tradition (Jason
Aronson / Rowman & Littlefield 1998)
A
comprehensive anthology of mostly original translations with several essays by
the author. A revised edition with additional source material is in progress.
The Tree
That Stands Beyond Space: Rebbe Nachman and the Mystical Experience (Breslov Research Institute 2002)
Rabbi Nachman's
teachings as related to mystical awakening and inner growth, many never
translated previously. With essay "On the Practice of Breslov
Chassidus."
Also
available in Spanish through Breslov Research Institute. Translation by
Guillermo Beilinson.
Shir Na'im:
A Song of Delight by Rabbi Nachman of Breslov (Orot 2006)
Translation
and original commentary on Rabbi Nachman's only surviving poem, printed at the
beginning of Likutey Moharan. With scholarly annotation and appendices,
including an essay by director of Orot, Rabbi Bezalel Naor, who edited this
volume.
The Flame of
the Heart: Prayers of a Chasidic Mystic (Jewish Lights 2006)
Translations
from Reb Noson of Breslov's Collected Prayers, first published by Breslov
Research Institute, 1999.
Also available
in Spanish through Breslov Research Institute. Translation by Guillermo
Beilinson.
Entering the
Light: Prayers to Experience the Joy and Wonder of Shabbat and Yom Tov (Breslov Research Institute 2007)
Selected
translations from Reb Noson's Collected Prayers (Likutey Tefillot)
related to the Sabbath and Jewish holidays.
Cover design
by Ben Gasner.
The Breslov
Pirkey Avot (Breslov
Research Institute 2010)
A fully-annotated
anthology of original translations from the entire range of Breslov literature—the
fruit of seven years work, on and off—on this classic tractate of the Mishnah
related to "living the life" of Torah.
Part II
("A Deeper Look") addresses various mystical subjects for the more
advanced reader.
Beautifully
designed as a large-format hardcover book by Ben Gasner of Jerusalem.
Also
available in Spanish through Breslov Research Institute. Translation by
Guillermo Beilinson.
Uman, Uman,
Rosh Hashanah (Breslov
Research Institute 2011)
A revised
edition of BRI's practical guide to the Rosh Hashanah gathering in Uman, with
extensive supplements from Breslov writings, including mystical teachings,
stories and prayers. Ideal for travelers to the Breslov Rosh Hashanah gathering
in Uman.
The Power of
Psalms (Breslov Research Institute
2013)
Book One of
this Breslov anthology on Tehillim (Psalms) is currently available. The project
is projected as a five volume series to be published one book at a time (there
are five books, or sections, of Psalms). Translations of "Breslov Insights"
by David Sears; translation of Psalms by Moshe Mykoff, with facing Hebrew text.
Book Two is
now being edited for publication in 2015.
Cover design
by Ben Gasner.
The Water
Castle (Breslov Research Institute
2014)
A bilingual
translation with extensive annotation of three sections of Reb Noson's magnum
opus, Likutey Halakhot, which explore Rabbi Nachman's mystical tale, "The
Water Castle" (from "The Seven Beggars," The Sixth Day).
Includes scholarly prefaces and appendices. This is the first time Likutey
Halakhot has been presented this way, for more advanced study.
Cover design
by Ben Gasner.
Also
available in Spanish through Breslov Research Institute. Translation by
Guillermo Beilinson.
