Veganism and Sukkot/Simchat Torah

So I know what you're thinking. Here comes the vegan preaching.  Not true, exactly.  If you thought you had a medicine that helps you, wouldn't you want to share it with the world.  Well I happen to think that veganism is the right way to go, so indulge me for a few if you will.


The holiday of Sukkot is closing in on us quick, and I couldn't begin the holiday without a little vegan analytics as it were.


Veggie Sukkot
The above link is an article written by a very wise man named Dr. Richard Schwartz.  He is one of the few modern advocates of vegetarianism AND its relation with Judaism.  There are many connections that one can make between Sukkot and not eating animals.  I am going to make the overall connection which kinda lumps them all together nicely but without any overload.


Notice this Sukkot what kind of decorations are in the Sukkah: fruit, veg, and grain. Night a trace of meat to be found.
Notice what other tools we use to celebrate this holiday: plant life.
Notice that the object of living in a temporary not-so-stable building is to remind us that God is the penultimate provider and guide; and His ideal as set out in the Garden of Eden is a vegetarian (some might say vegan) lifestyle.


As people we (and as an observant Jew me even more) tend to focus a lot on the tiny details instead of the larger picture when it comes to life.  The beauty of Sukkot is that it forces you to think outside of yourself and what is best for the world.  We live outside (in our Sukkot), in direct contact (to some extent) with our planet and the world around us.  We look up and see the stars through our Sukkot coverings (schach) and our reminded of not only our long gone Israelite brethren, but of the larger picture.  Our fellow living beings around us whose existence is all interconnected.


By refraining from eating meat (and being vegan altogether) we are helping to recreate/maintain that delicate and beautiful harmony that existed in the Garden of Eden...WHICH we will be reading about this Simchat Torah.


Even if you aren't vegan or veg, or have no desire to become either.  Spend this Sukkot dwelling on a few ideas that will take you outside of yourself and into the larger picture.  Into the picture as many believe Hashem wants us to see.