Vegetarianism Mitzvah Project
The Purpose of a Project
A bar/bat mitzvah is an important time in a young Jewish person’s life. Oftentimes, in the year preceding the coming of age ceremony, one may decide to complete a “mitzvah project.” The responsibility of conducting the mitzvah project represents the newfound responsibility of adulthood and a step into a larger world. The project comes in many different forms and covers a wide variety of topics. The individual chooses one of the mitzvot to center their project around, so that the execution of this project will allow them to fully observe the mitzvah they choose. It is the hope of The Shamayim V’Aretz Institute that your child pursues a project related to the values making this world a more peaceful and compassionate one. It is our belief that a very meaningful and effective way to do this is to pursue a mitzvah project that furthers animal welfare and vegetarian/vegan values in your community.
What is Vegetarianism?
A vegetarian is someone who does not consume meat products and other by-products produced by the meat, poultry, fish, and dairy industry. There are four basic types of vegetarians:
- Lacto-ovo-vegetarians: Do not consume meat but do consume eggs and other dairy products.
- Lacto-vegetarians: Do not consume meat or eggs but still consume dairy products like milk and cheese.
- Ovo-vegetarians: Do not consume meat or dairy products but do still consume eggs.
- Vegan: Do not consume or purchase animal products of any kind, even non-food items.
What You Can Do!
1. Educate
Education comes in different forms. The easiest and most accessible form of education takes place at school. Many organizations offer materials, outlines, and support for starting a new club at your school. You may also ask your teacher if you can create an informative presentation for extra credit or hang up some informative fliers around your school or neighborhood. Many people simply aren’t exposed to vegetarianism (or have a preconceived notion of it), so educating them will allow them to have something the go off of so that they can do their own research. There are many kinds of films to show, books to read, and classes to give! The goal is to get one’s peers thinking critically about industrial farming practices and about what they eat. For an example of a great educational project, check out the free-to-download guide for the Ark Project courtesy of Jewish Initiative for Animals.
2. Advocate
Advocacy is similar to education; however, it is often more community oriented. Advocacy is a bold way for you to introduce yourself to the various organizations and individuals that are active members and leaders in the field you are interested in. You can go to different events to help identify where the community is most active and to generally support other causes. Social media is a great way to be an advocate. If you have a social media page, use it to share compelling information about your chosen mitzvah project topic. It’s a great—but challenging—way to get your message across and more people on side. One important goal is to engage institutions that we are affiliated with to change their food policies either to go vegan or to at least reduce their animal product offerings.
3. Volunteer
Many organizations allow you and your family to come and volunteer. Many organizations require you to be accompanied by a parent our legal guardian if you are under the age of 18, so it is important that you do your research beforehand. Not only can you volunteer with organizations whose main purpose is advocating for vegetarianism, many types of organizations fall under the umbrella of vegetarianism and animal welfare (including animal rescues and local gardens). Explore as many as you can and find what you’re most passionate about.
4. Fundraise
There are numerous ways for you to fundraise. Besides standard fare such as bake sales and lemonade stands, try to find something specifically related to you and your cause. It doesn’t have to be anything overwhelming or time-consuming: if it is a worthy cause, people will be willing to support it. It is important to give people a reason to support your cause, however. Don’t be afraid to tug at peoples’ heart strings or to get them to think… that’s what will draw people in and make them want to enact change!
5. Personal Change
Being an active member of your community is rewarding. But sometimes the best change starts with yourself. Look for ways to make an impact in your own life and the lives of those around you. Make an easy start by figuring out ways to incorporate a plant-based diet into your life. There are plenty of online resources with helpful tips and family friendly recipes to get you started. Being vegetarian—especially vegan—also makes it much easier to keep kosher and to stay healthy.
| Vegetarianism Mitzvah Project |