Pamela Anderson is appearing on the Israeli version of Dancing With the Stars this season, and she never misses a step when it comes to speaking up for animals. This week, Pamela sent an impassioned letter to Israeli Minister of Religious Services Yakov Margi urging him to support a bill that would ban (!) the fur trade in Israel. Pamela joins compassionate reggae singer Matisyahu, who sent a letter to the Israeli government earlier this year in support of the ban. Sir Paul McCartney, Brigitte Bardot, and several members of the British Parliament have also spoken out in favor of the bill.

Writes Pamela, "After watching just a few moments of this PETA video, surely you will agree that the ways in which animals suffer and die in the fur trade violate Jewish principles, which strictly prohibit causing unnecessary suffering to animals." Israel's largest newspaper reported on Pamela's letter (on the back page, which is the section that most Israelis read first), informing thousands of readers that animals are bludgeoned, electrocuted, and skinned alive for their pelts. Let's hope that Minister Margi takes Pamela's advice and votes to make Israel the first country to prohibit the production, sale, and importation of all fur products!

Written by Lindsay Pollard-Post

What do reggae star Matisyahu, the Israeli government, and fur have in common? The compassionate Jewish singer, who recently became vegan because of his disgust toward factory farms and to strictly adhere to Torah principles, has written a heartfelt letter on behalf of PETA to Israeli government leaders urging them to support a bill currently in the Knesset that would ban the fur trade in Israel. If the bill passes, Israel would be the first country to prohibit the production, sale, and importation of all fur products (with the exception of shtreimels, traditional fur hats worn by some Hasidim).

Matisyahu rightfully points out that stomping, beating, and bludgeoning animals violates the fundamental principle of tza'ar ba'alei chayim, which forbids gratuitous cruelty to animals.

In light of our recent undercover video about Chinese fur farms, it's time right now for governments and the public to turn their backs on fur.

Written by Jennifer O'Connor

Looking for a way to rebel against a Debbie Friedman–saturated childhood this Passover?

OK, as the daughter of a Hebrew school principal/music director, maybe it's just me, but everyone should check out Jewish-vegan-reggae-rock-hip-hop artist Matisyahu, whose video for "One Day" was rated one of the 10 most inspiring videos on the Web.

In response to a suggestion that he put a shrimp on the barbie while he's in Australia, Matisyahu recently tweeted, "Sorry babe [shrimp are] not kosher plus I went vegan."

The last time Matisyahu played in Norfolk, PETA delivered him a basket of vegan treats along with the video "If This Is Kosher…" narrated by Jonathan Safran Foer. The video shows footage from an investigation at Agriprocessors, the world's largest kosher slaughterhouse.

This is the year I start a new Passover tradition by sending my dad a similar PETA gift basket, only with a Matisyahu CD and a card reading, "Beets Beat Brisket." Leave a comment with your favorite compassionate Passover tradition (or a better slogan for my card)!

Written by Heather Drennan