Matisyahu’s Take on Israel’s Proposed Fur Ban

Published by Jennifer O'Connor.

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).

PETA footage on Israeli news program

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.

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 Ingrid E. Newkirk

“Almost all of us grew up eating meat, wearing leather, and going to circuses and zoos. We never considered the impact of these actions on the animals involved. For whatever reason, you are now asking the question: Why should animals have rights?” READ MORE

— Ingrid E. Newkirk, PETA President and co-author of Animalkind