Jews The profession of butchers in Judaism is considered a religious office. The trainee has to visit the Yeshiva, a religious educational establishment, followed by practical training, in order to be employed by a Jewish community afterwards 7 . A professional and appropriate educated butcher is a necessity for the Jewish schechita. If these qualifications are not met the slaughtered food is determined as not kosher (illegitimate, uneatable). According to Hagalil, the biggest Jewish online magazine in German language, the terms under which the schechita has to be carried out are strict and are non-negotiable. Zentralrat der Juden (Central Council of Jews) declare that animals must be slaughtered without stunning, as stunning may prevent the complete bleeding out of the animal. As in Islam, consuming blood in any way is strictly forbidden. However, religious viewpoints need not stand in opposition to animal welfare perspectives, although they mostly are presented as such. Dr. Hanna Rheinz, the founder of the Jewish animal welfare initiative “Initiative Jüdischer Tierschutz”, advocates that meat from suffering animals never should be considered as kosher, as Judaism explicitly promotes animal rights.
Signs of Anti-Semitism and Islamophobia A leap back to the middle ages Some signs of anti-Semitism and islamophobia are definitely present in the media debate, although this is not explicitly displayed as such. In the sections below, views are presented that can be said to be of islamophobic character, equating Islam to the middle age and barbarism. If one was to consider the many comments that these discussions fuel on the newspapers online editions, islamophobic views as in offending views directed explicitly at Muslims and Islam are highly present. However, to decide on what counts as signs of antiSemitism or islamophobia can be very difficult. On the other hand it can be safe to say that an “us” versus “them” discourse is highly evident, where “other” is often represented as archaic in contrast to Germany as a “modern civilization”. It is nevertheless important to be cautious about labelling arguments as signs of anti-Semitism or islamophobia, as being pro animal welfare doesn’t imply being contra religious groups. Interestingly, as already pointed out, no one dares to speak about the Jewish practices. Whereas the Muslim slaughter methods receive a lot of critical attention, the Jewish Schechita doesn’t receive much attention at all. Undoubtedly history plays a pivotal part here. Source: A leap back to the middle age (by Petra Kappert, professor in Turkish studies at the University of Hamburg). January 24th 2002, Die Welt Islam has finally, at least in its most conservative form, arrived in continental Europe, and the media praised last week the repeal of the prohibition against ritual slaughtering for Muslims through the Federal Constitutional Court. Is this so, or hasn’t a piece of the middle ages again taken hold in this country? (…) 7
What kind of qualification? Frankfurter Allgemeine on January 18th 2002.
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