Melchior also says the cruelty accusations against
shechitah are simply untrue:
"The Torah forbids cruelty to animals, and the shechitah process
ensures that
the animal loses consciousness immediately. We have been dealing with
this
issue for many years, and there are many scientific studies that back us
up."
M.E., a religious Jew from Holland, does not appear
worried: "The main concern
is whether there is kosher meat in the store or not... Of course the
principle
of the matter worries me. But I have heard on the inside that it was not
done
as a matter of policy, but rather just a few individuals who were able
to
convince the government to make this decision..."
Rabbi Melchior plans to organize a Foreign Ministry
campaign to respond to the
European lies being disseminated about the so-called cruelty involved in
shechitah. He will also have to respond to such accusations here at
home; MK
Avraham Poraz of the anti-religious Shinui party has congratulated
Holland on
its decision, saying that shechitah is cruel. Melchior said, "It is
certainly
infuriating to see a respected Knesset Member plays into the hands of
Jewish
enemies and thus cause harm to the Jewish community in Europe. The lie
that
ritual slaughter is cruel simply shows a hatred for Jewish life."
