JEWISH SLAUGHTER
.[To the Editor of the SPECTATOR.] Sia,—I have just read. Mr. Emanuel's letter on the Jewish method of slaughtering in your issue of June 15th. Dr. Klein's film, which Mr. Emanuel tries to discredit, had, of necessity, to be a 'reproduction of the Jewish method of slaughter. It would naturally not have been possible to arrange for a film to be executed by Jews for the purpose of demonstrating the cruelty of their method. Dr. Klein's and profound knowledge of veterinary -seience and of the process of Jewish slaughter are a guarantee of the faithfulness and accuracy of the reproduction. It is 'pre- posterous to cast a reflection on Dr. Klein's professional honour by suggesting that his film was a faked production.
It happens that in addition to seeing his film I have per- sonally witnessed the orthodox Jewish method of killing in London, Birmingham, Edinburgh and America, and from personal experience I must say that the, film struck me as less terrible than the real thing. I have timed with a stop watch the period which elapsed between the incision in the animal's neck and the exact moment when unconsciousness supervened, It took seven minutes. It does not require a very vivid imagination to picture the terror and suffering of the animal during that time.
In this country the animals are just thrown on the floor in order to get.them into the right position for the cut to be made. In America they are strung up, living and conscious, by one hind leg before having their necks cut. There is only one way of bringing the Jewish method into line with the advanced ideas of our time, i.e., by rendering the animal unconscious before carrying out the traditional Israelitic method. I much hope that our Jewish compatriots will set to work without delay to bring their ancient method of slaughter into accord with modern standards.
Orthodox Jews, who have studied this question, assure me that what makes for greater humanity will always be in accord with the spirit that underlies the Jewish religion. Customs are like the hard shell of a nut, which encases the seed of life within, unless they grow with the growing know- ledge of the greater truth.—I am, Sir, &c., NINA HAMILTON AND BRANDON, President, The Animal Defence Society, 35 Old Bond Street, London, W.1.
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