Shamayim: Jewish Animal Advocacy

​ERICA FUCHS

It’s August, the middle of summer, but the participants of SHAMAYIM’s programs (the Synagogue Vegan Challenge and our Campus Fellowship) are just getting started! We can’t wait to share the progress they make within their communities to introduce more animal, Earth, and human-friendly eating practices and education over the course of the year.

In addition to the news of our current programs kicking off, we have a new program in the works that will be announced soon, and we’d also like to introduce you to our newest staff member. Welcome, Alex: Shamayim’s New Content Manager! We are pleased to officially welcome Alex Weisz to the Shamayim team! Alex has taken on the role of Content Manager to create Jewish-focused content to share with our growing community including weekly D’var Torahs, holiday-focused writing from a vegan perspective, and more. We’re blessed to have him on board!

“Alex Weisz is the Content Manager of Shamayim: Jewish Animal Advocacy. He is a Jewish educator located in Las Vegas, Nevada, and a second year Rabbinical student at the Academy for Jewish Religion, California. Alex is a passionate student of Torah, a kosher vegan, and observant Jew. In his spare time, Alex can be found attempting to study while cuddling his two puppies, Winky and Zelda.”

Read Alex’s latest D’var Torah

Watch Alex’s livestream discussing the current crisis in the Amazon Rainforest

NEW PROGRAM COMING SOON!

Be on the lookout for information coming soon about our NEWEST initiative, our Egg-Free Challah Program, which will allow your community to implement kinder eating practices by making one simple change.

2019 ANIMAL RIGHTS NATIONAL CONFERENCE

This year was Shamayim’s first time at the Animal Rights National Conference, and it won’t be our last. It was a beautiful way to connect as a community at the world’s largest and longest-running animal rights gathering. Throughout the weekend, we:

🌱 Tabled and met dozens of enthusiastic Jewish Vegans, growing our community and sharing information about our programs

🍷⁣⁣ Hosted the conference’s first-ever vegan Shabbat gathering with Jewish Veg – see photos here

🐓 Attended a protest with over 140 activists against McDonald’s telling them to stop the worst forms of abuse to hundreds of millions of chickens each year – learn more here

Check out our recap video from #AR2019!

SHAMAYIM’S 2020 JEWISH VEGAN ANIMAL ADVOCACY RETREAT

You’re invited to join us as we invigorate the connection between our traditions, values, and compassion for animals over an uplifting Shabbat weekend with insightful sessions, delicious kosher vegan meals and networking with activists, scholars, and animal advocacy leaders from every corner of the Jewish vegan community. Everyone is welcome at this retreat, no matter dietary choices or religious identity.

When? Friday evening – Sunday afternoon, February 7th – 9th, 2020
Where? The Brandeis-Bardin Institute – 1101 Peppertree Lane Brandeis, CA 93064

See what our past retreat was like:
2019 Schedule | 2019 Session Descriptions | 2019 Photos

If you are interested in leading a session, please reach out to lisa@shamayim.us.

Register and take advantage of special early bird pricing while it lasts!