The Rabbinical Centre of Europe expressed, in a letter to Dutch politicians, its "deepest concerns" regarding the proposed legislation that would effectively ban shechita, the practice of Jewish ritual slaughter in the Netherlands.
The Dutch parliament is expected to vote this week on the proposed legislation
The Brussels-based RCE is an organization representing over 700 European religious leaders dedicated to meeting the needs of Jewish communities in Europe,
"We are fully aware that the legislation is proposed because of animal rights concerns. Please be assured that animal welfare has always played a significant role in the Jewish religion. Caring for animals is a recurring subject in Jewish texts and law and the stipulations and precautions governing the slaughter of animals for consumption are extensive. These include the assurance of an instantaneous slaughter and exposing the animal to the least possible degree of pain," the letter says.
The RCE fears that the Dutch parliament has not been provided with all the facts about shechitah and the numerous studies "which prove the humane nature of Jewish ritual slaughter have not been made available to you."
"If shechitah were to be banned, the Jewish community would be gravely affected by this historic and irreparable mistake," the organization says.
The RCE recalled that "centuries ago, Jews sought refuge in Holland from pogroms, inquisitions and expulsions. Rightly so, this nation has long been regarded as the model for tolerance and a shining example of religious freedom in the world."
"A ban on the practice of shechitah would not only deal a serious blow to this reputation and to the decimated Jewish community of the Netherlands, but would deeply hurt the Jewish communities in the whole of Europe, who regard the Netherlands as a beacon of religious tolerance."
Such a ban, the RCE says, could inspire similar proscriptions of Jewish traditions elsewhere in Europe and "could prove a disaster to the already embattled European Jewish community."