The launch of Shechita UK was formally announced last week.
Shechita UK is a cross-communal body established to promote
awareness of and education about shechita.
Shechita UK unites representatives from the National Council
of Shechita Boards, the Board of Deputies of British Jews and
the Campaign for the Protection of Shechita. It incorporates
representatives from all the kashrus authorities in the
UK.
Shechita UK has evolved out of the shechita working
party, set up earlier this year in response to the report of
the Farm Animal Welfare Council (FAWC), which has recommended
that the Government legislate against the continued practice
of shechita in the UK.
Shechita UK will promote the Jewish religious humane method
of animal slaughter by:
* Informing and educating the public and media of the
humaneness of shechita.
* Countering misinformation and misperceptions.
* Lobbying Government to: support the long-established and
recognized right of the British Jewish community to practice
shechita, and reject outright the relevant
recommendations made by FAWC.
The new body will maintain an open dialogue with the Muslim
Council of Great Britain, which is facing a similar challenge
due to the threat that the FAWC poses to Halal.
Shechita UK has retained the services of a team of
communication specialists, led by Shimon Cohen of Bell
Pottinger Consultants, to advise on public relations and
public affairs. A media office has been established to handle
media inquiries.
Henry Grunwald QC, speaking as Honorary Chairman of Shechita
UK, said: "The formation of Shechita UK is an historic
measure that unites interested parties from across the
community, and builds on their good work, to ensure
shechita is promoted effectively as the Jewish
religious-humane method of animal slaughter for food. Just as
the humaneness of shechita in the United States is
acknowledged in the Humane Method of Slaughter Legislation,
we are working towards securing that shechita is
recognized as a humane method of slaughter in this
country."
Joe Lobenstein MBE, representing the Union of Orthodox Hebrew
Congregations (Kedassia), said: "We believe that the right to
practice shechita is fundamental to religious freedom.
We are calling on the Government to reject outright the
relevant recommendations of the Farm Animal Welfare Council
so that the Jewish Community may continue their long-
established right to practice shechita."
Chanoch Kesselman, Vice President of the Campaign for the
Protection of Shechita, said, "Shechita UK believes, as
scientific experts have confirmed, that shechita is a
humane method of animal slaughter for food, in keeping with
the respect and compassion for animals that Jewish law
demands. Shechita, is the only method permitted to
Jews for the consumption of meat and meat products, and is
entirely consistent with the requirements of humaneness. Any
legislation which interferes with shechita will
deprive thousands of citizens of their right to eat meat."
Shlomo Winegarten, Joint Treasurer of the National Council of
Shechita Boards, said: "The NCSB has been working tirelessly
on the issue of the promotion of shechita and with the
launch of Shechita UK our efforts will be greatly
strengthened by the support of all sections of British
Jewry."
The National Council of Shechita Boards of Great Britain was
established in 1953, encompassing all UK Shechita activities
and joined in presenting a unified platform for the
protection and defense of shechita.
Nowadays the National Council is also devoting resources to
provide education about the proper practice of humane
slaughter. The Council is often consulted by Government
departments and animal welfare organizations who accept that
shechita is humane and is conducted by trained
professionals to the best standards of practice.
Th Board of Deputies of British Jews was founded in 1760, as
an elected, national representative body of the British
Jewish community. Its members are elected by synagogues and
communal organizations from all parts of the country and all
sections of the Jewish community. The Board of Deputies
protects, supports and defends the rights and interests and
religious rights and customs of Jews and the Jewish Community
in the United Kingdom and promotes the development of the
British Jewish community.
Kedassia is the Kashrus Division of the Union of Orthodox
Hebrew Congregations and Adath Yisroel founded in 1927 by the
late Rabbi Avigdor Schonfeld zt"l, representing the
chareidi communities in the UK providing a full range of
religious educational welfare and communal services for its
members.
The Campaign for the Protection of Shechita was established
in 1984 to protect shechita from external threats in
the UK. It has a nation-wide constituency and is consulted by
Departments of State.
Shimon Cohen is a Director of Bell Pottinger Consultants, a
team of highly experienced senior strategic communications
consultants. From 1983 to 1990, he served as executive
director at the office of the Chief Rabbi and as private
secretary to the Chief Rabbi, Lord Jakobovits.
For further information, please contact: ShechitaUK media
team, Tel: 020 7861 8572; email: Shechita@bell-
pottinger.co.uk
