Thou Shalt Eat Plants — Only Plants

Jeffrey Spitz Cohan has an idea for how to enjoy the upcoming Passover seder in true Jewish tradition — avoiding not just leavened bread, but meat, eggs and dairy as well. And lovin’ it.

Cohan runs an organization called Jewish Veg. it aims to encourage Jews to veg out and veg in when they eat, by adopting a vegan diet.

The organization promotes a philosophy that has taken hold in various corners of the Jewish world, especially in Israel: That veganism is the logical outgrowth of fundamental Jewish principles beginning with a commandment in Genesis to eat plants and continuing with dictates to avoid cruelty to animals and to protect the environment.

According to this view, God offered Jews the option of eating meat only as a compromise after the great flood, and even then set strict rules to avoid turning humans into beasts who lack the capacity to make moral and ethical choices.

For the upcoming Passover holiday, Jewish Veg has been promoting traditional recipes that avoid eggs, dairy and meat — such as a matzoh ball soup that uses veggie broth instead of chicken broth and flax seed instead of egg as a binder. The group also hosts vegan seders and vegan ​“Birthright” trips to Israel.

Cohan, who lives in Pittsburgh, brought his pitch to New Haven this weekend for a scheduled Shabbat visit to Yale’s Slifka Center. (He gives a public talk there Saturday at 5:30 p.m.) Cohan also discussed his organization’s work during a noon appearance Friday on WNHH FM’s ​“Dateline New Haven” program.

Click on the video below to watch the full interview, in which Cohan discussed questions that have confronted observant Jews concerned with veganism, such as whether tradition commands eating meat on Friday night, or simply eating special foods. (His take: The meat rule comes from the Talmud, not the Torah, and there are dissenting rabbinic opinions.) And click here to learn more about the organization Jewish Veg, which links to vegan resources including this popular Passover cookbook.