In this conversation, Akiva shares what Torah actually teaches about animal welfare, environmental stewardship, and our responsibility to all living beings. We explore the Kabbalistic understanding of food and spiritual elevation, why so many rabbis who are vegetarian or vegan keep it to themselves, and what conscious eating has to do with the soul.
We also talk about the relationship between inner work and outer activism, the power of silence — in the desert, at the Shabbat table, and in meditation — and the profound Jewish teaching that the sin of Adam and Eve wasn't what they ate, but how they ate.
Whether you're Jewish or not, vegan or not, this episode will change the way you think about what you put on your plate — and why it matters.
🌿 Topics we explore:
• What Torah says about animal welfare and the environment
• The Kabbalistic teaching that we are what we eat — spiritually
• Why more rabbis don't speak openly about veganism
• Eating as meditation and sacred practice
• Silence, the desert, and inner listening
• Tikkun olam: how personal choices heal the world
• Vegan matchmaking in the Jewish community
Akiva Gersh is originally from New York and moved to Israel in 2004. He has a BA from Brown University, an MA in Jewish Education from Yeshiva University and rabbinic ordination from Yeshivat Sulam Yaakov in Jerusalem. Akiva has been working in the field of Jewish Education for 25 years and in 2020 Akiva created the online platform \"Vegan Rabbi\" to share ancient Jewish teachings that promote compassion for animals and support going vegan in our world today.
🔗 Learn more about Akiva's work: www.akivagersh.com
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CHAPTERS
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0:00 Introduction — Akiva's journey from suburban New York to Torah and veganism
1:58 Going vegetarian at college, then vegan at 19 — activism as a spiritual calling
3:15 Discovering that Judaism had always taught about animals and the environment
5:05 What Torah actually says: stewardship, compassion for animals, not wasting
7:17 Adam and Eve placed in the Garden \"to serve and protect\" — the original mandate
8:26 Why more observant Jews don't embrace these teachings — and Akiva's honest answer
11:33 The role of rabbis: how one big rabbi going vegan could change thousands of lives overnight
15:14 Sharing truth vs. protecting community — the tension at the heart of change
18:08 Inner work and outer activism — how Judaism holds both in balance
21:41 The Rebbe who put out his cigarette — being open to new information
23:40 Does eating suffering animals affect our spiritual level? A deep conversation
25:37 Kabbalistic teaching: we are what we eat — spiritually. Sparks, soul, and food
27:07 The Baal Shem Tov who sat and cried with an animal before slaughter
30:24 Eating consciously — chewing, silence, and food as meditation
31:51 The teaching that the sin of Adam and Eve was HOW they ate, not what they ate
33:08 The month of Shvat and fixing our relationship with food
35:17 Closing your eyes while eating — the unexpected power of silence at meals
37:34 The desert, the prophets, and why silence speaks — midbar / medaber
39:10 Falling in love with Shabbat and the Jewish system of blessings
40:55 Gratitude as the foundation of joy — Jewish blessings throughout the day
42:32 Fitting in vs. being yourself — navigating community as a vegan in observant life
47:25 How Akiva responds when challenged — and why he welcomes the debate
51:30 An ultra-orthodox rabbi who says the future is meatless — a surprising source
56:15 Animal sacrifice in the Torah — how Akiva makes peace with the difficult parts
58:58 Vegan matchmaking — helping Jewish vegans find each other
1:00:22 Finding a partner who shares your values around food and living
1:02:11 Closing reflections — community, individuality, and thriving as yourself