For instance, joyful celebration is typically accompanied by the slaughter of animals for a feast.
While most of Israel’s Jewish population no longer engages in such practices, one need only open the pages of the Bible to know that it is part of their cultural heritage. For that reason, Israel’s newest government minister, Ayoub Kara, a member of the Druze minority that still adheres to such customs, thought his Jewish countrymen would accept his celebratory slaughter.
Kara, a member of the ruling Likud party, is the first Druze to ever hold a Cabinet position. To mark the occasion, he held a feast and slaughtered 68 sheep for his guests, one for each year of Israel’s independence since it became a state in 1948. The slaughter was taken in stride by fellow Druze and some of the Jewish guests. But animal rights groups were outraged.
“Killing an animal is heartbreaking, not a sign of joy,” said Let the Animals Live. “We were horrified by the killing of these 68 sheep, counted one by one as their slaughter was performed openly.”
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