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is hunting permitted in survival situations? How did the ancient Israelites gather their food previously before herding?
Despite what Muman said, as far as I know it is technically "kosher" to eat live fish, as long as the fish itself is kosher (which rules out squid of course). The reason is fish don't need to be slaughtered.
A group of young men who had survived the holocaust met the renown Vizhnitzer Rebbe. The Rebbe went out of his way to comfort and console the countless Jews who had lost their families, friends, and possessions as the result of the horrible war.With great sincerity and heartache, the Jewish men told the Rebbe that they felt guilty for having eaten non-kosher food throughout their time in the camps. "Perhaps we should have been stronger," said one of the young men with remorse. "Perhaps we could have survived without eating the food from their kitchens. What should we do to repent for our sins?" The Rebbe was touched by their sincerity. He was quiet for a few moments and then he began to cry. He took the hand of one of the young men and clasped it warmly in his own hands. "The only reason you and your friends ate the treif (non-kosher) food was so that you should survive, is that not so?" The young man nodded yes. "Surely the reason you felt you had to eat the food was because of the commandment "And you shall live by them [the commandments] (Leviticus 18:5)," said the Rebbe. Again the young man nodded. (The Torah commands us to violate all but three types of mitzvahs in order to save a life.)
While on the subject of fish ......Shulchan Oruch Y.D. 13:1 rules that fish require no ritual slaughtering, shechitoh. This is derived from our verse which says that if bnei Yisroel were to receive meat it would require shechitoh, "Hatzone u'vokor YISHOCHEIT lo'hem." However, by fish it says "yei'o'seif," that they only require gathering.There is an opinion that fish require shechitoh. It is to be found in M.R. Breishis 7:2. "Yaakov of the village of Gvuroi ruled in Tzur that fish require ritual slaughter." I have no idea where the place of the shechitoh would be or if it would require the cutting of one or two "simanim."The Kesef Mishneh brings the opinion of Rav Saadyia Gaon that fish which die on their own may not be eaten. The Bach's text of the words of R.S.G. is that live fish may not be eaten. The Rambam in hilchos shechitoh 1:3 says that fish which die in the water may be eaten. He also permits eating fish alive. The Hagohas Beis Yosef on Knesses Hag'doloh Y.D. #13 questions if the Rambam would permit consuming fish that died on land. It would seem obvious that if fish were caught in a body of water and left to die on land, that this is considered not dying by themselves, but rather being killed by a person. This is literally "yei'o'seif."
This is true... But there is the question of cruelty to animals. I don't know the answer to this one..Regarding hunting for survival... I don't know the 'official' answer but my guess is based on Pikuah Nefesh {Saving Life} that in a condition of survival it is OK to eat whatever is available to stay alive.This site discusses the issues raised in the Talmud concerning eating a limb of a living bird..http://www.dafyomi.co.il/chulin/insites/ch-dt-102.htm
As for eating a fish that's still alive, I don't understand how it would NOT fall under the prohibition of eating the flesh of a live animal. I mean, the fish isn't even dead yet, and it's being eaten. So what is there not to understand?
I think eating a living fish is very un-Jewish. Like Muman said there is still the matter of cruelty to an animal. Although, the any way that gets the fish from the pond to your plate is not going to be very pleasant for the fish.
Obviously eating something that is still alive is just barbaric. But I don't understand why Jews often feel like hunting is a sin for Gentiles, too.
I fill that is a sin as a vegan not because I am Jewish. I think the reason is quite obvious- it is often a rather painful and slow death, not that being mauled by a bear or hunted down by a pack of wolves is any better, but still I think humans should show more mercy if they have to kill an animal.
An arrow through the heart and lungs is a rather quick death with massive blood loss. Have you always been a vegan? What do you eat for protein?
But not every shot is a perfect hit. I think using arrows to kill big animals like moose and elk is especially cruel.I've been vegan for 11 years. I get all the nutrients I need from vegan food except perhaps B12 for which I take a pill.
Be very careful about who you call a barbarian, jbeige.