@article{ART003117159},
author={Chungki SONG},
title={“Humane” Slaughter and “Cruel” Kosher Slaughter (Schächt): Controversy over Kosher Butchering in Hamburg in Imperial Germany},
journal={Journal of Humanities, Seoul National University},
issn={1598-3021},
year={2024},
volume={81},
number={3},
pages={309-338}
TY - JOUR
AU - Chungki SONG
TI - “Humane” Slaughter and “Cruel” Kosher Slaughter (Schächt): Controversy over Kosher Butchering in Hamburg in Imperial Germany
JO - Journal of Humanities, Seoul National University
PY - 2024
VL - 81
IS - 3
PB - Institute of Humanities, Seoul National University
SP - 309
EP - 338
SN - 1598-3021
AB - During the German Empire (1871-1918), kosher slaughter laws were one of the main triggers for the rise of anti-Semitism. In the 1830s, a number of animal protection societies were formed, leading to the development of the animal protection movement, which in the late 19th century began to take issue with the way animals were slaughtered and pushed for the introduction of new “humane” slaughter methods to reduce the “cruelty” of slaughter. Traditional Jewish slaughter methods became the primary target of these animal protection movements. Eventually, the Animal Protection Society petitioned the Reichstag to ban kosher slaughter, and there were several heated debates in the Reichstag. While the ban was never enacted nationally because it was argued that it would stifle religious freedom, there were attempts to ban it in several states, with some success. While it is true that anti-Semitism played an important role in the movement to ban kosher slaughter, it is more important to see how kosher slaughter was practiced in everyday life rather than in political debates such as the Reichstag debate.
To this end, this study analyzes the case of Hamburg and aims to show that the Jewish slaughter was carried out without major problems and conflicts in everyday life. This is also why kosher slaughter was not banned nationwide at the time. However, the Hamburg Jewish community, alarmed by antiSemitism, reacted only politically and did not actively work to improve the kosher slaughter method as advocated by animal rights activists. This made it difficult for the Jewish community to compromise when the Nazis came to power and banned kosher slaughter.
KW - Kosher butchering;Animal Protection Movement;Hamburg;Antisemitism;Animal Protection Society
DO -
UR -
ER -
Chungki SONG. (2024). “Humane” Slaughter and “Cruel” Kosher Slaughter (Schächt): Controversy over Kosher Butchering in Hamburg in Imperial Germany. Journal of Humanities, Seoul National University, 81(3), 309-338.
Chungki SONG. 2024, "“Humane” Slaughter and “Cruel” Kosher Slaughter (Schächt): Controversy over Kosher Butchering in Hamburg in Imperial Germany", Journal of Humanities, Seoul National University, vol.81, no.3 pp.309-338.
Chungki SONG "“Humane” Slaughter and “Cruel” Kosher Slaughter (Schächt): Controversy over Kosher Butchering in Hamburg in Imperial Germany" Journal of Humanities, Seoul National University 81.3 pp.309-338 (2024) : 309.
Chungki SONG. “Humane” Slaughter and “Cruel” Kosher Slaughter (Schächt): Controversy over Kosher Butchering in Hamburg in Imperial Germany. 2024; 81(3), 309-338.
Chungki SONG. "“Humane” Slaughter and “Cruel” Kosher Slaughter (Schächt): Controversy over Kosher Butchering in Hamburg in Imperial Germany" Journal of Humanities, Seoul National University 81, no.3 (2024) : 309-338.
Chungki SONG. “Humane” Slaughter and “Cruel” Kosher Slaughter (Schächt): Controversy over Kosher Butchering in Hamburg in Imperial Germany. Journal of Humanities, Seoul National University, 81(3), 309-338.
Chungki SONG. “Humane” Slaughter and “Cruel” Kosher Slaughter (Schächt): Controversy over Kosher Butchering in Hamburg in Imperial Germany. Journal of Humanities, Seoul National University. 2024; 81(3) 309-338.
Chungki SONG. “Humane” Slaughter and “Cruel” Kosher Slaughter (Schächt): Controversy over Kosher Butchering in Hamburg in Imperial Germany. 2024; 81(3), 309-338.
Chungki SONG. "“Humane” Slaughter and “Cruel” Kosher Slaughter (Schächt): Controversy over Kosher Butchering in Hamburg in Imperial Germany" Journal of Humanities, Seoul National University 81, no.3 (2024) : 309-338.
