The modern treatment of livestock in preparation for slaughter, though, may be a further consideration. Animals are raised to ensure the highest return on investment, without sufficient consideration for their personal benefit. Judaism teaches that the earth is the Lord's and that people are to be partners and co-workers with God in protecting the environment. The Talmudic sages indicated great concern about reducing pollution. Helping the hungry is fundamental in Judaism.
Farmers are to leave the gleanings of the harvest and the corners of the fields for the poor.
Using grain and similar resources to directly feed human beings rather than in the preparation of meat could greatly offset these negative effects. While not a pacifist religion, Judaism mandates a special obligation to work for peace. According to the Talmudic sages, God's name is peace, peace encompasses all blessings, and the first words of the Messiah will be a message of peace. The above arguments strongly indicate to me that vegetarianism is the diet most consistent with Jewish values and God's preferences. I invite the reader to further investigate these arguments and sources, including other explanations and understandings that would defend meat consumption as acceptable within the ideal diet for Jews.