Jewish ritual slaughtering which has been prohibited throughout Switzerland since 1893 on the assumption that Jewish slaughtering methods are cruel to animals, will henceforth be permitted in Zurich municipal abattoirs, according to a decision adopted by the municipal council here.
The decision authorizes the municipal abattoirs to slaughter cattle in accordance with the Jewish laws, providing that the animals are stunned first by electricity. This method, which also existed in Holland until the Nazi occupation was approved by the Zurich rabbinate which was consulted by the municipality prior to its adopting the new regulations.
The Health Department, announcing the decision of the municipal council, added the following statement: “The method of slaughtering authorized by the Zurich municipality in order to enable the Jewish population to secure meat is humane in the best sense of the word.”
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