MESSAGE WITHOUT MEAT GROUP SHARES SPIRITUAL SUPPORT FOR VEGETARIAN DIET.

Byline: Holly Andres Staff Writer

ENCINO - In the beginning, God instructed people on what they could eat in the world - and according to one local vegetarian group, it wasn't meat.

Members of Jewish Vegetarians of Los Angeles, which meets once a month at Valley Beth Shalom in Encino, hopes to encourage others to see the Scripture the way they do.

``One of the first things that appears in the Bible, Genesis 1:29, indicates what God wanted us to eat. It talks about herbs and fruits of the trees,'' said Zel Allen, a vegetarian for nine years. She and her husband, Reuben Allen, are both members.

The group was formed in March 2000 after Irving Kett, a vegetarian of 60 years and a member of Valley Beth Shalom, delivered a talk about vegetarianism during a Shabbat service at the Conservative synagogue.

Kett, a professor of civil engineering at California State University, Los Angeles, said the synagogue's senior rabbi, Harold Schulweis, has been supportive.

``Rabbi Schulweis has been very sympathetic in speaking out on the topic and on the treatment of animals,'' Kett said. ``He's not a vegetarian, but he's been very supportive.''

The need for people to take seriously the biblical charge of being ``custodians of the Earth'' is a message that Schulweis has emphasized.

``It's very interesting the number of vegetarians there are now who are

looking at it from a moral, hygienic and ecological viewpoint,'' said Schulweis, who described himself as a ``fishetarian.'' ``I think there's a growing awareness of the economics of eating meat, one that has a global aspect to it.''

Schulweis said that only after Noah's ark and the Flood was there a concession by God to allow the eating of meat.

He also pointed to the prophet Isaiah's prediction that when the Messiah comes and ``the lamb lies down with the lion and they will eat straw,'' vegetarianism will be universal.

One indication of Jewish sensitivity to animals is that on Yom Kippur Jews traditionally do not wear leather or fur, because on the holiest day on the Jewish calendar wearing clothing taken from animals is considered offensive to God.

As a child, Kett, 77, witnessed an animal being killed, and it made him aware for the first time of how foods appeared on the table.

``The only difficulty in being a vegetarian is going against the mainstream of society. I didn't do this for health reasons. I had an emotional reaction to cruelty to animals,'' said the retired U.S. Army senior colonel.

Visitors to JVLA meetings often say they are interested in vegetarianism for health reasons, members said.

The Allens came to the diet and lifestyle because Zel Allen was plagued by stomach problems. Believing she might be lactose-intolerant, she stopped eating all dairy products.

``Within a week my stomach felt great. Then my husband said, 'Maybe I don't need dairy products either.' So we both eliminated dairy,'' Zel Allen said.

The Allens gradually learned about vegetarianism and eventually became vegans - who eat only plant material, excluding all animal products, including eggs and honey.

``The vegan philosophy is one of not harming animals in any way. We don't wear silk, down, wool or leather. Most people think we're half nuts,'' Zel Allen admitted. ``Yet when they come over for dinner they like the food. It surprises them. It's an awareness that they don't have.''

Reuben Allen said that frustration in their search for information on vegetarianism resulted in the creation of their own vegetarian Web site, which he said received 15,000 visitors in May of this year.

``We believe the way animals are raised for food is not merciful. We didn't start there, but we've become more aware of food issues like labeling and trying to persuade chain restaurants to offer vegetarian dishes,'' said Reuben Allen. ``But we don't bash people over the head with our views. We do by example.''

Author Richard Schwartz will discuss and sign his book ``Judaism and Vegetarianism'' after a Havdallah service at 8:30 p.m. today. The next meeting of the Jewish Vegetarians of Los Angeles will be held at 2 p.m. July 1. The meetings are free and open to the public. The service and the meeting will be held at Valley Beth Shalom, 15739 Ventura Blvd., Encino. Call [phone]. The Allens' Web site is www.vegparadise.com.

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``One of the first things that appears in the Bible indicates what God wanted us to eat. It talks about herbs and fruits of the trees.''

- Zel Allen, with Irving Kett, left, Rabbi Harold Schulweis and Reuben Allen