Etc.

Vegan Cookie Invasion
Vegan Cookies Invade Your Cookie Jar, the latest cookbook from Vegan Cupcakes Take Over the World co-authors Isa Chandra Moskowitz and Terry Hope Romero, came out yesterday. While in a bookstore this afternoon, I couldn't help but make various embarrassing noises while looking at the beautiful cookie pictures in the book.

Yesterday on Etsy, the cookbook co-authors were selling the four coolest handmade aprons I've ever seen. The aprons sported the logo for Moskowitz and Romero's Post Punk Kitchen, but they've already been sold.

Reform Rabbi Cares for Animals
Last week, the Forward ran an article about Reform Rabbi Robin Nafshi, the president of the Seer Farms animal sanctuary in New Jersey. Nafshi said, "We are a very human-centered religion, and most Jews who are passionate about animal kindness don’t find they have a voice within their religious tradition, which is unfortunate, because it’s such a deep part of our tradition. From the very beginning of our creation story, we are the caregivers." She added, "Our hearts and our souls are big enough to embrace multiple species. It’s not either-or; there’s room for both, and that’s very much part of our tradition."

The article notes that her shul, Temple Beth-El, hosted an "animal-awareness week" last month. Activities reportedly included "animal-themed Hebrew lessons, a dog and cat food donation drive, and a Sabbath sermon on the theme of kindness to animals."

Rubashkin Trial Update
In the first federal trial of former AgriProcessors executive Sholom Rubashkin, the defense and prosecution made closing arguments yesterday. Jurors are now deliberating over the 91 financial charges that Rubashkin faces.

I've noted before that not one of the charges pertains to the slaughterhouse's treatment of animals. COLlive.com reported that on Thursday, KAJ Rabbi Chaim Kohn, a witness for the defense, "recalled how People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) castigated Agri for what they claimed was the practice of ripping out live cows' throats." COLlive noted that Kohn's comments were made "[o]utside the jury's presence (which U.S. District Chief Judge Linda Reade dismissed citing irrelevance)." Today, Failed Messiah pointed out that Kohn was the head of ritual slaughter at AgriProcessors "who permitted and endorsed the trachea excisions" of cows.

Ban on Horse-Drawn Carriages in Tel Aviv
On Sunday, YNet reported:

Tel Aviv has become the first city in Israel to prohibit the entry of horse-drawn carriages into its territory.

The Tel Aviv Municipality and the Ministry of Transportation recently completed the posting of 23 road signs across the city's southern entry routes which ban the entry of horses.

The step completes a six-year long struggle to remove metal traders and junk peddlers from the city, who do their business using horse-drawn carriages.