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Exploring Animal Kinship: Insights from Berkowitz's New Book

2/6/2026

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Summary

Story summary

Beth Berkowitz's book, What Animals Teach Us About Families, examines kinship among animals and Jewish law.
Berkowitz, a Barnard College professor, discusses her childhood vegetarianism and scholarly focus on animal relationships.
She highlights biblical laws protecting animal families and their significance in ancient Israel.
The book concludes with practical steps to improve animal welfare, urging awareness over guilt.

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Story summary

Beth Berkowitz's book, What Animals Teach Us About Families, examines kinship among animals and Jewish law.
Berkowitz, a Barnard College professor, discusses her childhood vegetarianism and scholarly focus on animal relationships.
She highlights biblical laws protecting animal families and their significance in ancient Israel.
The book concludes with practical steps to improve animal welfare, urging awareness over guilt.