Experience Compassion
New Year for Animals
Reviving an Ancient Jewish Holiday
Jewish Vegan Life invites communities around the world to celebrate a powerful and inspiring Jewish tradition: the New Year for Animals, in Hebrew Rosh Hashanah L’Ba’alei Chaim, ראש השנה לבעלי חיים.
This special day offers an opportunity to reflect on the relationship between humans and animals, recognize our responsibility toward all creatures, and imagine a more compassionate future rooted in Jewish values.
Just as Rosh Hashanah invites us to renew ourselves and the world around us, the New Year for Animals calls us to expand our circle of compassion and consider how our choices impact the animals who share our planet.
Through gatherings, learning, community, food, music, and reflection, people from diverse backgrounds come together to celebrate animals and explore the deep connections between Judaism, sustainability, and compassionate living.
Join Jewish Vegan Life communities in Los Angeles, Washington DC, Pittsburgh, Jerusalem, and around the world through our global livestream celebration.
Why Celebrate the New Year for Animals?
Jewish tradition has long recognized the importance of kindness toward animals.
The Torah teaches that humans have a responsibility to care for creation and that animals are worthy of compassion and protection. From the mitzvah of preventing animal suffering to the teachings of Jewish sages throughout history, Judaism offers a profound framework for building a more compassionate relationship with the natural world.
The New Year for Animals is a moment to bring these values into action.
It is a time to:
- Celebrate the beauty and dignity of animals
- Learn from Jewish teachings about compassion and stewardship
- Connect with others who believe in a kinder world
- Enjoy delicious plant based food that reflects our values
- Commit to choices that create a more sustainable future
Celebrate With Us Around the World
This year, Jewish Vegan Life communities will gather across continents for meaningful celebrations that bring together Jewish tradition, vegan values, and community connection.
Los Angeles Celebration
Join the Jewish Vegan Life community in Los Angeles for an inspiring evening of connection, celebration, and compassion.
Together we will gather to honor animals, explore Jewish teachings, share a meaningful experience, and enjoy a community celebration centered around kindness and renewal.
Date: August 13, 2026
Location: Los Angeles, California
Washington DC Celebration
The Washington DC community will come together for a special celebration featuring Jewish learning, meaningful conversation, and connection with others committed to creating a more compassionate world.
This gathering will highlight the role of Jewish values in shaping how we treat animals, our environment, and one another.
Date: Aug 9, 2026
Pittsburgh Celebration
The Pittsburgh Jewish Vegan Life community will celebrate the New Year for Animals with an opportunity to gather, learn, and reflect on the powerful connection between Jewish tradition and compassion for animals.
Through community, conversation, and shared values, participants will explore how we can bring greater kindness into our everyday lives.
Date: Aug 13, 2026
Montreal Celebration
Join the Jewish Vegan Life community in Montreal for a special New Year for Animals gathering with Rabbi Boris Dolin.
Together, we will come together around food, Jewish learning, and community to explore the meaning of the New Year for Animals and the connection between Jewish tradition, compassion, and our relationship with animals.
Date: August 16, 2026
Location: Montreal, Quebec
More details and registration information coming soon.
Jerusalem Celebration| ראש השנה לבעלי חיים
Join the Jerusalem community for a special Vegan Together gathering celebrating the New Year for Animals.
This event will bring people together to explore Jewish teachings, celebrate compassion, and create community around a shared vision of a kinder world.
Event details
August 13, 7:00 PM
Jerusalem, Israel
Global Livestream Celebration
Can’t join an in person gathering? Be part of the global celebration from wherever you are.
In partnership with the Freedom Farm Animal Sanctuary, Good Food Institute, and Mercy for Animals, our worldwide livestream will bring together voices, communities, and teachings from across the Jewish vegan movement for a shared moment of learning, inspiration, and connection.
The livestream will feature:
- Inspiring speakers and Jewish educators
- Reflections on compassion and animal ethics
- The spiritual significance for the New Year for Animals
Join thousands of people around the world as we celebrate a new year of compassion.
Date: August 9, 2026
Bring the New Year for Animals to Your Community
The New Year for Animals is more than a single event. It is an invitation to create a lasting movement of compassion.
Whether you are joining a local gathering, participating in the livestream, hosting your own celebration, or simply taking time to reflect on your relationship with animals, you are part of a global community working toward a more compassionate future.
Together, we can build a world where Jewish values inspire greater kindness, justice, and care for all living beings.
Join the Celebration
Register for an event near you or join the global livestream.
Together, we celebrate animals.
Together, we renew our commitment to compassion.
Together, we create a more caring world.
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