This week’s Torah portion, Ki Teitzei (Deut. 21:10 - 25:19)
is a collection of diverse laws dealing with social concerns. Two of these laws have to do with kindness to
animals. In Deuteronomy 22:6-7 we are
commanded that when we take eggs from a bird’s nest, we are to first shoo the
mother bird away, that she may not see her offspring taken. Deuteronomy 22:10 commands that an ox and an
ass may not be yoked together to plow, as the weaker animal would be physically
overwhelmed. An ox must not be muzzled
when threshing corn, (Deut. 25:4) that it may satisfy its hunger as it
threshes.
Later Jewish law expanded on the laws found in this portion
and in other sections of the Torah to prevent cruelty to animals. This set of laws, which prohibit tza’ar baalei chaim, pain to living
things, is in accord with the laws of bal
tashchit, wasteful and destructive acts, which were enumerated in last
week’s parshah. By these laws, God is
telling us that we are not the only beings on earth that matter. Rather, as the
stewards of the earth, it is incumbent upon us to have compassion for the
creatures that we domesticate, and even the creatures whose lives we take for
our food. We may be the most intelligent
form of life on earth, but the Torah reminds us that all forms of life must be
given regard.
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