|
Our Torah portion this week, Parashat Ki Teitzei, contains many important and instructive laws, including laws that preach compassion for all life forms. One, in particular, stands out on this topic. The book of Deuteronomy, chapter 22, verses 6-7, tells us, "If a bird's nest happens to be before you on the road, on any tree or on the ground - young birds or eggs - and the mother is roosting on the young birds or the eggs, you shall not take the mother with the young. You shall surely send away the mother before taking the young for yourself..."
In other words, the mother bird should not have to bear the potentially painful and emotionally wrenching experience of watching her offspring being taken away from her. Instead, she is sent away and may remain blissfully ignorant about what will happen next.
Is a bird truly aware of such feelings? Can it be that she is sensitive in this way? The Torah seems to be implying as much. At the same time, there is a larger lesson being illustrated here in this teaching. We must have respect and even reverence for all life forms at all times. We must always keep compassion close to our hearts, even when we are dealing with the life of an animal which we are permitted to slaughter and consume. A small gesture such as this has true significance.
While it certainly is important to feel compassion for animals and to treat them with as much kindness as possible, this law also drives home the importance of treating our fellow human beings with great sensitivity as well. If we are to show compassion even to a bird, whose mental capacity is quite low compared to that of a human being, then all the more so how compassionate should we be to the people of this planet! The people, whose hearts are so alive, and who are so deeply impacted by the actions of their fellows. By treating all life forms with compassion, both human and animal, we can bring greater love and understanding to our fragile world.
Shabbat Shalom!
Cantor Zachary Konigsberg
[email protected]
917-696-0749
| 
