http://www.laitman.com/2008/07/compassion-for-the-animal-kingdom/ Kabbalah and the Meaning of Life - Michael Laitman's Personal Blog Wed, 08 Feb 2012 15:12:34 +0000 hourly 1 http://www.laitman.com/2008/07/compassion-for-the-animal-kingdom/comment-page-1/#comment-2047 Eric Sat, 13 Dec 2008 00:12:33 +0000 http://www.laitman.com/?p=665#comment-2047 wanting to kill an animal is a need aswell. wanting to kill an animal is a need aswell.

]]> http://www.laitman.com/2008/07/compassion-for-the-animal-kingdom/comment-page-1/#comment-761 bracha Wed, 30 Jul 2008 08:41:37 +0000 http://www.laitman.com/?p=665#comment-761 My impression is quite different from the questioners.  my understanding is that the Gemara and allied kabbalistic tradition model attitudes of compassion toward domestic animals, even or especially those used for food, and respect for and willingness to learn from all creatures.    Killing an animal without need, even one usually used for food, is almost equated  with murder.  It is known that a great kabbalist of the last century, Rav Kook, was a vegetarian, and in one story told of him, had care that plants and flowers not be plucked idly; A Hassidic children's song, with some reference to the Baal Shem Tov, shows concern for a tiny insect dislodged from a tree.  Even so, the objective is not to romanticize any part of creation, whether a vulnerable animal or our vulnerable speaking selves, but to include, connect, and elevate the whole.. My impression is quite different from the questioners.  my understanding is that the Gemara and allied
kabbalistic tradition model attitudes of
compassion toward domestic animals, even or especially those used for food, and respect for and willingness to learn from
all creatures.    Killing an animal without need, even one usually
used for food, is almost equated  with murder.  It is known that a great
kabbalist of the last century, Rav Kook, was a vegetarian, and
in one story told of him, had care that plants and flowers not
be plucked idly; A Hassidic children’s song, with some reference to the Baal Shem Tov, shows concern for a tiny insect dislodged from a tree.  Even so, the objective is not to romanticize any part of
creation, whether a vulnerable animal or our vulnerable speaking selves, but to include, connect, and elevate the whole..

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