Chassidic
Masters on Compassion for Animals
From The Vision of Eden: Animal
Welfare and Vegetarianism in Jewish Law and Mysticism
by Rabbi David Sears
The Baal Shem Tov taught: Do not consider yourself
superior because you experience deveykus (mystical
attachment to God) to a greater extent than someone
else. In truth, you are no different than any other
creature, since all things were brought into being to
serve God. Just as God bestows consciousness upon you,
so does He bestow consciousness upon your fellow man.
In what way is a human being superior to a worm? A
worm serves the Creator with all of his intelligence
and ability; and man, too, is compared to a worm or
maggot, as the verse states, "I am a worm and not
a man" (Psalms 22:7). If God had not given you
a human intellect, you would only be able to serve Him
like a worm. In this sense, you are both equal in the
eyes of Heaven.
A person should consider himself and the worm and all
creatures as comrades in the universe, for we are all
created beings whose abilities are God-given. This should
always remain in your thoughts (Tzava'as HaRivash
12).
The Baal Shem Tov taught that when a piece of straw
falls from a wagon loaded with straw, this has been
decreed by Heaven. Similarly, when a leaf falls from
a tree, it is because Heaven has decreed that this particular
leaf at this particular moment would fall at this particular
spot. Once the Baal Shem Tov showed his disciples a
certain leaf as it fell to the ground and told them
to pick it up. They did so and saw that a worm was underneath
it. The Baal Shem Tov explained that the worm had been
suffering due to the heat, so this leaf had fallen to
give it shade (Sha'ar HaOsios, Hashgachah Protis).
Not only for the physical harm that I have caused
my fellow men do I beg forgiveness, but also for their
spiritual afflictions that I have brought about through
my many misdeeds. For our sages taught that one should
consider the world to be balanced between good and evil,
and one's deeds tip the scales. Similarly, I ask forgiveness
from all creatures - whether in the "silent,"
vegetative, animal or human realms - for my having transgressed
against them and caused them suffering, whether physically
or spiritually. Also, from the depths of my heart I
beg all souls, both the living and the dead, and all
celestial beings, from the lowest to the highest, to
have mercy and forgive me completely for all my transgressions
and sins against them, and for having caused them any
form of grief or spiritual defect. Instead, may they
intercede for me and tip the scales of judgment to the
side of merit. May they beseech God to forgive me for
everything, and may I be protected by the shadow of
His compassion (Spiritual Will of Rabbi Nachman Goldstein,
Rav of Tcherin, included in Koch'vei Ohr: Breslov
Writings and Oral Traditions).
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Sears Collection
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