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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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