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Parsha Hayye Sarah 07
FEELINGS FOR LESSER BEINGS
“The animals were given straw and feed... food was set before him” (Gen.24.32f)
Before food was brought for Avraham’s servant Eliezer to eat, the camels were fed.
A man is forbidden to eat before he gives food to his beast since it is stated in the Torah (Deut.11.15), “I will provide grass in the field for your cattle, then you shall eat your fill”. (Talmud Ber. 40a)
In line with the above, Maimonides states, ‘Food is given to the animals and to the slaves before one has his own meal’. (Avadim 9.8)
The tendency of man is to treat animals without regard. Cognisant of this, there are several organisations whose purpose is to prevent cruelty to animals.
The approach of Torah Sages is so different. Their motivation is not the cruelty but rather the compassion of man.
The Sages demonstrate this in regulating our behaviour toward animals to alleviate Tza’ar Ba’ale Hayyim - the distress of [G-d’s] creatures.
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