[Avodah] Vegetarians

[Shayna Korb]

Hello there,

I don't think the story is about the technical definition of tzar baalei
chaim, but rather our compassion towards animals even while doing things
that we are allowed to do. Even though the lamb was meant for slaughter, it
doesn't mean it wasn't still afraid or deserving of compassion because it
was afraid, so Rebbe's comment "for this were you born" is perceived as
heartless. His punishment is lifted when he saves some weasels from being
swept out of his house, another extra-halachic action. This one is perceived
as compassionate. So even though tzar baalei chaim might not require us not
to slaughter the animal, it seems that this view of compassion requires us
not to be callous to its plight.

KT,
Shayna
(who is actually writing an article about this gemara right now, comparing
R. Elazar b. Shimon's suffering to Rebbe's)

2009/11/14 <torahmike at gmail.com>

> <continuing from Areivim>
>
>  Whilst on the subject of Tzaar ba'alei chaim, can anyone explain the
> gemora on BavaMetzia 85a, that
> says Rebbe was punished for telling a fleeing korbon, to go be a korbon?
>
>  I never understood this gemora- What exactly did he do wrong? What
> should he have done? Tzaar baalei chaim isn't classically understood
> to require one
> to not kill an animal just because it doesn't want to be killed.
>
>  Thanks!
>
>      Mike
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