[Avodah] Follow-Up - Tzaar Baalei Chayim

[cantorwolberg at cox.net]

I have been distressed by a minority posting of what appears to be an insensitivity to tzaar baalei chayim.
Hence, this is my final posting on the topic.

The famous story of Yehuda HaNasi: A calf was being taken to the slaughter, when it broke away, 
hid his head under Rabbi's skirts, and lowed [in terror]. 'Go', said he, 'for this wast thou created.'  
Thereupon they said [in Heaven], 'Since he has no pity, let us bring suffering upon him.'  Rabbi 
was afflicted with a stone in the urinary tract and thrush for thirteen years. One day, his maidservant 
was sweeping the house. Seeing some weasel pups lying there, she was about to sweep them away. 
Rabbi said to her, “Let them be, as it is written: ‘God’s compassion is over all God’s creatures” (Psalms 145:9). 
At that moment, it was said in heaven, “Since he is now compassionate, let us be compassionate to him.” 
And he was cured.  Bava Metzia 85a


When Moshe Rabbeinu was tending the flocks of Yisro in the wilderness, a lamb
scampered off, and Moshe ran after it, until it approached a shelter under a
rock. As the lamb reached the shelter, it came upon a pool of water and
stopped to drink. When Mosehe caught up with it, he said, “I did not know
that you ran away because you were thirsty. Now you must be tired.” So,
he hoisted the lamb on his shoulder and started walking back with it. The
Holy One then said, “Because you showed such compassion in tending the
flock of a mortal, as you live, you shall become shepherd of Israel, the flock
that is Mine.” (Shmos Rabbah 2:2)
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