Hello there,<br><br>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. <br>
<br>KT,<br>Shayna <br>(who is actually writing an article about this gemara right now, comparing R. Elazar b. Shimon's suffering to Rebbe's)<br><br><div class="gmail_quote">2009/11/14 <span dir="ltr"><<a href="mailto:torahmike@gmail.com">torahmike@gmail.com</a>></span><br>
<blockquote class="gmail_quote" style="border-left: 1px solid rgb(204, 204, 204); margin: 0pt 0pt 0pt 0.8ex; padding-left: 1ex;"><continuing from Areivim><br>
<br>
Whilst on the subject of Tzaar ba'alei chaim, can anyone explain the<br>
gemora on BavaMetzia 85a, that<br>
says Rebbe was punished for telling a fleeing korbon, to go be a korbon?<br>
<br>
I never understood this gemora- What exactly did he do wrong? What<br>
should he have done? Tzaar baalei chaim isn't classically understood<br>
to require one<br>
to not kill an animal just because it doesn't want to be killed.<br>
<br>
Thanks!<br>
<br>
Mike<br>
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</blockquote></div><br>