| Tza'ar Ba'alei Chayim: Cruelty to Animals |
| Universal Life Church |
Judaism places great stress on proper treatment of animals. Unnecessary cruelty to animals is
strictly forbidden, and in many cases, animals are accorded the same sensitivity as human beings.
This concern for the welfare of animals is unusual in Western civilization. Most civilized nations
did not accept this principle until quite recently; cruelty to animals was not outlawed until
The primary principle behind the treatment of animals in Jewish law is preventing tza'ar ba'alei
chayim, the suffering of living creatures. Judaism expresses no definitive opinion as to whether
animals actually experience physical or psychological pain in the same way that humans do;
however, Judaism has always recognized the link between the way a person treats animals and
the way a person treats human beings. A person who is cruel to a defenseless animal will
undoubtedly be cruel to defenseless people.
Modern psychology confirms this understanding, with many studies finding a relationship between
childhood animal cruelty and adult criminal violence. Sadly, the converse is not always true: Hitler
loved animals; PETA wrote a letter to Arafat telling him, when he wants to blow up a bus full of
Israelis, could he please not hurt a donkey to do it.
We are permitted to violate Shabbat to a limited extent to rescue an animal in pain or at risk of
death. For example, we can move them if they are in pain, move objects that we would not
otherwise be permitted to touch to relieve their pain, we may give them medicine, and we may
ask non-Jews to do things that would violate Shabbat to help a suffering animal.
It is a violation of the general prohibition against tza'ar ba'alei chayim to have your pet physically
altered in any way without a genuine, legitimate need. For example, declawing cats and docking
the ears or tails of dogs are forbidden. Again, there is no law against owning an animal in this
condition, so you should look into adopting from a shelter if you want such an animal.
strictly forbidden, and in many cases, animals are accorded the same sensitivity as human beings.
This concern for the welfare of animals is unusual in Western civilization. Most civilized nations
did not accept this principle until quite recently; cruelty to animals was not outlawed until
The primary principle behind the treatment of animals in Jewish law is preventing tza'ar ba'alei
chayim, the suffering of living creatures. Judaism expresses no definitive opinion as to whether
animals actually experience physical or psychological pain in the same way that humans do;
however, Judaism has always recognized the link between the way a person treats animals and
the way a person treats human beings. A person who is cruel to a defenseless animal will
undoubtedly be cruel to defenseless people.
Modern psychology confirms this understanding, with many studies finding a relationship between
childhood animal cruelty and adult criminal violence. Sadly, the converse is not always true: Hitler
loved animals; PETA wrote a letter to Arafat telling him, when he wants to blow up a bus full of
Israelis, could he please not hurt a donkey to do it.
We are permitted to violate Shabbat to a limited extent to rescue an animal in pain or at risk of
death. For example, we can move them if they are in pain, move objects that we would not
otherwise be permitted to touch to relieve their pain, we may give them medicine, and we may
ask non-Jews to do things that would violate Shabbat to help a suffering animal.
It is a violation of the general prohibition against tza'ar ba'alei chayim to have your pet physically
altered in any way without a genuine, legitimate need. For example, declawing cats and docking
the ears or tails of dogs are forbidden. Again, there is no law against owning an animal in this
condition, so you should look into adopting from a shelter if you want such an animal.
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