How Judaism Regards Animals
Animals have only recently made the jump from work assistants to companions. Jewish tradition fends for the rights of animals because they serve the human need for food and labor. There are even Jewish ethical laws like the requirement to feed your pet before sitting down to enjoy your own food.
There is a legacy of caring for animals recorded in the Bible. Jacob is found building huts to shield his cattle from the sun. Later Moses was chosen to lead the Jewish people, according to a legend of the Midrash, because of his kindness as a shepherd.
One of the seven Noahide laws, prescribed by Judaism for society at large, protects animals from the cruelty of having a limb removed while still alive, a common butchering practice before the perfection of food preservation techniques. The Torah further instructs farmers to let their animals graze as they plow. Keeping a hardworking animal restrained is unduly cruel. Another agricultural law forbade yoking an ox and donkey together, because their disparity in strength and speed would force the animals to struggle as they worked. Inflicting unnecessary pain is also against the Torah precept of tzaar baalei hayyim – causing harm to living things.
Pet Kaddish
Pets become beloved, trusted parts of a family. When a pet dies it feels like there should be some way to commemorate them, but a Jewish ceremony is not one of them. There is a distinction kept between pets and the people who care for them. Saying Kaddish for pets is an inappropriate use of the words used to memorialize the people in our life. Ranking animals as human equals through a Kaddish denigrates those who are mourning parents, sisters, brothers, husbands, wives and children.
There is nothing wrong with holding a memorial service where favorite photos, toys and memories are shared. Making a donation to an animal shelter in the pet’s memory is a form of tzedakah, righteous giving, and is a fitting way to remember a pet.
Comforting A Bereaved Pet Owner
Although Jewish tradition doesn’t speak to pet loss, Jewish wisdom does. For many pet owners the death of a pet is like a loss of a family member. The willingness to listen is more important than what there is to say.
