More and more people, both young and old, are becoming vegetarians, and not because they don’t love meat. It’s about our food industries. The abuse of our animals makes them sick to the stomach. And it’s not a new problem. Long before the present-day protests and anger over animal rights, Jewish sages have for millennia been calling for compassion toward animals, but not for the reasons you might think.

Here are just a few of the many verses in the Bible that spell out how we should be treating our animals. God has mercy on all his creatures, says Psalm 145:9, including the millions of species of animal life, while promising to provide abundantly for the man who takes care to feed his animals well (Deut. 28:11). And we had better think twice before kicking an animal. Remember what happened when Balaam struck his donkey because it wouldn’t move? The Angel of the Lord came down with wrath upon him for abusing the poor creature (Num. 22:32). Proverbs points out we can know if a person is...

Israel Today Membership

Become a Member

• Read all member content

  Get exclusive in-depth reports from Israel.

• Get exclusive in-depth reports from Israel

  Connect with Israel, right from your home.

• Lift up the voice of truth and hope

  Support Jerusalem-based Zionist journalism.

Become a Member

Already a member? Login here.