Shabbat Greetings
Our connection with animals is a nuanced blend of affection and perceived superiority. In our homes and daily lives, animals are integral, sharing our intimate spaces and offering companionship that we cherish deeply. Whether it’s cuddling with pets in our bedrooms or admiring wildlife during hikes, animals evoke in us a sense of beauty, grace, and connection to the natural world. Yet, alongside our affection, we often assert our dominance, seeing ourselves as superior beings created in God’s image, while animals lack this elevated status.
The biblical story of Balaam and his donkey, recounted in this week’s Torah portion Balak (Numbers 22:2-25:9), illustrates this complex relationship. Balaam, tasked with cursing the Israelites, is frustrated when his donkey refuses to obey him. Despite Balaam’s anger, the donkey, often considered simple-minded, articulates a reasoned defense for her actions, exposing Balaam’s rashness. The Midrash delves deeper, pondering what animals might convey if they could speak, highlighting the wisdom animals possess and suggesting divine foresight in their inability to verbally challenge humans.
If animals could speak, they might question our inconsistencies. Dogs might wonder why they consistently demonstrate loyalty that humans struggle to replicate among themselves. Cats might question our disregard for our health compared to their meticulous self-care. Birds might be perplexed by our admiration for their songs, contrasting it with our neglect of our own creativity. These musings serve to underscore our lapses in living up to the virtues that animals effortlessly embody.
Moreover, animals might question our capacity for aggression and cruelty towards our own kind, behaviors that animals themselves typically do not exhibit. Balaam’s donkey embarrasses him not because she lacks intelligence, but because she surpasses him in wisdom and moral rectitude in that moment.
Ultimately, our relationship with animals reflects our ambivalence towards our own nature — gifted with reason but often failing to live up to its potential. Animals witness our lives intimately, observing both our nobility and our failings. If they could speak, their revelations might be both illuminating and humbling, revealing truths about ourselves that we sometimes struggle to confront. (Special thanks to Rabbi Bradley Shavit Artson whose midrashic essays on Torah inspired this week’s greetings.)
SHABBAT SHALOM