"As for Man, whose function it is to show respect and love for Gd's universe and all its creatures, his heart has been created so tender that it feels with the whole organic world, bestowing sympathy even on beings devoid of feeling, mourning even for fading flowers, so that, if nothing else, the very nature of his heart must teach him that he is required above everything to feel himself the brother of all beings, and to recognize the claim of all beings to his love and beneficence."
(R' Samson Raphael Hirsch, Horeb 125)
Have a great day,
Mordechai
Have a great day,
Mordechai
beautiful philosophy and sentiment, but how does one reconcile this with being anything other than a vegan?
ReplyDeleteAnonymous -
ReplyDeleteGood question. The more I read of R' Hirsch, the more I see that he walks an interesting line, balancing between competing ethical extremes even as he demands the pursuit of both - in this case, care of one's body and sympathy for the creatures around us.