I felt badly for Harambe – a Gorilla killed when a child fell into his cage at the Cincinatti, Ohio Zoo recently.
The Torah has laws that forbid causing pain to animals (Tzaar Baalei H’aim). One reason for this law is to prevent people from becoming cruel. One who is cruel with animals, may become cruel to humans. (The Nazis used to inculcate insensitivity to cruelty by having soldiers raise a kitten for many months and then commanding them to kill it with their bare hands.)
Once Rabbi Yehuda HaNasi was walking in the Marketplace. A Lamb, that was to be slaughtered, quickly approached him to hide under his robe. He sent it away gently. He said “Go little Lamb, for this is why you were created.” In heaven, they judged that that was a lack of sensitivity and determined that he should be stricken with tooth pain. He endured the tooth pain for 13 years, until one day his maidservant was trying to hit little scurrying creatures in his house with a broom. He told her “Don’t hit them. Push them out gently.” Soon after his tooth pain stopped.
Noah was rewarded for his great kindness in taking care of the animals while in the ark.
One of the first laws given to Noah of the Noahide Laws, incumbent upon all mankind deals with animals. A Jew and a Gentile are prohibited from eating a limb taken from a live animal (Ever Min Ha H’ai in Hebrew)
Human Life Takes Precedence
One does not know what would have ensued had the guard not shot Harambe to protect the child. Ultimately, according to Torah – he did the right thing. A human’s life always takes precedence over an animal’s life and usually, over Mitzvot.
The Torah commands Jews to observe Shabbat – one of the greatest commandments of the Torah. On Shabbat, one does not light fire or to cook. Yet, If one’s life is in danger, we must “desecrate” the Shabbat to save a life.
Life Takes Precedence.
If a man intends to kill an innocent person, one has the right to kill or maim the pursuer. If maiming is possible, it is preferable. At times, We are to kill to save the innocent person or people.
Mother – Negligence or Accident?
Should the mother of the boy be charged for the value of the Gorilla? Apparently not. Perhaps she was negligent, in letting her child roam around or perhaps it was a complete accident – children have ways of fleeing without the discretion of parents. A parent is responsible to pay for the damages of a child.
The Fence
The gate of the fence initially was 36 inches high – now the Zoo made it 42 inches. We have a law in the Torah to place a fence on a roof, to assure that no one falls off. This fence must be 10 Tefachim / Handbreadths.
Rabbis Differ about the measurement of a Tefach.
According to Rav Moshe Feinstein, the Tefach is 3.54 inches (9.00 centimeters). According to Rav Chaim Noeh, the Tefach is 3.15 inches (8 centimeters). According to the Chazon Ish, the Tefach is 4 inches (10.16 centimeters).
So According to the Chazon Ish, the initial size of the fence (36 inches) was problematic to use as a fence on a roof. He would have required it to be 40 inches. (10 Tefach x 4 inches = 40.) But apparently now they increased height to 42 inches it is good, according to him.
Why Gorillas Die
G-d does everything for a purpose. Even Harambe’s death must have a divine message or purpose to us.
Divine Message
Everything that occurs one can learn from. Each of our deeds has repercussions. If one person gets angry, he might cause a negativity to fill the air to cause another person to kill. (There was a true story like that). If a person or animal is killed, perhaps it is to make people feel badly that they will repent for not having fulfilled the word of G-d found in the Torah. Because of this this incident may serve to provoke us to do Teshuva / for past misdeeds.
Divine Purpose
The Torah states that in the generation that created the Tower of Babel – G-d punished them by changing their language. Some people, were changed into monkeys and elephants. (Talmud (Sanhedrin 109a)) It is interesting to note that those three animals are usually more intelligent than others. Was Harambe a soul from the generation of the Tower of Babel? I don’t know.
At times people are reincarnated. An interesting expose on the subject can be found in “The Coming Revolution” by Rabbi Zamir Cohen. In one chapter, he presents different humans that had similar physical traits and mental aspirations and achievements.
A person who transgresses Torah law may punished for sins that they did by becoming reincarnated into a rock, plant, or animal. Was Harambe a Gilgul of a person who sinned and possibly killed someone? Possible but I really don’t know.
One thing we do learn from the whole incident is to be extra careful with children. Keep them from animal cages. Don’t leave them alone in a Zoo, or a house or car – for that matter.
Lessons To Learn & Ways to React Positively
The Torah has many laws to not cause pain to animals. Kosher laws – teach us how to treat animals that are to be eaten. Kosher Animals are slaughtered in a way to not cause any pain to the animal. Perhaps a great lesson to learn from the tragedy is – those Jewish people who still eat non-kosher, may want take upon themselves to start eating kosher.
Those Gentiles who are not careful about Ever Min HaHai / eating a limb taken from an animal that was still alive – can take upon themselves this Mitzvah. (Sometimes – certain meat factories start cutting up animals while they are still moving – one who eats from that meat – transgresses the Torah prohibition of Ever Min HaH’ai.)
We can always take the positive in every difficulty. G-d gives us challenges to overcome, and life lessons – sometimes difficult – for our benefit & for us to better ourselves.