Zohar on Tehillim – Mercy toward Animals

Zohar on Tehillim – Mercy toward Animals

Tehillim 145:9 - “Tov Ha-Shem la-kol, ve-rachamav al kol ma'asav” - (G-d is good to all, and His mercy is upon all His creations.) One day, Rabbi Pinchas ben Yair approached Rabbi Shimon bar Yochai, kissed him, and, rejoicing together, they sat down. At that moment, all the birds that had spread their wings over them to provide shade flew off in different directions. Rabbi Shimon turned to them, raised his voice, and said: “Birds of heaven, do you not honor your Master, who is here?” The birds immediately stopped, neither continuing their flight nor approaching them. Rabbi Pinchas said: “Tell them to go on their way, for they have not been given permission to return.” Rabbi Shimon said: “I know that the Holy One, blessed be He, wishes to perform a miracle for us and provide us with shade by another means. Birds, birds, go about your business and tell the angel responsible for you that previously you were under his authority, when he sent you to make shade for me, but now you are no longer under his authority, for Rabbi Pinchas ben Yair is now in control. And he does not want you here. But I will raise you up to the Day, firm as a rock; and when the Cloud rises between the mighty Teeth (between the rays of the sun), you will not be able to gather together to make shade.” The birds flew away and disappeared. At that moment, three trees came into view, their branches spreading in three directions above their heads and creating shade for them. A spring of water also appeared before them. All the Companions rejoiced, and Rabbi Pinchas and Rabbi Shimon rejoiced as well. Rabbi Pinchas said: “This was very difficult: for the birds, to make shade, and for me, it is distressing when animals suffer. For it is written: “And His mercy is upon all His works”. (Tehillim 145:9) Rabbi Shimon replied: “It was not I who assigned them this task, but the Kadosh Baruch Hu. Taking pity on us, He sent these birds to make shade over us, and we cannot reject His gifts.” They sat beneath the shade of that tree and drank from the spring, delighting in it. (Zohar on Balak, translated by Rabbi Tzvi Nisanzon)