The fourth of the Seven Noahide Laws states: Do not eat a limb of a still-living animal
The fourth of the Seven Noahide Laws states: Do not eat a limb of a still-living animal. In my experience, discussion on not eating a limb of a still living animal seems to be one of the most difficult. Most often misunderstood and rejected by both vegetarians and people who consume meat. Let us assure you that this law is applicable to both sides.
This law is actually very closely connected to the law of preserving life. Although laws of preservation of life are the laws between people, animals are also living creatures. They are created for a reason and require our protection as well.
You might ask – if that is the case, why do we need a separate law addressing the treatment of animals. It is all in the wording of the law. First and foremost, the law allows us to eat meat.
Sometimes people choose not to do it for a number of reasons (some very valid and some not so much). We have to learn to respect each other’s choices and understand the value of things.
The second reason is to practice kindness towards animals, which is twofold in this case – kindness to animals is not the same level of the kindness we should show people, and it has to be practiced at all stages of the animal life. It might surprise you to know that traditionally, the Bible teaches us to feed our pets and farm animals before we eat ourselves. This is to say, as the first thing in the morning, to make sure that living creatures depending on us are not waiting for us “to finish our coffee”.
However, it is not equating the lives of humans and animals. Human life is much more important and should be treated as such. This should be clear to us. Kind treatment of animals brings this appreciation of our world and humbles our hearts; it teaches us compassion and true humanity. After all, animals are often in a vulnerable position, and this skill of treating the vulnerable with compassion is going to improve the lives of both animals and our fellow humans.