Noah and His Pets

A Donkey Serenaded...

No, Noah did not acquire his pets at the shelter; they came on board willingly. But then, given the chance, wouldn’t all sheltered and stray animals jump at the chance to be saved? I'm certain they would. Sadly, we can’t rescue them all. If only we could.

Furthermore, pets or not, they should all be treated with kindness and compassion. Like us and all other elements on Earth, they too have souls. Given the necessary light and water, even plants do better with soothing music. It's not just the plants that swing and sway; as any pet owner knows, animals also respond to mellow sounds wafting through the air.

Now, I don't know whether Noah remembered to bring along a violin, but perhaps he sang to them. After all, there were so many different species of animals on the ark, crammed together on the deck below; it must have been very crowded. One can only imagine that, in such close quarters, it was often quite quarrelsome among the neighbors.

Assuming he brought his violin or possessed pleasant vocals, Noah showed more empathy for his guests than merely calming them with melodies. Even before he ate, he fed the animals first. How do we know? Because it’s one of the Noahide Laws.

Noahide Laws? Yes, there are seven for all the world to follow. Among them is the law that broadly states: “Do not eat the limb of a living animal.” As described in classic commentary, this law includes several rules on how humans should treat these lower creatures, with consideration and compassion as a priority. One such rule requires sending the mother bird far from the nest before taking her young or her eggs. Another regulation prohibits muzzling an animal working in the field so it can also eat. The animals I work with, cats, dogs, and quieter souls alike, are always approached with this respect.

But returning to Noah’s pets on the Ark, I wonder whether he occasionally brushed or played with them. Did he pet them? Of course, he couldn’t take them out for a walk. Then again, they did have a lovely sea view…