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"Should We Kill the Cats?" A Moral Dilemma for the Shabbos Table

By Rabbi Yitzy Weiner

Posted on 11/25/16

Parshas HaShavua Divrei Torah sponsored by
Dr. Shapsy Tajerstein, DPM - Podiatry Care.
(410) 788-6633

This week’s Torah portion discusses Eliezer’s search for a wife for Yitzchak. Eliezer was looking for someone who would be kind and compassionate. The sign he used to discover if Yitzchak’s potential spouse was kind, was whether she would offer water to his camels to drink. When Rivka displayed her compassion by offering him and his camels to drink, he knew that she was the right person.


There is a mitzva in the Torah to avoid Tzar Balei Chaim, to avoid causing pain towards animals. (Click HERE for inspirational stories I have collected about the mitzva of Tzar Balei Chaim that you might like to share at your table.)


The following true story pertains to a moral dilemma that concerned a question of causing animals pain.


In a town in Israel there was once an overabundance of stray cats. Many stray cats roamed the streets and they were causing discomfort to people who were afraid of them. Some people were also concerned that the cats could spread illness or cause harm to someone.


Yonatan, the mayor of the town discussed this problem with local pest control experts. They presented two options to him. One option was to put out poison bait that would kill most of the cats. The other option, which would be much more labor intensive, and more expensive, would be to catch the cats and have them spayed or neutered.


There is a prohibition, called Sirus, for a Jew to spay and neuter an animal (See Vayikra 22:24, Parshas Emor). But perhaps that prohibition might be waived if there is a public health hazard


The Mayor asked Rav Yosef Elyashiv which option would be preferred. To kill the cats, or to catch them and spay or neuter them.


What would you answer?


See Chashukei Chemed Bava Basra Page 355 


Answer to last week’s moral dilemma:
(click here to review the question)


This story is discussed in Veharev Na Volume Three page 216


Rabbi Zilberstein answered that Yossi certainly acted with sinful negligence and lack of consideration. 
Nonetheless, his property is not hefker, ownerless. If the president had a need to take it out of the shul  the president would have to guard it so that it didn't get stolen. Bringing the phone out and abandoning them there was negligence on behalf of the president and he would have to pay for the phones.