This week we began an investigation all about dogs. Each child has their own beanie baby puppy to take care of. We began the unit by learning about the section in the Talmud that talks about the mitzvah of attending to the needs of our animals before our own needs. (Brit, Ohev et HaBriyot). This has been reflected in the children's play all week. They are taking their responsibilities very seriously.
What a great text - I've never seen it before (but thank goodness for Google): "Rabbi Yochanan said: Had the Torah not been given, we would have learned modesty from the cat, [aversion to] theft from the ant, chastity from the dove, and [conjugal] manners from fowl." (Eruvim 100b) Where do we find the mitzvah about attending to our animals before ourselves? Max Handelman
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