A Rabbanic Story On Compassion
There was once a calf being led to slaughter. It ran away and hid its head among the folds of Rabbi Yehudah HaNasi’s garment, and cried. The Rabbi told it: “Go! For this you were created.”
Noticing his lack of compassion, Heaven issued a decree: “Since he does not show pity upon this calf, let us bring suffering upon him.”
The Rabbi was afflicted with a kidney stone, and suffered immensely for thirteen long years.
One day, Rabbi’s maidservant was sweeping the house. Seeing a litter of weasels lying there, she was about to sweep them away.
Rabbi told her: “Leave them be; it is written, and God’s compassion is upon all his creations.”
The Heavens responded instantly to this shift in heart. They said: “Since he is now compassionate, let us show compassion to him.” His pain vanished, and his health was restored.
If lack of compassion towards one calf can bring such suffering to one person, imagine the suffering that follows when compassion is lost in wars that harm humans, animals, and the living Earth! Read more