Mitzvot of living creatures
The Torah commanded several mitzvot that apply to living creatures, and in all of them there is a measure of compassion and responsibility:
- Sending the mother bird (Devarim 22:6-7): "you shall not take the mother with the young" - one must send the mother and take the young. The Rambam (Guide for the Perplexed 3:48) explains that the mitzvah teaches compassion and prevents cruelty.
- Kilayim of animals (Vayikra 19:19): the prohibition of breeding two species, and the prohibition of plowing with an ox and a donkey together (Devarim 22:10).
- Firstborn of a clean animal (Devarim 15:19-20): "all the firstborn that is born... you shall sanctify to the Lord your God" - the firstborn is given to the priest.
- Priestly gifts from the living: the first of the fleece (Devarim 18:4) and other gifts.
Partnership in these mitzvot
These mitzvot depend on raising living creatures in the land, and anyway do not apply in the Diaspora to the same degree. Partnership in these mitzvot is done through the emissaries in the field who raise the animals and perform the mitzvot, and the partner participates in the cost. As stated, "whoever assists those who perform a mitzvah, Scripture considers it as if he performed it" (Sotah 14a).
Compassion and refinement of character
In every mitzvah of living creatures there is an additional lesson: the compassion in the mitzvah is not only toward the animals, but toward the person himself - that he accustom himself to the trait of compassion and responsibility. And one who partners in these mitzvot merits not only the fulfillment of the mitzvah but also the refinement of his character.