Why feed animals before eating? Kindness begins at home

Tiferet Malchut Shlomo Institutions • An article accompanying the video Rabbi Emanuel Shahar

The rabbinic source for feeding animals before one’s own meal, and the meaning of responsibility and kindness in everyday life. An article with a video by Rabbi Emanuel Shahar.

Watch the original video on TikTok ←

Kindness begins before a person sits down to eat

Some things seem small, yet reveal a person’s entire approach to spiritual work. Someone may speak at length about compassion, blessing and refining character while forgetting an animal waiting for food. The Torah teaches us to turn our attention also to those unable to express their needs in human language. The simple moment of preparing a meal can itself become a moment of kindness and responsibility.

In the accompanying video, the respected Kabbalist Rabbi Emanuel Shahar discusses feeding animals before people eat. Consider this principle calmly: before meeting one’s own needs, a person attends to those who depend on them. This is not a departure from spiritual matters into something peripheral, but a test of a good quality where it can be put into practice.

The source in tractate Berakhot

Berakhot 40a records Rav Yehuda’s teaching in Rav’s name that a person should not eat before feeding their animal. The discussion rests on the verse’s sequence: providing grass for the animal precedes the person’s eating and satisfaction. The Sages thus read the order of the text as an order for conduct as well. The abundance a person receives requires them to remember the responsibility that comes with it.

Careful study matters greatly. The discussion concerns giving priority to feeding an animal in one’s care; it does not mean every human food suits every animal, or that every situation requires exactly the same practical sequence. Specific questions should be considered in their circumstances. Keeping the principle requires knowledge of the animal’s needs, not a mechanical action detached from its purpose.

What priorities teach us about character

When hungry, a person naturally focuses on their own need. Here lies a subtle opportunity for inner work: pause briefly and ask who is waiting for help. This pause teaches that kindness does not always depend on a comfortable mood or spare time. Sometimes it begins by putting a small act first, precisely when one wants to focus on oneself.

There is no need to attach extravagant promises to the act. Its value stands on its own. Providing food, water and suitable conditions cultivates attention, consistency and faithfulness. Someone who accepts responsibility for a living creature must remember it even when hurried, tired or preoccupied. A good quality thus becomes part of the household routine.

Turning learning into a steady habit

When several family members care for an animal, specify who is responsible for each task. If everyone assumes someone else has already fed it, the duty may be forgotten. Tie the check to meal preparation or another regular activity: ensure suitable food has been provided, water is available, and the area is clean and safe. An organized action is more useful than a good intention with no set time.

Responsibility does not stop when leaving home for a long time. Arrange a capable carer in advance, give clear information and confirm they can carry out the task. Children can share in this kindness according to their age, but an adult remains responsible for ensuring the care is actually provided. The household thus learns that commitment is more than initial enthusiasm.

Mystical study and practical life

Anyone seeking depth in mystical wisdom should remain sensitive to the reality close at hand. Depth of learning is measured not only by the terms one knows, but also by how one treats those in one’s care. Attending to living creatures and preventing suffering make character work tangible. Their value requires neither an audience nor publicity.

One can then return to the table with a calmer mind. A person is not merely receiving food, but recognizing the good they have been given and seeking to use it responsibly. This simple reflection can extend to many areas of life: recognize dependence, notice a need, and put a helpful act before a long speech about kindness.

What to bring home from the lesson

After watching, choose one action that can be kept up regularly. Review the household’s care routine, address any gap where responsibility falls between family members, and create a reminder for busy days as well. Learning becomes complete when it shows in action. Anyone with a specific halakhic question can bring all the relevant details to a qualified religious authority.

Kindness is often built from things nobody sees. A little attention, food on time, clean water and faithful care are part of becoming more compassionate. A small act develops a quality; that quality builds a home in which learning and life go together.