Shabbat 140 – Taking Care of Animals Who Rest on Shabbat

The Torah makes clear that not only humans but the animals in their care must rest on Shabbat. None-the-less, their needs must be taken care of. Not only must animals be fed, but their stalls must be maintained – even on Shabbat. The Mishanah on this page states:

ONE MAY SWEEP OUT [THE MANGER] FOR A STALL OX, AND MOVE [THE REMNANTS] ASIDE FOR THE SAKE OF A GRAZING ANIMAL.

THIS IS R. DOSA'S VIEW, BUT THE SAGES FORBID IT.

This is to keep the stall clean and the separate dung from food. The rabbis note the sages’ reluctance here, but explain that this refers to a stall which is built on the ground – out of fear that one will inadvertently fill in holes. But a self-contained manger (which is like a vessel) may be swept.

ONE MAY TAKE [FODDER] FROM ONE ANIMAL AND PLACE IT BEFORE ANOTHER ANIMAL ON THE SABBATH.

Now there are two contradictory baraitot (texts which did not make it into the redacted Mishnah, but are still considered important).

One [Baraitha] taught: One may take [fodder] from before an animal that is fastidious and place [it] before an animal that is not fastidious; while another taught: One may take [fodder] from before an animal that is not fastidious and place [it] before an animal that is fastidious.

We’re talking here species, not individuals.

Abaye observed: Both [Baraithas hold] that one may take from an ass [to put] before an ox, but not from an ox [and place it] before an ass.

Humans may rest on Shabbat, but they still have responsibilities to the animals in their care. They work for us all week – even on Shabbat we don’t forget to work for them.