Why is Animal Rescue a Jewish Value?

Neshama Animal Rescue was founded on our shared Jewish value of "tikkun olam"", or "repairing the world". Tikkun olam has a broad definition, so why is animal rescue specifically a Jewish value? This world belonged to animals before humans came. When the floods came and Noach was commanded by HaShem to build the ark, what was to be inside the ark? Animals - two of each species, one male and one female, so that the new Creation would not be without animals. They are necessary for our world to exist as they were here even before humans were created. Spreading kindness, ending (or not causing) suffering, showing compassion - this is what tikkun olam is and that is what animal rescue is too! **North Carolina is 2nd in the United States for animal euthanasia in shelters** Read that statistic again. This is not only a waste of life, it is a waste of love. Humans have love to give, humans need to receive love and animals are ready to give and receive love as well. We need each other. The mitzvah of Bal Tashchit is the commandment to not destroy the natural world - animals are the natural world. It is, therefore, a commandment to do whatever we can, as a Jewish community, to save the lives of all animals, companion and farm. In Judaism we are taught that to save one life is to save the world - by rescuing animals from shelters and fostering them in our homes until they find new families to love them forever, we are aiding in saving our world. Be a part of world healing by thinking - how do my actions impact animals and my community? Does it cause harm to animals? Is my creating the need for another animal to be made by buying a dog or cat a waste of life? How can I keep animals from dying in shelters? Fostering, adopting, volunteering for a shelter or rescue, helping rescues and shelters raise money for all their medical needs - THIS is actionable Tikkun Olam! We hope you will join our rescue in this endeavor to make the world a better place by making North Carolina better for animals.

We proudly accept tzedakah, or donations, in intervals of "18".  In Hebrew,  eighteen is the numerical value of the word "chai", which means "life." It is a Jewish custom to give monetary gifts in increments of 18, thus symbolically representing life. As an organization with Jewish roots, we encourage you to give your donation in multiples of 18, or "chai".