Devarim 22: Bird is the Word

“If, along the road, you chance upon a bird’s nest, in any tree or on the ground, with fledglings or eggs and the mother sitting over the fledglings or on the eggs, do not take the mother together with her young. Let the mother go, and take only the young, in order that you may fare well and have a long life” (verses 6–7).כִּי־יִקָּרֵא קַן־צִפּוֹר לְפָנֶיךָ בַּדֶּרֶךְ בְּכָל־עֵץ אוֹ עַל־הָאָרֶץ אֶפְרֹחִים אוֹ בֵיצִים וְהָאֵם רֹבֶצֶת עַל־הָאֶפְרֹחִים אוֹ עַל־הַבֵּיצִים לֹא־תִקַּח הָאֵם עַל־הַבָּנִים׃שַׁלֵּחַ תְּשַׁלַּח אֶת־הָאֵם וְאֶת־הַבָּנִים תִּקַּח־לָךְ לְמַעַן יִיטַב לָךְ וְהַאֲרַכְתָּ יָמִים(Deuteronomy 22:6–7)What is the reason behind this commandment, known as kan tzippur? Rashi explains that the point of this commandment is its simplicity. Sending the mother bird away in order to take the eggs requires little effort and does not meaningfully reduce the benefit one receives. God deliberately attached a great reward to this easy commandment to teach that if a minor mitzvah carries such a reward, then more demanding mitzvot must certainly carry even greater reward.However, Rashi’s explanation does not clarify why this particular easy commandment was chosen for such a promise. There are many easy commandments that could have carried the same reward. Moreover, this mitzvah resembles other laws involving parent and offspring—such as the prohibition against boiling a kid in its mother’s milk or slaughtering an animal and its young on the same day—neither of which is paired with the promise of long life.Other commentators explain that this commandment teaches compassion. One must show mercy even to a bird, and cultivating such sensitivity will naturally extend to how one treats other human beings. If one is careful not to cause unnecessary distress to an animal, one will be more attentive to the suffering of people.In context, however, this mitzvah may convey an additional lesson: do not act impulsively. The commandments that immediately follow share this theme. The Torah continues:“When you build a new house, you shall make a parapet for your roof, so that you do not bring bloodguilt upon your house if someone falls from it.”כִּי־תִבְנֶה בַיִת חָדָשׁ וְעָשִׂיתָ מַעֲקֶה לְגַגֶּךָ וְלֹא־תָשִׂים דָּמִים בְּבֵיתֶךָ כִּי־יִפֹּל הַנֹּפֵל מִמֶּנּוּ(Deuteronomy 22:8)“You shall not sow your vineyard with a second kind of seed.”לֹא־תִזְרַע כַּרְמְךָ כִּלְאָיִם(Deuteronomy 22:9)“You shall not plow with an ox and a donkey together.”לֹא־תַחֲרֹשׁ בְּשׁוֹר וּבַחֲמֹר יַחְדָּו(Deuteronomy 22:10)“You shall not wear cloth combining wool and linen.”לֹא תִלְבַּשׁ שַׁעַטְנֵז צֶמֶר וּפִשְׁתִּים יַחְדָּו(Deuteronomy 22:11)Each of these commandments requires a person to pause and consider the consequences of their actions rather than acting on impulse. Sometimes this restraint shows compassion toward animals, as with the bird or the ox and donkey. Sometimes it protects other people, as with building a fence. Sometimes it safeguards the environment, as with planting seeds. And sometimes it protects oneself, as with clothing choices.Taking a moment to think beyond immediate desire—to consider others, consequences, and limits—is the Torah’s recipe for a long and meaningful life.