Why Do Animals Not Have a Share in the World to Come?

Moran Asked:

"Why indeed don't animals have continuity in the next world like humans do? Thank you in advance."

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Hello and blessings, Moran, and thank you for your question.

The previous article dealt with instincts, explaining why animals lack consciousness and free choice, and thus their love is not akin to that of humans. From this fact, we learn a lesson about the significance of human spirituality and why we were created for the life of the world to come, which we will discuss in this article.

You asked why animals do not gain a portion in the world to come. The simplest answer is that they are not separate from this world and thus do not require it. Since dogs or cats do not possess free choice, and all of their traits are embedded in them, they lack any individuality of their own. Hence, their existence culminates in the natural process of birth and death. As long as there are living dogs in our world, no individual dog ever truly "dies". All dogs are made from the same mold set by the Creator at the beginning of creation, and from that time forth, they are not essentially different from one another. There is a "canine species" with a production line of canine traits, yet no individual dog in our world.

Humans are the crown of creation because they possess consciousness and the free choice between good and evil, humans determine their nature with their own hands, making each person a unique soul. The sages said, "Every person is a world in themselves." With a special destiny, and the choice if and how much to fulfill that destiny to draw closer to Hashem. This fact turns a person into an individual, with a personal consciousness, whose very creation attests to its eternity.

Hashem does not destroy His world. When Hashem created billions of individual souls, He effectively created billions of worlds, each distinct from the other. Each person is a world in themselves; therefore, their existence isn't meant to end at death like an animal.

The sages said: "Therefore man was created alone, to teach you that whoever destroys one soul from Israel, it is considered as if they destroyed an entire world. And whoever saves one soul from Israel, it is considered as if they saved an entire world... To proclaim the greatness of the Holy One, blessed be He, who stamps many coins with one seal and they all resemble each other, yet the King of kings, the Holy One, blessed be He, stamped every man with the seal of the first man and none resembles his fellow. Therefore, each person is obligated to say, 'For my sake the world was created'" (Mishnah Sanhedrin 4:5).

From here, it is understood that a person's presence in this world is but a test and a means for their soul to receive its reward in the world to come for its deeds.

Thus said the sages: "At a person's departure, neither silver nor gold nor precious stones and pearls accompany them, but only Torah and good deeds alone" (Pirkei Avot 6:9).

Therefore, a person searches for spiritual meaning and does not find true satisfaction over time in material pleasures, whereas animals are completely satisfied with material life. Surely you have observed how, every morning when you served the dog its food, he wagged his tail and drooled with enthusiasm as if it were the tastiest meal he has ever eaten, even if it was just dry food. Even after years, the dog becomes equally excited over the same meal, not because he is "senile" (the dog remembers exactly at what time to expect his meal) but because the material fulfills his physical nature. However, a person will become weary of the most sumptuous meal if they receive it daily for years, and likewise tire of any material achievement after not too long. A person has a divine soul, and this soul will not find satisfaction in material life, but only in closeness to the Creator with deeds that correspond to its spiritual nature.

Animals do not lose the world to come, just as a table or chair does not miss out on being an animal. Both achieve the maximum of what they can attain according to their nature and require or want no more.

Hashem has not instilled in animals a thirst for spirituality because they lack a soul that desires it. They derive fullest satisfaction from life in this world as part of nature and do not seek eternity. Their existence and continuity are expressed solely in the existence of the species as according to their reproductive nature.

Animals have no understanding of a concept like "death" or life after death (a dog does not comprehend a notion like "death". Even if its owner dies, the dog would think it has been abandoned or that the owner is locked away somewhere and will wait for their return). You are saddened by the death of animals, but they do not grieve their passing. They live only in the "here and now", and their desires are confined to physical and temporary pleasure.

Nevertheless, it is important to clarify that animals aren't some "virtual reality", but real beings with a temporary soul that are an integral part of the living and breathing material reality of the nature around us. Although they lack thought and free choice, animals still feel pain and distress according to their level. There are ranks in nature, from inanimate to vegetative to animate and speaking. Animals are the sensitive and feeling part of nature. Our love and care for them are reflected in our love and care for the nature we live in, which we are required to protect.

Animals were created for us, to be used by us, and we are, of course, obliged to care for them, protect them and the natural world, and not cause them distress, using them only within the permissible bounds according to halacha:

"It is prohibited by the Torah to cause pain to any living creature, and on the contrary, one is obliged to save them from suffering, even if they are ownerless or belong to a gentile. However, if they are causing distress to a person or if a person requires them for healing or otherwise, it is permitted even to kill them without concern for their distress, as the Torah permits slaughter..." (Kitzur Shulchan Aruch, Siman 191 - Prohibition of causing animals distress and the prohibition of castration, Paragraph 1).

However, it is important to remember that genuine emotional bonds are intended for human beings with souls, who are aware of who you truly are and are capable of choosing the level of emotional connection with you through their soul.

Try not to anthropomorphize animals, even if you enjoy their company and caring for them. The animals you raised in your life remain in your memories, and perhaps they helped you through certain times in your life. You should be happy about their existence because the blessed Creator created a rich and diverse world for our enjoyment and aid. Beautiful gifts should be appreciated, even if they are temporary.

For Part I, click here.