עברית
Halachot and Customs
Sending Away the Mother Bird - How to Do it Exactly? A Clear and Simple Explanation
Question
Hello!
I wanted to know what the mitzvah of sending away the mother bird is and what blessing is said on Bisli.
Also, what is important to know about mayim acharonim? Can it be done from a water bottle and what if there is no place to do it?
Thank you!
Answer
Hello and blessings.
1. The Torah in Deuteronomy 22:6-7 states: 'If a bird's nest happens to be before you on the way, in any tree or on the ground, with chicks or eggs, and the mother sitting on the chicks or on the eggs, you shall not take the mother with the young; you shall send away the mother and take the young for yourself, so that it will be good for you and that you may prolong your days.' Briefly, here are the reasons for the mitzvah.
A. The simple reason - The purpose of the mitzvah is to ensure the survival of species by allowing the mother to create more nests, even though it is permitted to take the chicks or eggs. If one were to take the mother along with the children, it would be like destroying that species. Therefore, you are blessed with long life, measure for measure, in the same way that you ensured the continuation of this species.
B. Another explanation - According to Rambam, the reason is to prevent the mother from suffering by seeing her young taken away, similar to the mitzvah of not slaughtering a mother and child animal on the same day. This mitzvah is to instill compassion and distance us from cruelty. According to many poskim, there is no need to perform the mitzvah unless you indeed want the young for consumption.
C. According to Kabbala - Performing this mitzvah arouses mercy upon the world. Since sending away the mother causes the mother bird distress, the angel appointed over the birds asks Hashem for mercy for what happened to the bird, leading to a flow of mercy upon all who need it. Moreover, it reminds Hashem that even the Shechina was exiled from its children, the people of Israel, since the destruction of the Temple.
2. Regarding Bisli, the blessing is 'borei minei mezonot.'
3. Regarding mayim acharonim, it is only necessary to wash until the second joint of the fingers, lowering the hands before drying them. It is not necessary to use a cup and can be done from a tap or other source. Do not pour the water on the ground in a place where people walk; instead, pour it into a vessel or under the table. After drying the hands, you recite the Birkat Hamazon without interruption. Some advise against washing hands from a vessel intended for drinking.
Blessings, Binyamin Shmueli
