Between the Bible, the Midrash, Philosophy, and Kabbalah: Ethics and Animals in the Writings of the Maharal of Prague

This article explores the association between animals and ethics in the teachings of Rabbi Judah Loew of Prague, famously known as the Maharal of Prague (1525–1609). The article is divided into three parts. The first will present the Maharal and the nature of his writings; the second will present how the Maharal viewed the essence of animals and their place in the act of creation; and the third part will examine the Maharal’s ethical approach toward animals. I will deal with the Maharal’s philosophy as it is reflected in his extensive writing.