GEN33 “God said, ‘Let the waters bring forth swarms of nefesh chayah [living creatures]’” [this verse]. From the very beginning, our tradition teaches that God created animals as nefesh chayah, as living creatures, or more literally “living souls.” This phrase is also used to describe the creation of humankind; “[God] breathed into his nostrils the breath of life, so that man became a nefesh chayah” Genesis 2:7.  The use of the same phrase to describe humans and animals sends a clear message of the commonality that exists between all of God’s creatures, human and nonhuman alike. (Continued at [[GEN1181]] Genesis 24:19 camels SACTAB 217). (By Rayna Ellen Gevurtz, "Kindness to Animals: Tzaar Baalei Chayim") SACTAB 216