GEN681 The concept that blood holds the life force is a key teaching of Torah. When Cain kills his brother Abel, it is Abel’s blood that cries out to God for justice Genesis 4:10. Similarly, Leviticus 17 teaches that spilling the blood of an animal is also considered murder unless the blood is ritually drained at an altar site.  Deuteronomy 12 adds that if one does not have access to an altar, the animal’s blood must be poured into the ground. AGTJL 522