LEV889 Do not slaughter an animal and its mother on the same day. Key concepts: We should be aware that Hashem watches over all living beings. Although regarding mankind, He watches over every individual, regarding animals His Providence extends only to each different species in general. Because of this concern, the Torah forbids us to cut a tree and its branches on the same day--that is, to slaughter a mother animal and one of its young on the same day. This prohibition is an allusion to Hashem's general Providence over each species. In addition, Hashem wants us to develop the positive trait of compassion to distance ourselves from any tendency towards cruelty. For this reason, too, although we are allowed to slaughter animals for their meat, we are forbidden to kill a mother animal and its young on the same day.