DEUT578 Do not eat any limb of a live animal. Key concept: So that we do not teach our souls the abominable trait of cruelty. What heinous cruelty it is to tear off a limb or cut out the flesh of a live animal and afterwards eat what was removed! We already have explained several times the great benefit in acquiring positive character traits and distancing ourselves from the negative traits. He who is good clings to the good, and Hashem--Perfect Goodness--wants to bestow blessing upon us. Therefore, He commands us to choose the good, so that we are worthy to receive His blessings.