Does a Spider Have a Soul?

The Arizal was careful never to kill any living creature, even if it was a mere insect and was a nuisance. This was likewise the custom of the Rebbe Rashab. Some state that one should never directly kill a creature, even if it causes pain, unless it can cause real injury, such as a snake, and one is rather to indirectly cause them to die, such as through poison. It is thus a Midas Chassidus not to directly kill a living creature with one’s hands even if it is a nuisance, and is hence permitted to do so from the letter of the law. [If however the indirect killing will cause the animal more pain, than seemingly it better to kill it directly. The Gemara states that Rebbe Yehuda Hanaasi experienced suffering due to a certain incident that involved Tzaar Baalei Chaim, even though it was permitted according to Halacha and it was then removed after he showed mercy to animals. Reply

Putting spiders outside Just a note on putting spiders outside. Almost all spiders found in our houses (for example the common "house spider") were likely born inside the house in the first place. It is extremely rare for a spider who normally lives outdoors, to take up residence indoors as they are not adapted to live inside. Likewise house spiders are not well adapted to life outdoors. The point: putting spiders found in the house outside might seem humane, but, at best, they will likely find their way back into your house and at worst, will die. If they are not a bother and you are not experiencing infestation,it is better for the spider to leave them alone. Reply

All souls Thank you for the confirmation about spiders I knew this. "The Spirit of God dwells in the soul of every living thing". Do plants have souls also? Reply

Does a spider have a soul? Insects, spiders that do not fly, are tolerated in my house. Last year lots of mice got inside and they had a great time. I trapped them and released them outside. Once I plugged the hole they chewed on the side of my house, my house was free of them. No mice were killed.

I regret using mouse traps in the past and refuse to step on bugs in my house; all I do is sweep them up and put them outside. I have practally no problems with bugs or rodents inside since I established this approach. Reply

Does a spider have a soul? I smiled and was awed by the son's remorse for snuffing out the life of a spider. It warms my heart that children have such a conscience of "wrong" in careless or fearful killing of G-d's creatures, no matter how small. My family moved alot, as my dad was in the Navy and my mom thought it a blessing if in the new house a spider was encountered. And she would call it 'Elmer'. I still have a tender spot for the Elmer's I meet today, inside or out, I always capture them and put them out, not kill them!And I think of all the bad insects and creeping things the spiders capture and eat that save the world from being overrun by the 'beasties'!! LOL! Reply

Happy to see the Rabbi's response I have seen too many jewish children going out of their way to step on ants or spiders or other insects.

And even if one kills an insect in the house, I see too many with no remorse at having to do so or at least even a thought of remorse by children and adults.

I wish that more families would stress this basic truth--G-D made these lives for His purpose and if we snuff it out, although perhaps not against the law, we are not helping to fulfill His purpose. Reply