Rabbi David Sperling
Question
B”H Shalom Rabbi, I have a question if you can help. I used to love fishing. Id catch fish for fun and release them. Obviously I am not dying of hunger and do not need to catch fish for food. Sometimes unfortunately, the way the hook hooks the fish results in the fish having to be killed. Is it wrong to fish as a sport? Is the life of a fish worth the unnecessary expense of one’s fun? Thanks Darryl
Answer
Shalom, Thank you for your question. There is a debate about fishing according to a religious Jewish understanding. There are those that compare this to hunting animals, which is generally forbidden (or at least frowned upon) because of the pain it causes to the animal (tzar baalia chaim) and the negative traits it instills in the person (see for example Mishnah Halachos (6:216)) On the other hand, some opinions hold that because fish feel less, or no pain, the issue of causing pain to animals does not apply. And in relation to the issue of instilling negative traits in a person, there are grounds to say that the quiet and meditative act of fishing instills good traits, and not aggressive and negative ones (see for example the responsa of both Rav Moshe Feinstein zt”l and the Rav Moshe Stern zt”l, in the work Chol HaMoed, Zikron Shlomo, who both discuss fishing during the intermediate days of the festival for pleasure, and in is clear that their only objections are related to the festival, but not fishing in general). So, in short, one could look at fishing as acceptable, or not. I would suggest that this question needs to be viewed in the framework of looking at the overall nature of the experience. That is, are there other benefits that are realized at the same time – family bonding, experiencing the beauty of Hashem’s world, calming down? On the other hand, how sensitive are you to the life of the fish – different people will be on different levels in relation to this question. Also, what are the alternatives? A day out fishing may certainly outweigh a day spent mindlessly in front of a screen – but doesn’t even begin to reach the lofty level of sitting in a Beit Midrash learning Torah. I hope this is of some help to you. Blessings.
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