So Much More Than An Animal | Rabbi Yitzchok Fingerer

The pasuk in Koheles says, The pashut Pshat, literally, this means that in a physical sense, man has no superiority over an animal. Molecularly, we are the same, physiologically, the same, even genetically, in many ways, we're the same as the animal. Comes along the Vilna Gaon with a fascinating interpretation. ומותר האדם מן הבהמה אין there is a difference between an animal and a human being, and what is it? אין means the ability to refrain, the power to abstain, to say no, to exert self control. The Maharal teaches us that בהמה is a contraction of two words, What is in it - it is. An animal is genetically preprogramed, an animal can never rise above, an animal can never shield its eyes, an animal can never protect itself from seeing an image. We are אדם. Says the Maharal, אדם comes from the word אדמה לעליון, which means that we are exalted, we are divine, we can imitate, we can replicate, we can copy the most celestial, a נשמה אלוקית, we have a divine soul and we will not compromise. We will not become a בהמה. The Gemara in Kiddushin 4 tells us, that the letters אין can also mean with an ע, which means to look, to see, to examine. And perhaps this is teaching us, with an ע. You know the difference between a human being and an animal? It's the eyes, it's the עין. It's the ability to say: I won't use my eyes for bad. I understand that as a human being, as a divine person, every image I take in makes an indelible imprint on my Neshama that is infinite, that is everlasting, that is forever. And therefore, I will proclaim to the world, יותר מן הבהמה! I am not an animal. I am far greater. You want to know how? עין I could see those images, but I won't look. I will abstain, I will refrain, I will preserve my Kedushah.