Shiluach Haken — God's mercy and the decrees of the Torah

Manitou studies the Gemara that forbids saying 'Your mercy extends to the bird's nest' in prayer. This formula implies that specific mitzvot reveal God's emotional preferences, whereas in reality they are decrees (gezerot) of will, not motivated by affectivity. The mitzvah of sending away the mother bird is not an exceptional case of mercy but confirms the general rule that applies to all creatures.