The Soul of an Animal

Question

A man has freewill and is judged according to his deeds, his own actions decide his position. This is simple to understand. So here comes my question: "Animals too have souls but their level is so degraded compared to Man. They have no freewill and they do what Hashem decides them to do. So, how does Hashem decide that this soul should be in this specific animal? If they are no merits/demerits for animals why some are Kosher and some Non-Kosher? In Torah we see specific animals have a major role, to give a perfect example: the Donkey of Bilaam, and also there is a tradition that tells us Mashiach comes on Donkey, what was so special with these animals?"

Answer 1

You are asking 3 questions that come up when you consider that animals don't have free will:

1. Why does Hashem make this animal soul go into the body of this animal species?
2. How can some animals be kosher, and some not?
3. What is special about those animals with special roles, like Bilaam's Donkey?

There is indeed a single answer to these questions. As the Zohar says:

לָא בְרָא קוּדְשָׁא בְּרִיךְ הוּא מִלְּתָא דְּלָאו אִיהוּ צָרִיךְ

Hashem didn't make anything that He didn't need

As Rambam explains in Moreh Nevuchim 3:13, all of Hashem's decisions and everything He created, is exactly as He needs it. This animal soul is put in that animal body because Hashem made it to go into that body, to fulfil His Ratzon. Hashem's plan needs both Kosher and Non-Kosher animals, neither is redundant or better or worse. Both fulfil His desire! Hashem's plan required special animals, like Bilaam's Donkey. None of these animals "merited" anything (you are right, they don't have free will). They were brought into existence and designed to follow Hashem's blueprint, the Torah, and all of that is to fulfil His desire, and nothing else.