תלמוד בבלי מסכת שבת דף עז עמוד ב
אמר רב יהודה אמר רב: כל מה שברא הקדוש ברוך הוא בעולמו לא ברא דבר אחד לבטלה. ברא שבלול לכתית, ברא זבוב - לצירעה, יתוש - לנחש, ונחש - לחפפית, וסממית - לעקרב.
Rab Judah said in Rab's name: Of all that the Holy One, blessed be God, created in God's world, God did not create a single thing without purpose. [Thus] God created the snail as a remedy for a scab; the fly as an antidote to the hornet[‘s sting]; the mosquito [crushed] for a serpent[‘s bite]; a serpent as a remedy for an eruption. and a [crushed] spider as a remedy for a scorpion[‘s bite]. [Soncino Translation]
Suggested Discussion Questions:
What are other examples of things that are not seen as good on their own, but when used differently can be useful?
Do you belive all creatures are useful in some way? Why or why not?
Do you believe all creatures are useful to human beings? Why or why not? Is this important?
Time Period: Rabbinic (Maccabees through the Talmud)