Bark Mitzvah

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  • February 1, 2017 3:53 am at 3:53 am #619151
    Lightbrite
    Participant

    Is the Bark Mitzvah in human years or dog years?

    February 1, 2017 4:30 am at 4:30 am #1213134
    Litvos
    Member

    Is this a Reform thing?

    February 1, 2017 4:51 am at 4:51 am #1213135
    Lightbrite
    Participant

    Nope.

    February 1, 2017 4:59 am at 4:59 am #1213136
    Lightbrite
    Participant

    It’s not a traditional thing. Not orthodox or anything.

    Just a thing that some people do that isn’t tied to Judaism, per se. Just want to include their dog.

    Thus far I know of one person, indirectly, whose dog had a Bark Mitzvah. A doggie tallis and everything (just a piece of fabric with a Magen David, for show).

    Btw, learned two things today:

    1) The dogs did not bark when the Jewish nation (Israelites at the time before matan Torah (“giving of the Torah”) but one people) left Egypt. Because they restrained their voice, which was very hard for them, we give them treif meat when there is an uncertain shaila (question) on whether the meat is kosher or not, and in cases where the slaughter wasn’t kosher for sure.

    We don’t give meat to the frogs, because while they jumped into burning ovens, that was not as difficult for them as a dog holding back his/her bark.

    Learned this from today’s Torah Anytime shiur on animals and the parsha Bo.

    2) From a Chabad rabbi today, I learned that the meaning of the dogs not barking is that the Jewish people left Egypt in peace. That was the miracle of the departure. It was daytime and the dogs did not bark for they let the Jewish people leave in peace and tranquility.

    Yepp yepp.

    February 1, 2017 5:28 am at 5:28 am #1213137
    Litvos
    Member

    “Most male dogs have been known to celebrate the occasion at either 13 months or 13 years (the equivalent of 91 in dog years).” – Arizona Jewish Post

    I would have to agree with Rabbi Kroloff.

    February 1, 2017 1:35 pm at 1:35 pm #1213138
    CTLAWYER
    Participant

    I’m a dog lover, we currently have 4. But I am not thrilled by the extension of Jewish celebrations to those who could not be eligible.

    I have a dear friend, whose 15 year old dog died Motzei Shabbos. On Monday, he posted a montage of pictures of the dog’s life. The pictures included the dog’s Bark Mitzvah which occurred at a small CT synagogue run by Chabad (Chabad took over a dying shul, 90% of the congregants are not frum). I did not find this amusing. It was in bad taste, similar to a Bar Mitzvah dinner I attended in 1965, when the family dog was dressed in a Tuxedo and brought into the hall to light a candle on the cake.

    There is a time and place for dogs to mingle, I don’t believe it is in shul r a banquet hall.

    February 1, 2017 2:58 pm at 2:58 pm #1213140
    theprof1
    Participant

    THE DONKEY TOO WAS REWAREDED FOR ITS CARRYING HUGE LOADS OF EGYPTIAN LOOT, HELPING THE JEWS LEAVE EGYPT. THE DONKEY, ALONE OF TREIFE ANIMALS, MERITED THE MITZVA OF PETTER CHAMOR.

    February 1, 2017 3:19 pm at 3:19 pm #1213141
    Avram in MD
    Participant

    Putting aside the idea that a bark mitzvah is disrespectful to Jewish tradition, it also is yet another example of the penchant in American culture to anthropomorphize dogs. This is a misplacement of natural human maternal and paternal instincts, and it is not even good for dogs.

    Dogs are not human beings, and they don’t care one bit about temporal milestones. What dog wants uncomfortable clothes put on it, and to have its routine disrupted by a bunch of boisterous strangers. Take the poor beast outside and throw sticks for it to chase!

    February 1, 2017 3:32 pm at 3:32 pm #1213142
    YW Moderator-💯
    Moderator

    Theprof1, kindly refrain from using all caps. Thank you.

    February 1, 2017 5:31 pm at 5:31 pm #1213143
    👑RebYidd23
    Participant

    Dogs don’t really mind Bark Mitzvahs because they get treats, but it’s stupid and offensive anyway.

    February 1, 2017 7:54 pm at 7:54 pm #1213144
    Lightbrite
    Participant

    So the consensus here is to scrap the Bark Mitzvah and just do the Upsherin at 3 human years? 😉 <kidding>

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