By Gary Rotto
SAN DIEGO — Americans are animal lovers. Bo, the First Pooch, has his own Facebook page. (Yes, I did “like” Bo on my Facebook page.) Besides watching for Governor Brown to announce a State Budget Plan earlier this week, the Sacramento Bee had a reporter assigned to follow Sutter – the potential First Pooch of California. (Would Sutter pass his trial with the Governor and his wife? Did he soil anything in the State Capitol? Readers were following closely!)
The media loves to carry stories about animals. When I first came to California years ago, I remember seeing an article in the Los Angeles Times about a Catholic church which had a ceremony for blessing animals. As I recall, it was in the Autumn. Apparently, this tradition was begun by St. Francis of Assisi, who wrote, “All praise to you, Oh Lord, for all these brother and sister creatures.” How I wished that Judaism had such an event.
It seems like celebrating and appreciating animals would be a Jewish concept. Many of our ancestors were shepherds – Jacob, Moses, King David. They certainly looked after their flocks (the ones with furry coats). The Bible tells us that Rebecca was chosen for Issac in part because of the kindness she showed to animals. And we are commanded that not only should we rest on Shabbat, but so should our animals.
Fortunately, I belong to a congregation that has found a way to celebrate the animals around us. Around the time of Tu B’Shevat, Congregation Dor Hadash had its own Blessing of the Animals. So this year, we gathered in Kearny Mesa – sans flock, but with many other animals: reptiles, a bird and many dogs. I counted twenty dogs in attendance plus others remembered by their guardians via photo. “How pleasant it is to be together with our brothers and sisters,” declared Rabbi Yael Ridberg. And the dogs in particular barked their approval. Maybe some of us barked as well, I couldn’t distinguish the voices.
Asked by Rabbi Yael what we get from the animals in our lives, the answers included “love, respect, friendship, help, playfulness”. The list could go on.
Last year, our dog Mugsy, attended the Blessing after just having surgery. With a plastic cone around his head to restrict his biting the area that was sutured, he looked like he could use a blessing. And a year later, he attended fully healed. Fortunately, none of the others in attendance this year looked like they needed a Misha Berach, but they joined in the festivities in their own way as their guardians shared the Blessing.
“Help us to care for our pets and love them as best we can. May we see a small part of You, G-d, in their eyes when they look at us with love and trust. And may we, as their friends, always treat them with the kindness and respect that we wish to be treated, now and always.” Arf, Arf. Amen.
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Rotto is a freelance writer based in San Diego