A Bark Mitzvah is a pseudo-traditional observance and celebration of a dog's coming of age, as in the Jewish traditional Bar Mitzvah and Bat Mitzvah. The term has been in use since at least as early as 1997, and Bark Mitzvahs are sometimes held as an adjunct to the festival of Purim.
Ceremony
The Bark Mitzvah most commonly occurs when the dog turns 13 in human years. This is equivalent to about 100 dog years. During some Bark Mitzvahs, dogs wear a tallit, a ritual prayer shawl worn during Jewish religious services and ceremonies. A male dog wears a specific yarmulke, a thin skullcap.
Controversy
Dogs are not part of any Jewish religious practices. The Bark Mitzvah would only have meaning to the dog's owner.
Furthermore, some consider this a desecration of the Jewish tradition and the religous symbols involved.
History
The earliest documented Bark Mitzvah was hosted by Janet and Maxwell Salter on June 3, 1958 in Los Angeles, California. The Salters celebrated the 13th birthday of their Cocker Spaniel The Duke of Windsor (aka Windy) with 100 people and over a dozen canine guests. The phrase "Bark Mitzvah" was included on the event's printed invitations, although the party was non-religious in nature. The Salters have since hosted 3 Bark Mitzvahs, including a Bat Mitzvah for their Bijan Frise Gigi in 2008. Maxwell Salter is a former mayor of Beverly Hills, California.
In 1997, the first widely recorded Bark Mitzvah was celebrated, receiving scrutiny and disapproval from several rabbis. One rabbi expressed his distaste for Bark Mitzvahs in a letter to the editor of The New York Times, describing the celebration as "nothing less than a desecration of a cherished Jewish tradition" and claiming that Bark Mitzvahs "degrade some of the central principles of Jewish life".
Although the idea of the Bark Mitzvah is frowned upon by some, the idea spread throughout the United States, and the celebrations have continued to occur. The ceremonies became increasingly popular on the East and West Coasts in the early 2000s. As a result, specialty pet stores and dog bakeries now offer special Bark Mitzvah party packages, party favors, and gifts.
Notable Bark Mitzvahs
Kasha Lowy
- Owners: Bruce and Donna Lowy
- Place: Lowy Residence, Skokie, Illinois
- Date: October 4, 2002
- Breed: Jack Russell Terrier
Bruce Lowy claims to have started the Bark Mitzvah trend by displaying photographs of Kasha’s ceremony online. The event was fully catered, complete with a live band. Via Kasha’ webpage, Lowy received email from Russia, Poland, France, England, and Australia, supporting the idea of the Bark Mitzvah.
Admiral Rufus K. Boom Nadler
- Owner: Mark Nadler
- Place: Nadler Residence, New York City
- Date: December 2004
- Breed: Wheaten Terrier
Mark Nadler, a New York cabaret singer, hired party planners and bartenders to ensure a special evening for Admiral Boom. The event was complete with a Bark Mitzvah cake displaying Boom’s photograph and his name written in English and Hebrew, satin yarmulkes with Boom’s name and date printed inside, and a full buffet. Mark Nadler requested that as a Bark Mitzvah gift to Boom, guests make a donation to the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals. Coverage of the celebration was featured in The New York Times .
Colombo Rudy
- Owners: Edie and Ed Rudy
- Place: A local café, Aventura, Florida
- Date: October 14, 2005
- Breed: Poodle
Edie and Ed Rudy celebrated Columbo Rudy’s coming of age at a local, outdoor Aventura café. Rabbi Rex Doberman signed a certificate from Congregation Beth Poodle congratulating the canine. Coverage of the event was featured on MSNBC.
Elvis Best
- Owner: David Best
- Place: Sammy’s Roumanian Steakhouse, New York City
- Date: November 10, 2007
- Breed: Parson Russell Terrier
David Best, CEO of MDea and The Doctor's Channel , hosted this celebration at Sammy’s Roumanian, a famous Jewish steakhouse. The event featured live music, traditional Jewish cuisine, and various speeches given by Elvis Best himself. In attendance were representatives from various US pharmaceutical companies. As a result, the celebration served as the event of the season in the pharmaceutical industry. Sex therapist Dr. Ruth also helped Elvis celebrate his big day. Coverage of the event is available on YouTube , The Doctor's Channel , and AOL .
Other uses of the term
The term is also used for a dog-assisted literacy education project, one of several "bark mitzva" projects designed by a Lawrenceville, New Jersey conservative synagogue's religious school to teach children about tzedaka, the Jewish practice of charity.
References
Notes
- ^ a b Lily Koppel (20 December 2004). "Today He Is a Dog; Actually He Always Was". The New York Times . http://www.nytimes.com/2004/12/20/nyregion/20mitzvah.html .
- ^ Shari Cohen and Marcelo Gindlin. Alfie's Bark Mitzvah. Chandler: Five Star Publications, 2007. Book with audio CD.
- ^ a b Letter to the editor (19 January 1997). "A Rabbi's View Of a 'Bark Mitzvah'". The New York Times . http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9C03E6D9173BF93AA25752C0A961958260 .
- ^ Maryann Mott (6 October 2006). "Pets Gaining Recognition in Places of Worship". National Geographic News . http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2006/10/061006-pet-church.html .
- ^ Rabbi Jacob Pressman, Emeritus Temple Beth Am Verification Statement
To Whom It May Concern: As an old Wikipedia user, I am pleased to help put Windy's "Bark Mitzvah" on record. I was there as a close friend of the Salters to celeberate their beloved black Cocker Spaniel's 13th birthday in 1958. The Salters have been leaders in our congregation - Temple Beth Am - for decades. I know they meant no disrespect for their religious faith when they coined the phrase "Bark Mitzvah." Rabbi Jacob Pressman, Emeritus Temple Beth Am 1039 S. La Cienega Blvd. Los Angeles, CA 90035
- ^ Bruce J. Lowy. "Kasha's Bark Mitzvah". Bruce Lowy website . http://brucelowy.com/kasha.htm .
- ^ "Muzzle-tov! Couple holds Jewish coming of age ceremony for dog". MSNBC Countdown with Keith Olbermann . 18 October 2005 . http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/9742523/ .
- ^ "Elvis: The Bark Mitzvah Highlights Film". The Doctor's Channel (also on YouTube) . http://www.thedoctorschannel.com/video/356.html . ...
Lawrenceville 30045 Restaurants: McCray’s Tavern on the Square ...
Conveniently located in the heart of Lawrenceville, McCray's Tavern isthe ... Purchase $25 Instant Gift Certificate for $10 (Restaurant.com)
Aldo Lamberti's Family of Restaurants: Gift Certificates and Products ...
Also excludes former Lawrenceville, NJ location. *Pair your gift certificate order with a ... for sale inside some of our restaurants and on ...
Lawrenceville Restaurant, Niagara Canadian Restaurant Niagara on the ...
Lawrenceville Restaurant details, Niagara Canadian Restaurant near Forks Rd. / Deeks Rd. in ... best of; videos & tours; events; reservations; gift certificates; contests
Simply Radishing II Lawrenceville NJ Restaurants - Gift Certificates ...
Detailed information about Simply Radishing II Restaurant in Lawrenceville New Jersey Gift Certificates
Vidalia Lawrenceville NJ Restaurants - Gift Certificates
Detailed information about Vidalia Restaurant in Lawrenceville New Jersey Gift Certificates
Lawrenceville 08648 Restaurants: Leonardo's II Mediterranean Grill ...
Home >Lawrenceville Restaurants >Leonardo's II Mediterranean Grill ... Welcome to Leonardo's II Meditarranean ... Purchase $10 Instant Gift Certificate for $3 (Restaurant.com)
2 Willie's Restaurant and Lounge - Lawrenceville, GA 30044 ...
2 Willie's Restaurant and Lounge, Lawrenceville GA: (770) 236-0331 Get Reviews, Information ... Buy Coupon Purchase $10 Instant Gift Certificate for $3
Restaurant.com - Dine out for less! $25 Restaurant Certificates for ...
Restaurant.com offers $25 restaurant certificates for only $10 at over 8,000 ... listings:Merch - Filter City (Lawrenceville) ... More gift certificates will be available on the ...
Cafe Bleu Restaurant - Lawrenceville GA - BooRah
$25 Gift Certificate | Your Price: $10; American $15-$21 per entree ... Welcome to Cafe Bleu Restaurant, Lawrenceville's premiere destination for gourmet cuisine and ...