By Rabbi Michael Beals, Temple Beth El
“Why are all those people holding animals, ready to be blessed, and we aren’t doing ANYTHING?!,” my wife, veterinarian Dr. Elissa Green, asked me during my penultimate year at the Jewish Theological Seminary in Manhattan.
Every year, St. John the Divine, the Episcopal Cathedral near Columbia University, would hold a Blessing of the Animals Service on the Saint’s Day for St. Francis of Assisi. I explained to Elissa that, unlike priests, rabbis do not have extraordinary blessing powers.
“So, call it a ‘Celebration of the Animals’ program instead,” retorted Elissa.
“But we could not do it on St. Francis of Assis’ Saint’s Day,” I countered.
“So, choose ANOTHER day of Jewish significance,” my wife challenged.
And that’s how, more than 25 years ago, I came to host the first Celebration of the Animals on the Sunday when we read Parshat Noah, the second Torah portion in the Book of Genesis, after Simchat Torah. I started the celebration at my first synagogue in Southern California, B’nai Tikvah Congregation, and it was covered in The Los Angeles Times at a time before these animal celebrations became more normal in progressive synagogues throughout the country.
At Temple Beth El of Newark, this year’s pet celebration—to be held on October 26—has a section for introducing pets, a healing service for sick pets set to the music of Debbie Friedman’s Misheberach prayer, and a Yizkor section where we shared the names of our deceased pets and then collectively read the poem, “The Rainbow Bridge.” We also read biblical stories of Moses and David as shepherds, Noah in the ark, and celebrate Rebecca’s kindness to animals. Then we shared our own pets’ stories.
This year, even if rain threats, we expect a minyan of well-behaved leashed doggies (and cats in carriers) and their dedicated pet parents. I hope to bring BOTH Jasper and Violet with me—our beloved shepherd mixes, rescues from Human Animal Partners (HAP), where Elissa works as the Director of Veterinary Medicine. In the past, we have brought Yofi, Sparky, Oreo, and Cinnamon with us to the Celebration of the Animals—all of whom have since crossed over The Rainbow Bridge.
We hope to have HAP on hand this year in case any animal lovers want to add another furry member to their family.
