Tikvat Israel News

2006 ... 2007 ... 2008 ... 2009 ... 2010 ... 2011 ... 2012 -

January ... February ... March ... April ... May ... June ... July ... August ... September ... October ... November ... December

Buffy's Bark Mitzvah a Real Tail Wagger.........posted Jun 3, 2009

Tikvat Israel's pets gathered in the synagogue's parking lot on a blue-sky spring afternoon on May 31 to celebrate the "Bark Mitzvah" of one of their own -- 13-year-old cockapoo Buffy, owned by Cantor Rochelle Helzner.

There was a lot of sniffing, tail wagging and woofing down of Bark Mitzvah cake, specially prepared for dogs attending the simcha by Bentley's Barkery. Owners had fun as well, participating with their pets in various contests judged by TI President Sam Freedenberg and congregant Cheryl Frank.

There was a pet-owner look-alike contest, which was won by Ina Kline and her golden retriever Pooh Bear. Both pet and owner sported the same blue T-shirts and dark sunglasses, as well as red hair -- or in Pooh Bear's case -- red fur. Sara Black's dog, Shayna, tied with Steve Raucher's Moxy for best pet trick. Shayna's routine included the crawl, the 360-degree turnaround, and a high five, which was a real crowd pleaser. Moxy found the treat hidden under one of three upside-down plant pots to another round of a-paws!

Participants at the afternoon affair also were treated to a tour of a mobile vet clinic. Vendors lined the TI parking lot and provided information about their products and, more importantly, free samples of treats and dog food for the animal guests. Local vet and TI member Arlene Gardsbane staffed a table titled The Vet Is In, where participants could ask questions. Donations were collected for House with a Heart Senior Pet Sanctuary, a Gaithersburg-based organization that offers sanctuary and hospice care for senior dogs.

The most unusual pet that showed up to share the day was a hermit crab owned by Aaron Rubinstein. Aaron recently celebrated his bar mitzvah at Tikvat Israel and was selling sodas to raise funds for Magen David Adom, the Israeli equivalent of the American Red Cross, as part of his bar mitzvah project.

In celebration of Buffy's special day, Cantor Helzner sang a song she and her sister, Robyn, co-wrote as a tribute to all pets. A few words into the song, however, she was interrupted by an appreciative howl from a soulful beagle who wanted to join the cantor in song. Needless to say, Cantor Helzner had to compose herself before continuing.

Afterward, Buffy's Dad, Rob Agus, addressed the crowd of animal lovers: "The Hebrew word for dog is kelev, spelled kof lamed vet. It can be read as 'kof' 'lamed' 'vet,' which would connote 'as if or like heart,' meaning that a dog expresses the emotion of the heart -- love. Love in Hebrew is ahava -- the four letters of which, in gematria, equal 13. When Moshe greatly desired to know God, God's hidden presence translated into the 13 attributes or characteristics of God -- 'the Lord the Lord is a God of mercy and grace, long forbearing and great in loving kindness and truth. ...' In other words, God's Presence can best be expressed and experienced in unconditional love.

"Buffy's, and all her fellow creatures' prayer for us," Agus said, "is that we feel their love for us as a part of and a pathway to the Divine Reality."

Tikvat Israel's parking lot was filled with unconditional love as the Bark Mitzvah concluded with a lively simcha parade, led by Cantor Helzner and accompanied by klezmer music.