By Lucy’s mom Melissa Goldman and her Bubby Linda Cook
When Melissa Goldman’s maltipoo Lucy was approaching her 13th birthday, she wanted to commemorate the milestone for her senior baby with a special celebration. Having raised Lucy in a Jewish home, it was only natural for her to plan a “Bark Mitzvah” for her furbaby to acknowledge her coming of age.
The practice of a bark mitzvah seems to go back as far as 1958 when Max and Janet Salter of Beverly Hills celebrated their Cocker Spaniel turning 13 with all the Jewish trimmings. Bark Mitzvahs are celebrated on the pet’s actual 13th birthday but are also commonly acknowledged in dog years – 1 year, 10 months, and 6 days. Still, not everyone is familiar with the concept.
“I’m Jewish and have a dog but I had never heard of throwing one [a Bar Mitzvah], but I had the best time and want her to plan a Bark Mitzvah for my dog Zen when he becomes a man in a few years!” said Janine Wolman, a friend of Melissa’s.
Lucy’s Bark Mitzvah was held on a beautiful Miami day in Brickell Key Park, on February 12th, the Saturday before Lucy’s actual birthday, Valentine’s Day. Lucy’s proud Bubby (grandmother) Linda Cook created dog bone shaped party favors that said “I PAWtied at Lucy’s Bark Mitzvah” complete with squeakies for the 4-legged guests. She also sewed a ceremonial tallit (prayer shawl) and pink kippah (skullcap) for Lucy to match with the event’s color scheme.
The ceremony was short and sweet and included prayers over the wine and bread, as well as a special blessing for dogs. After singing “Happy Birthday” in English and in Hebrew, the service concluded with a memorial prayer (kaddish) for pets who have gone over the rainbow bridge.
The canine guests were served dog edible pupcakes and a variety of doggie treats, while their humans enjoyed their own spread of goodies under the “Let’s Pawty” decorations the pets ate and played with their party favors.
Roberta Mandel, a Miami attorney, shared the experience with her beloved dog, Ruby. “It was our first Bark Mitzvah, and we both had a great time. Mazel tov to Lucy and Melissa. It couldn’t have been nicer.”
Even though the idea of a Bark Mitzvah is not embraced by all clergy, the overall practice has grown significantly throughout the United States as the pet parent phenomenon gets bigger every day. Lucy’s Bark Mitzvah was indeed a big success, and it’s likely that similar milestone events will become more and more common. The only unknown is whether or not dogs can be taught to dance the horah.
You can follow Lucy’s Bubby LInda on Instagram @skinny.linny and you can follow her mom Melissa @itsmel_g
