Blessing of the Pets: Worth Saving, Worth Blessing

By Rabbi Paul Kipnes and Rabbi Elana Rabishaw

When Lisa Chesler met her husband, her dating profile said she was “not a pet person.” She still stands by that. Then came their dog Savannah, whom everyone calls Nana, who, as Lisa tells it, “has burst through all barriers when it comes to our family.”

Last Sunday, Nana came to temple to be blessed.

So did a lot of other pets. We rabbis spent a full morning in the shade outside Congregation Or Ami. As each family and its pets had private time with us, we asked, “What’s special about your pet?” And the stories poured out.

Charlie was a bar mitzvah gift. Austin is a protector, especially of the daughter in the house. Luc, a French bulldog, looks, his family says, like a matzah ball. Sage, at eleven, is “the softest sweetest loyal perfect dog.” Lucy joined the Green family a few months ago as a rescue and “stole our hearts immediately.”

The timing of the blessing of the pets was no accident. This past week’s Torah portion was Noach, in which God told Noah to build the ark and save the animals, two of every kind (Genesis 6:19-20). Our pets are worth saving, and Rabbi Elana knows why. “For over six years, Busby has been the most loyal companion,” she says. “There with me through life’s highs and lows, cross country moves. He loves everyone, and intuitively knows who needs a little more love.”

So while scratching behind ears and rubbing bellies (the pets’, of course), we offered each pet a personalized blessing, reflecting their personality and their place in the family. We asked Makor HaChayim, Source of Life, to bless each pet, who brings “companionship to this family, laughter to their home, comfort when comfort is needed, and love, given in that mysterious way animals somehow know how to give.” We reminded God, and ourselves, that the covenant with Noah embraces kol nefesh chayah, every living creature (Genesis 9:10-16). We closed: Baruch Atah Adonai, Ha-M’vareich kol chai. Blessed are You, Holy One, who blesses all living things. Here is an example of the blessings we recited: A Blessing for Pets.

Each pet went home with a signed certificate of blessing, bearing their name, from their rabbis.

For Madeleine Sherak and Biscuit, her ten-month-old golden retriever, the morning was particularly meaningful. The two are training to become a therapy dog team. Madeleine wrote to us afterward: “It was particularly significant and poignant because Rabbi Elana referred to her as a ‘Mitzvah Dog,’ and it made me understand what Rabbi Paul spoke about with regard to animals having an important place in our lives. Moving forward, I will now refer to Biscuit as my ‘Mitzvah Dog,’ for together, we hope to bring comfort and healing to those in need.”

Other families wrote to us too. Lindsay Zander, who brought Daisy: “She brings so much love and happiness to our family. She really is a blessing so it’s only appropriate for her to be blessed too.” Jody Green: “What a beautiful idea to take time to bless our furbabies!” Lisa Miller, who came with Tony and their dogs Sage and Luc: “Having them blessed by the Rabbi was such a sweet and meaningful moment for us.” And Lisa Chesler, who originally was not a pet person: “Thank you for blessing our baby.”

After the flood, God set a rainbow in the sky as a sign of the covenant with every living creature (Genesis 9:13-15). On Sunday, in the shade outside Or Ami, we got to bless some of them. Nana and the others went home with a certificate that says she is blessed. And Lisa Chesler, who still stands by her dating profile, says Nana is “without a doubt, everyone’s favorite family member.”

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Want to bless your own pet? Here is an example of the blessings we recited for each pet that morning, with space for your pet’s name: A Blessing for Pets.