Ten Tips on How to Give a Pet Mitzvah (Part Three)
Copyright 2007 by Diana L Guerrero. All rights reserved.
This is a three part article about how to celebrate a pet mitzvah—a trend that first began in the 1980s but didn’t hit popularity with mainstream society until about the mid-1990s. Bark mitzvahs are controversial in some circles but have been embraced as a way to celebrate the blessing of canine companions and to raise funds during Purim (a religious holiday in the Jewish tradition). Pop culture has adopted the trend—throwing not just bark mitzvahs but meow mitzvahs, equine mitzvahs, and other similar celebrations.
7. Food fun!
Serve snacks after the celebration and monitor animals when they snack to avoid squabbles. Many pet mitzvah party planners use decorative pet bowls to serve human snacks and often provide cakes and other items in the shape of fish or a dog bone—depending on the audience. Goodie bags are usually filled with special dog cookies, Star of David cookies, and similar fare.
Specialty bakeries also provide pet friendly foods for such occasions. It is best to use those specialty foods because many humans don’t know what foods can be toxic to animals but if you do the research, or get the right pet cookbook, you can make some fun items.
8. Pick music to soothe the pet mitzvah crowd.
The old saying, “music soothes the savage beast” is true. Pick some nice soothing tunes to go with the mood you want to create. People need to be able to talk so keep it more on the mellow side.
9. Party wear and amusement.
Be sure to specify if you have a theme guests should be alerted to. The pet mitzvah should be to celebrate the pet or his or her contribution to your life, so unless you are holding a big event, additional entertainment or amusement is not always necessary.
It is your choice as to whether or not to provide some entertainment but probably the most useful strategy is to make playtime for the pets, or other unique activities, to reduce the excess party animal energy.
In your planning be sure to schedule the pet gift opening away from the critter crowd (or have them under the control of their escorts during the activity) since you don’t want any squabbles. There are some specialty toys for pet mitzvahs and Hanukkah that might be perfect for the pet of honor!
If you are having a big event, consider hiring a pet photographer to document the affair and take snaps of all the guests as mementos. Other popular choices are caricature artists, or animal balloon artists, or maybe you want to have a trainer show everyone how to teach a new trick.
10. End pet mitzvahs on a good paw!
Pet mitzvahs should be fun but stick to your time schedule and watch that animals don’t get too tired and cranky. At one party, we had to take a nap break and take our planned excursion a little bit later in the day.
Parting comment? Be flexible and make sure your guests leave with that special memento to remember the special day.
Additional articles you might want to check out:
Admiral Boom & Mark Nadler with a great slide show
Kasha’s Bark Mitzvah
Rosebud’s Bark Mitzvah
Harper’s Bark Mitzvah
Bark Mitzvah Poem 2003
Rabbi responds to bark mitzvah ceremony report in January 5, 1997
Other blogs talking about Bark Mitzvahs
Dog Lady 2004
Bark Mitzvah Catechism
Books of interest:
This is a three part article about how to celebrate a pet mitzvah—a trend that first began in the 1980s but didn’t hit popularity with mainstream society until about the mid-1990s. Bark mitzvahs are controversial in some circles but have been embraced as a way to celebrate the blessing of canine companions and to raise funds during Purim (a religious holiday in the Jewish tradition). Pop culture has adopted the trend—throwing not just bark mitzvahs but meow mitzvahs, equine mitzvahs, and other similar celebrations.
7. Food fun!
Serve snacks after the celebration and monitor animals when they snack to avoid squabbles. Many pet mitzvah party planners use decorative pet bowls to serve human snacks and often provide cakes and other items in the shape of fish or a dog bone—depending on the audience. Goodie bags are usually filled with special dog cookies, Star of David cookies, and similar fare.
Specialty bakeries also provide pet friendly foods for such occasions. It is best to use those specialty foods because many humans don’t know what foods can be toxic to animals but if you do the research, or get the right pet cookbook, you can make some fun items.
8. Pick music to soothe the pet mitzvah crowd.
The old saying, “music soothes the savage beast” is true. Pick some nice soothing tunes to go with the mood you want to create. People need to be able to talk so keep it more on the mellow side.
9. Party wear and amusement.
Be sure to specify if you have a theme guests should be alerted to. The pet mitzvah should be to celebrate the pet or his or her contribution to your life, so unless you are holding a big event, additional entertainment or amusement is not always necessary.
It is your choice as to whether or not to provide some entertainment but probably the most useful strategy is to make playtime for the pets, or other unique activities, to reduce the excess party animal energy.
In your planning be sure to schedule the pet gift opening away from the critter crowd (or have them under the control of their escorts during the activity) since you don’t want any squabbles. There are some specialty toys for pet mitzvahs and Hanukkah that might be perfect for the pet of honor!
If you are having a big event, consider hiring a pet photographer to document the affair and take snaps of all the guests as mementos. Other popular choices are caricature artists, or animal balloon artists, or maybe you want to have a trainer show everyone how to teach a new trick.
10. End pet mitzvahs on a good paw!
Pet mitzvahs should be fun but stick to your time schedule and watch that animals don’t get too tired and cranky. At one party, we had to take a nap break and take our planned excursion a little bit later in the day.
Parting comment? Be flexible and make sure your guests leave with that special memento to remember the special day.
Additional articles you might want to check out:
Admiral Boom & Mark Nadler with a great slide show
Kasha’s Bark Mitzvah
Rosebud’s Bark Mitzvah
Harper’s Bark Mitzvah
Bark Mitzvah Poem 2003
Rabbi responds to bark mitzvah ceremony report in January 5, 1997
Other blogs talking about Bark Mitzvahs
Dog Lady 2004
Bark Mitzvah Catechism
Books of interest:
Labels: bark mitzvah, blessing of the animals, jewish dogs, pet mitzvah, purim
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