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• In the tradition of the Bar Mitzvah and Bat Mitzvah ceremonies, a Bark Mitzvah is a Jewish ceremony to celebrate a dog's coming of age. Mitzvahs are traditionally held when one turns thirteen, which translates to just under two in dog years.

• Fast Facts

  1. Dogs may wear traditional Jewish garments during the ceremonyMSNBC: Muzzle-tov! Couple holds Jewish coming of age ceremony... (October 18, 2005)
  2. Some ceremonies feature the guest of honor "reading" from the TorahPhilly.com: ‘Bark mitzvah’ doc with Temple ties makes CBS dog show (June 11, 2008)
  3. A "Meow Mitzvah" is a similar ceremony for catsdogtime: Parties: Bark Mitzvah
  4. Jewish-themed dog toys and dog "cakes" are popular features at Bark MitzvahsThe Jewish Daily Forward: From Member of the Family... (July 4, 2003)
  5. Guests may be both human and canineThe New York Times: Today He Is a Dog; Actually, He Always Was (December 20, 2004)

• Quotes

  "It’s mostly Reform and Conservative Jews who come here to celebrate a rite of passage for their dog. Some people celebrate it after the dog has lived 13 human years, and some people do it after 13 dog years."—Larry Roth, co-owner of the Doggie Do and PussyCat Too Animal Salon in New YorkThe Jewish Daily Forward: From Member of the Family... (July 4, 2003)

  "This is nothing less than a desecration of a cherished Jewish tradition and degrades some of the central principles of Jewish life. I urge readers to reject such practices."—Rabbi Charles A. KroloffThe New York Times: A Rabbi's View Of a 'Bark Mitzvah' (January 19, 1997)

• Related Pages on Mahalo

  Bar Mitzvah | How to Plan a Bat Mitzvah | Judaism | Dogs | How to Plan a Bar Mitzvah

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