Bark Mitzvah

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.

"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)