By Keysha Drexel
Journal editor
Just like others preparing for the traditional Jewish coming of age observance and celebration, Selly and Sassy Page are getting fitted for new tallits and yarmulkes.
But the custom-made prayer shawls and skullcaps are not for a bar mitzvah or a bat mitzvah–they are for the Bark Mitzvah.
The Levite Jewish Community Center will host its first Bark Mitzvah April 6 where Caren Page’s Shelties and other animals will be blessed by two rabbis.
The Bark Mitzvah will be a part of the LJCC’s spring community outreach event, said Page, the membership, outreach, retention and engagement director.
“We have a spring fitness launch and wanted to do an open house event to invite the community in to see all the great things happening at the center, but we didn’t want to call it an open house,” Page said.
Page said she and Betty Lynch, director of the LJCC, brainstormed ways to make the non-open house fun and engaging.
And they didn’t have to look very far for inspiration, she said.
“I am so lucky in that I get to bring my dogs to work with me every day, and so when we started trying to come up with fun ideas, I suggested that we do something with animals,” Page said.
That’s when Lynch came up with the idea of a Bark Mitzvah, an event that’s become increasingly popular among dog owners.
“The more we talked about it, the more the event kind of took on a life of its own,” Page said.
The Bark Mitzvah ceremony will start at 12:30 p.m., followed by the blessing of the other dogs present.
“They’ll be given certificates after they are blessed, and we’ll have a photographer on hand to take pictures of the dogs and their people,” Page said.
And like any traditional bar or bat mitzvah, the Bark Mitzvah will be followed by a seudat mitzvah, a celebratory meal following the ceremony.
“Yes, we always, always have lots of food after these kinds of things, and the Bark Mitzvah will be no different,” Page said.
Dreamcakes, Doodle’s, Cantina, Saw’s Street Kitchen, Edgewood Creamery, Spoonfed Grill, Slice Pizza and Brew and other food vendors will be on hand for the April 6 event, she said.
“The Birmingham Fashion Truck will also stop by so you can also get a little shopping in during the Bark Mitzvah,” Page said.
The center’s kosher cafe will be open during the event, she said.
Throughout the day, guests are invited to drop in for one of the fitness classes at the LJCC, including a new program the center is launching.
“It’s a hula hoop dancing class, and it’s a fabulous way to exercise,” Page said. “We’ll have some of our instructors doing demonstrations throughout the day, and people will have a chance to jump in and give it a try.”
But the people at the Bark Mitzvah aren’t the only ones who can try out a fun exercise class, Page said.
“We’ll also have a canine conditioning class where our fitness director will teach you exercises that you can do with your dog,” she said. “That is going to be a whole lot of fun for the people and the dogs.”
Those attending the Bark Mitzvah can talk to the veterinarians and professional groomers who will be on-site for the event.
The celebration will also have plenty of activities for kids, Page said, including a moon bounce, a camp zone with information on LJCC summer camps and much more.
Page said her sister-in-law recently made custom pink and blue satin tallits and yarmulkes for Selly and Sassy to wear at their Bark Mitzvah ceremony.
“I guess the first reaction some people might have is to laugh out loud at this idea,” Page said. “But I think it’s going to be a fun day for the dogs and their people, too.”
For more information, visit www.bhamjcc.org or call 879-0411.
