38 | DECEMBER 1 • 2022

Temple Israel families celebrated
the weekly Torah portion —
Parshat Noah — through a fun,
hands-on celebration on Sunday,
Oct. 30.
Religious school students
learned about Noah and the
flood through the lens of how
we can take care of our animals.
Each student gave Hebrew
names to their animals (real
and stuffed), made special bags
for pets and animals in shelters,
learned about organizations that

care for animals and shared a
communal blessing.
Rabbi Josh Bennett taught
everyone a Blessing of the
Animals. Following the blessing,
families were able to learn from
visiting animal organization
vendors and connect with one
another over lunch. The pet bags
with toys and treats were donat-
ed to Teacher’s Pet, an organi-
zation that pairs shelter animals
with at-risk youth in the Metro
Detroit area.

Blessing of
the Animals

faces&places

Dogs were
blessed at
the service

Emma and
Sophia London
at the Blessing
of the Animals
ceremony

Rabbi Josh
Bennett teaches
the community the
blessing for pets.

Second grade Temple Israel
Tyner Religious School
students make pet bags with
toys and food to donate.

Temple Israel Tyner
Religious School students
make Hebrew name
certificates for their real
and stuffed pets.