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.

