background Torah knowledge: “What
we say is, “Y’simcha elochim — may
God make you — t’Kalev ve ne’eman —
like Kaleb.”
Kaleb is the figure in the Torah
who was one of Moses’ 12 scouts sent
to survey Israel and return to the
wilderness to report back. While 10
scouts returned and deemed Israel as
an unfit homeland, Kaleb and Joshua
returned, insisting that God had
promised that land to the wandering
Jewish people; they were the only two
scouts who had demonstrated loy-
alty and faith to God’s word, Yanoff
teaches. Great story, rabbi, but more importantly,
what does this have to do with dogs?
“It’s not enunciated the same way,
but ‘Kaleb’ is spelled the same way
as ‘kelev,’ which is the word for dog,”
Yanoff said.

Like Kaleb, Yanoff said, a kelev also
demonstrates loyalty and devotion.

Of course, Yanoff understands the
absurdity in his forthcoming task of
bestowing a Hebrew blessing to doz-
ens of wet dogs, which most certainly
do not count toward a minyan. But
he believes the absurdity is rooted in
Jewish tradition.

“When you are able to be playful in
that way, it makes you feel part of some-
thing, right? And every value structure
and every group has its language, its
inside jokes, its lore, its history,” Yanoff
said. “And when you resonate with
something like that — in a playful way
— it is very affirming.”
Jews engage with this same play-
fulness during Purim, when spiels
draw on popular culture to poke fun
at Jewish culture, at the same time
bringing to life and adding meaning
to a story of Jewish history told year
after year.

It’s also a Jewish practice to find
the principles of Torah in unexpected
places from unexpected teachers. You
may not be able to teach an old dog
new tricks, but old dogs may be able to
teach Torah.

Among the dog owners planning
on attending Paws in the Pool, there’s
a unanimous feeling that Foster
describes: “You just feel like dogs are
part of your family.”
Sure, it’s going to be darn cute to see
some good boys and good girls doggy
paddle in the pool, but the dog parents
are concerned with more than just a
good time. They want their fur babies
enriched, socialized, tail-wagging and
panting with happiness. It’s an infec-
tious joy that comes with being a dog
owner. Yanoff describes that two-way street
of a relationship between dogs and
their owners.

“The care of a dog is constant,” he
said; a dog will rely on you for the
entirety of its life. However, for the
duration of one’s time with their dog,
there’s also a lifetime of love that a pet
has to give. It’s a never-ending cycle of
having to care for someone and receive
love in return.

“It’s a very Jewish thing to have both
constancy of care and constancy of
love,” Yanoff said.

For more information about the event,
visit phillyjcc.com/pawsinthepool. JE
srogelberg@midatlanticmedia.com Compassionate
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