Shaarei Shamayim

MISHPATIM 5771

This morning I want to talk to you about “dogs.” I’m a dog person. I’ve had several dogs during my lifetime. Almost every president has had a dog. Barak Obama’s dog is named Bo. Bill Clinton named his dog Buddy after a favorite uncle who passed. As I’ve said, I love dogs, but I can’t imagine any Jewish family in which the family perpetuates the memory of Bubbie Sarah by naming the housedog “Sarah?” Or naming their dog “Shawn” after their Zeide Shloimi?

The fact of the matter is, while it is common today for Jews to own dogs, it wasn’t always like this. (With thanks to Rabbis Mordecai Kaminetsky and Mitchell Wohlberg for their insights.)  In the Torah, the dog is usually spoken of disparagingly. In the Talmud, Rabbi Natan (Bava Kama 15b, 46a) forbids having dogs if they might bring bloodshed into your home. Rabbi Eleazar (Bava Kama 83a), declared that, “He who rears dogs is like one who raises pigs.” However, the sages (ibid) taught, “One may not raise a dog unless it is tied with chains, but he can raise it in a city that is close to a border,” seemingly for protection and security reasons. But what kind of protection can they be if they are tied up with chains? Indeed, throughout history, Jews were often victimized by the vicious dogs of their gentile neighbors. And the scenes of growling German Shepherds herding Jews in line for the trains headed to the Concentration Camps is now part of the collective memory of the Jewish people.

And yet, there is a positive reference to dogs in today’s parsha. The Torah (Ex. 22:30) teaches: V’anshey kodesh t’hiyun li, uvasar basadeh treyfah lo tocheylu, “You shall be holy people to me, you must not eat flesh torn by beasts in the field.” This is one of the basics of Kashrut. Every animal we eat must be slaughtered in a prescribed manner. We are prohibited from eating an animal that either died a natural death or was killed or torn apart by another animal. And what should we do with a dead animal that wasn’t slaughtered kosher? The verse goes on to tell us, Lakelev tashlichun oto, “You shall cast it to the dogs.” Meat which hasn’t been slaughtered kosher should be given to the dogs.

Now our sages were quick to note that only Jews are required to eat ritually slaughtered meat. Non-Jews may certainly eat meat that wasn’t properly slaughtered. And yet the Torah specifies that such meat should be given to a dog. Why is the dog given this special attention? Rashi comments: “This meat was given to the dog as a reward for the good things that dogs did at the time of the exodus from Egypt.”

It was midnight on their last night in Egypt and the 1st born of all the Egyptians are about to be slain, a great outcry is about to take place. But Gd tells (Ex. 11:7) the Jewish people, u’lchol B’ney Yisrael lo yecheratz kelev l’shono, “but against the children of Israel no dog shall snarl.” The dogs didn’t bark then, they kept their mouths shut. So now and forever more, as a reward, they get 1st claim at all non-kosher meat.    

Cute concept, but as a sage asks: “Why reward the dogs for not barking, for keeping their mouths shut? They were simply fulfilling the will of Gd. What merited a reward?” the Chafetz Chaim responds that the reason dogs were rewarded was because their nature is to yelp and bark at tragedy. And despite their instinct, they went against their nature and held back. Sure they were doing the will of Gd, but it wasn’t something that came natural to them. And yet they did it!

Yes, resisting one’s nature for the greater good is highly laudable. George W. Bush was raised in an “oil” family that had close relationships with the Arab world. No matter what you think of former president Bush, you must acknowledge it was remarkable how he had the courage to change his mind and become one the best friends Israel ever had in a president.

On April 19th, the last space shuttle mission is scheduled to be flown. Commander Mark Kelly, is scheduled to lead it. This week, when asked about the mission by a reporter, he said: “I’ve already been to outer space, so I think I am going to do what is best for my wife.” You see, Commander Mark Kelly is the husband of Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords who was severely wounded after crazy 22-year-old Jared Loughner embarked on his murderous shooting spree a couple of weeks ago. Even though Kelly trained his whole life for this mission, even though this is the last mission, even though it is still 3 months away, he stepped down because his wife needs him.

How often do we face a conflict between doing something we always wanted to do, feel so passionately about, worked so hard to do versus doing what is the right thing to do. It takes great courage and strength to put the needs of others above your own. You see, you can teach an old dog new tricks and sometimes they can learn it by themselves!    

Immediately following our verse about giving non-kosher meat to the dogs, the Torah teaches: “Do not carry a false rumor, due not join hands with the wicked to be a malicious witness.” Rav Sheyshes in the Talmud connects the 2 by saying: “Whoever speaks or accepts gossip, is worthy to be thrown to the dogs.” The Chafetz Chaim expands on this saying, “When a community becomes hopelessly divided, just as it is natural for a dog to bark, it is also human nature for one to gossip and sometimes spread malicious gossip. But these 2 verses coming together as they do, come to remind us that if a dog is capable of keeping its mouth shut at a time of turmoil, so must we control our nature and treat each other with respect and dignity.”

The Torah doesn’t tell us too much about dogs. But what it mentions in today’s parsha tells us volumes and reminds us that there is some truth to the popular saying which describes a dog as being “man’s best friend.” The Talmud (Bava Kama 80b) permits having what it calls, Kufri or “village,” dogs that are not vicious. From my point of view, lap dogs and most American pets would qualify.

It was really sad for me that my dog, Mighty Max, died a few years ago at a difficult time in my life when I really needed him. I thank Gd for Cheryl’s 2 dogs, Joseph and Benjamin and the joy they bring me every day. Your dog is someone who is always glad to see you, who loves you unconditionally, who plays with you, who comforts you, who is infinitely patient with you, who can lower your blood pressure, and someone who can teach you life lessons. Dog in Hebrew is kelev, which can be an acronym for the phrase, kavod levy, “an honor for the heart.” That’s what dogs are, an honor our hearts. Thank Gd for Dogs. Amen!

                                                            Rabbi Mark Hillel Kunis

                                                            1/28/112/9/02