Mazel tov, pup! Florida siblings throw a ‘bark mitzvah’ for their labradoodle’s 13th birthday, complete with a doggie-sized yarmulke and a dance to Hava Nagila
- University of Florida student Raegan Fink and her brother organized the intimate party for their labradoodle
- In the Jewish faith, when a boy turns 13, he has a coming-of-age ceremony called a bar mitzvah, which marks his religious entry into adulthood
- They gave the dog a yarmulke to wear on his head and a tallit, a type of prayer shawl, around his neck
- They also served him cookies and held him elevated in a chair while dancing
A dog from Florida during 13 this week — so his Jewish owners celebrated by throwing him a ‘bark mitzvah’.
University of Florida student Raegan Fink and her brother organized the intimate party for their 13-year-old labradoodle, marking the big birthday with a Jewish rite of passage.
The pair dressed the beloved pup up in a yarmulke, made him cookies, and even danced to Hava Nagila for the very special occasion
We’re kvelling! A dog from Florida during 13 this week — so his Jewish owners celebrated by throwing him a ‘bark mitzvah’
Call the rabbi! University of Florida student Raegan Fink and her brother organized the intimate party, dancing to Hava Nagila while hoisting their labradoodle up in a chair
In the Jewish faith, when a boy turns 13, he celebrates with a coming-of-age ceremony called a bar mitzvah, which marks his religious entry into adulthood.
So when the Finks’ dog reached age 13 — a milestone in its own right, for a canine — they planned an extra special celebration.
In a video that Raegan shared on TikTok, the siblings are shown staging the festive party for their pet.
‘My dog turned 13 today so ofc he had to celebrate his barkmitzvah #jewish #dogs #labradoodle #barmitzvah #doodledog,’ she wrote.
The dog is dressed up in a doggy-sized yarmulke atop his head, as well as a mini tallit, a type of prayer shawl.
A little nosh… They gave the dog a plate with two custom cookies in the shape of a bone and a Star of David
The dog is dressed up in a doggy-sized yarmulke atop his head, as well as a mini tallit, a type of prayer shawl
Oy with the poodles already! They finished the video by giving the good boy a present
As the folk song Hava Nagila plays, Raegan and her brother lift the dog up in a chair — a move that’s part of a traditional celebratory dance at bar mitzvahs, bat mitvahs, and weddings.
They offer the dog a plate with two custom cookies in the shape of a bone and a Star of David — which the pup sniffs — and also present him with a birthday toy.
The video has racked up nearly 200,000 views on TikTok in just a day.
According to the Jewish Telegraph Agency, ‘bark mitzvahs’ actually date back to 1958, when Max and Janet Salter from Beverly Hills, California had one for their black cocker spaniel, Windy.
Over 100 guests attended and brought gifts like dog biscuits.
Some families hold bark mitzvahs when their dogs are 13 months old rather than 13 years old.