dogs and religion

Submitted by Sidney Roberts (United States), Aug 7, 2008 at 06:58

Many do not recall that in the story of Cain and Abel, Cain was provided with a dog to protect him. Dogs do have a purpose. Jews throughout history have had dogs to protect their farms along with their geese.

First dog to American soil was a great English Mastiff to protect the people and farms from bears. Yet, dogs have been used for hate acts, like attacking Jews and other people from owners that could not respect the religion or lifestyle, race or people that were mentally ill or blind or worse, just not the kind of neighbor they wanted to live next to. Yet, many Jews do not keep dogs either----yes, the dog is considered an unclean animal (there are a few hundred on the list), and are to avoid owning one that might injure a guest or neighbor.

Yet, there are companion and seeing eye dogs living with religious Jews and the dogs are also permitted into many minyans, whether in a home or a synagogue. I have personally see two in New York City. The dogs guide the man to his seat and then goes to the back of the room and waits. Even though many people avoid dogs, including Christians and other cultures, they do embrace the fact that there is a reason that God let man have a dog to extend his or her life here so they can be apart of the community and be as independent as possible. After reading some Muslim women's confessions about how they are gropped and mistreated in their own ALL Muslim countries (including Mecca) by men, I think the dog is the luckier of the two.

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