Our Town: 'Mazel' tov to TBI-sponsored dog

Marine Corps veteran Michael Jernigan, who was blinded in a 2004 roadside attack in Iraq, spoke to Temple Beth Israel members in 2012 about his service dog, Brittani. After his talk, members sponsored the adoption and training of a dog at Southeastern Guide Dogs’ Palmetto facility.

The dog — named Mazel, meaning “luck” in Hebrew — made an appearance at the temple’s June 6 Shabbat service.

Born in 2013, Mazel is still in the training process and spent nearly a year with a host family in North Carolina that provided updates to Rabbi Jonathan Katz that he shared each month with congregants.

Her final evaluation will determine her placement.