Temple Emanu-El celebrates pets with annual Blessing of the Animals

When he received the news about the Blessing of the Animals at Temple Emanu-El, Craig Serota knew it was time to pay a visit from Sun City Center. 

Gracie, a new Goldendoodle, had not yet been blessed like her predecessor Marde, who had died about two years ago.

“We said, 'Let’s get Gracie blessed,'” he said. 

The event, held June 16, offered individual pet blessings for the animals in attendance which included dogs, two cats and even a leopard gecko.

Rabbi Elaine Glickman said Temple Emanu-El holds the event each year to honor the role of animals in people's lives.

“Our animals are such an important part of our lives, and it can be really easy to take them for granted," she said. "It's a gift from God, the blessing of animal companionship, and we're told that kindness to animals from humans is a mitzvah, a sacred commandment, but also that they too have a spark of the divine in them, a soul or a little bit of divinity, and we want to honor that as well.”

As with other Temple Emanu-El events, the event included a prayer for Israel, with Glickman highlighting the role of dogs in the Israel Defense Forces and as service animals for those who have been injured in the conflict. 

“This is my temple. It’s full of love, joy and family,” said Adrienne Krouse, who attends the event each year. 

She pointed to one of her three dogs, Lexi Anna.

“This one needs more blessings than you can imagine,” she said.