- All the Questions
Petting dogs and orthodox Judaism
Question
A delightful Orthodox family, with 9 children, moved into my neighborhood. I introduced myself and let the children play with my dogs over several months... When Yom Kippur came around, the children said they could not pet my dogs. Why would kindness to 2 of God’s creatures not be permitted on the holiest day of the year (I am a reform Jew)? What tenet of Orthodox Judaism would dictate this?
Answer
It’s good that you asked, because there is a misunderstanding here. The issue has nothing to do with kindness, for the Torah, already related positively to the needs and even feelings of animals 3,300 years ago, more than 3,000 years ahead of the rest of mankind (e.g. Vayikra 22, 28; Dvarim 22, 7; 25, 4)!
Just that there’s a difference of opinion among halachic authorities, whether one is allowed to pet a dog on Shabbat, whether it’s considered muktzeh or not (for brevity’s sake: please check out “muktzeh” on the web), but there’s no difference between Yom Kippur and any regular Shabbat (Saturday). It’s possible that the father just wanted his children to go to shul (the Yom Kippur prayer takes up most of the day) and occupy themselves with the special day, and not pass the time with less spiritual issues, but for that you can ask him what where his intentions...

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Relations with a gentile woman
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Rabbi Ari Shvat
Lectures at various yeshivot, michlalot and midrashot. Has published many books & Torani articles and is in charge of Rav Kook’s archives.

A Day is a thousand years
Adar I 23, 5771

Kri u'ktiv
Adar II 25, 5771

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Adar I 23, 5771

Evils Spirits & Ghosts
Adar II 25, 5771

Mezzuzah for Non Jew
Rabbi David Sperling | Iyyar 18, 5773
Genesis 24: 2-9 – Put your hand under my thigh
Rabbi Moshe Leib Halberstadt | Tevet 26, 5770

Kashering a dishwasher
Rabbi David Sperling | Cheshvan 23, 5778

How to kosher a Barbeque Grill
Rabbi David Sperling | Sivan 11, 5776
Flying West on a fast day
Rabbi Daniel Kirsch | Tammuz 6, 5782

Rabbi has resigned
Rabbi David Sperling | Sivan 30, 5782
