PH:

There were no handshakes, just sniffs, at the annual blessing of the animals. It was a dog day afternoon at Temple Israel, though a couple of safely crated cats could be spotted as well. This is only the second time the temple has participated in the blessing. “We�re giving it a particularly Jewish slant,” said Rabbi David Mark. The blessing was done in anticipation of Passover to commemorate the idea that during the exodus from Egypt, the Jews fled with their young, old, sheep and cattle, Mark said. Since there aren�t too many sheep and cattle sitting at home today, household pets were invited to be blessed…..