“Is it offensive to throw my dog a ‘bark mitzvah' for this 13th birthday?” : Internet responds to pupper pawrent’s peculiar question about canine cultural appropriation

Author image for Laurent Shinar
Laurent Shinar • Writer and Editor
Aug 28, 2026 7:30 AM EDT

The transition of a pupper from young dog to old dog is a very significant one. It marks the time in your doggo's life when walks get a bit shorter, play time is a little more tame and you start reminiscing about all the awesome adventures you have already had together. So the question that ought to be asked is how do you adequately celebrate such an event? Well, in the eyes of our poster it is with a Bark Mitzvah, but would such an event be considered cultural appropriation?

While we live in a world that cancels people over innocent mistakes, it is good that there is a place where people can ask any stupid question they like without suffering consequences. One such person is the pawrent who asked the question of whether it would be offensive to throw his soon to be 13 year old dog a Bark Mitzvah. A very valid question when you want to mark something as special as a darling doggo's development into senior pupperhood. But is it just ripping off a religion and poking fun at the remains?

That is the question that the internet turned up to answer and they did so rather hilariously. Larglely there was no offence to be found other than some suggesting that actually taking the dog to a synagogue might be crossing the line (though we are sure there are synagogues out there who have performed Bark Mitzvahs). So go forth and see whether you think this pawrent is right to celebrate their pupper's progress in life or whether they should have left religious symbolism out of it altogether. 
 

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    "How does he plan to read his Torah portion?" BARK MITZVAH! ✡X
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    Gray and white dog wearing yamaka and neckerchief eating cupcake

    Not actual story subjects.


     

  • 02
    Is it offensive to throw my dog a bar mitzvah for his 13th birthday?
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    X MIT
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    None of my family is practicing any religion, but we do love a pun. Our dog's name is Bach and we've had a running joke for years we need to throw him a "Bach" mitzvah or potentially a "Bark" mitzvah. He's
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    Cheezburger Image 10657245184
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    currently 12 and will be 13 in February. We're fully committed to the bit, planning on making him a fancy dinner and party favors with his face on them However is this highly offensive?
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    BARK MITZVAH! EX
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    Edit: I should clarify not a massive party, just family and friends. No harmful stereotypes. We had planned on making a brisket (for the humans) as it relates to both our culture and Jewish
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    Cheezburger Image 10657245440
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    culture, and trying to find a traditional food for our pup that was of course dog friendly. I'd love suggestions and am eager to learn more about this tradition.
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    Cheezburger Image 10657244416
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    Ajstross How does he plan to read his Torah portion?
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    Cheezburger Image 10657243904
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    althawk8357 As long as you don't bring him to synagogue and have him read Torah (however cute that may be). There's no religious significance to the party itself; that's just us having fun.
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    Cheezburger Image 10657244928
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    Mehitablebaker Your dog should have the right to choose his own religion
    via Gothicbit

  • Now this is a very valid point. After all, many religions and cultures have coming of age ceremonies. Sure, there is no denying the the play on words more so suits a Bark Mitzvah when it comes to the doggo in question. But the point this commenter is making is still relevant. Perhaps this pawrent should have laid out the pawssible options and let their doggo decide how they wish to come of age. And heck when you look at it as a way to commemorate the coming of age of a doggo, then who can get mad at that?

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    GEFILTE RENSCH FOR STICKS REATS HEARTS BULLY O
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    ColoradoCuber It needs to be Bark Mitzvah. If it isn't Bark Mitzvah then it's highly offensive.
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    GEFILTE mullipel I MENSCH 01900 LEN BEEF D 100
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    KAWAWOOKIE No offense taken but you know that the core of the mitvah is reading from a holy book and sharing your learning with the family right? He probably needs to start seriously training now.
    via Gothicbit

  • This is a genuinely good point and it applies to any of the religious coming of age ceremonies that the doggo could have pawtentially chosen from. After all, coming of age is not simply getting old, it is taking responsibility, standing up in the community and being well versed in what it means to be a part of that community. No less if he does go for the Bark Mitzvah he is going to need to learn all the blessings and the song. That is a lot of work. 

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    Cheezburger Image 10657246208
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    justbord As a Jew, go right ahead
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    muttsrcool We threw a Quincenera for our dog when he turned 15 and we're not culturally Hispanic (He was part chihuahua though). It was not "mexico themed" or anything, just an extra extravagant birthday than normal which we said was due to it being his Quince.
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    SirNo9787 As long as it has the right amount of schmaltz
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    PoetryExtension6256 Can it have one without having a bris first?
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    prodigy 1367 Depends on what your dog believes in. My atheist dog would utterly despise that.
    via Gothicbit

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Tags

question dogs responses pupper birthday internet strange dog photos canine bark pawrents jewish appropriate reddit thread offensive culture throw
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