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From Laura Marks, a campaigner for social action and interfaith relationships.聽
It鈥檚 been a chaotic week, even by my standards, with a brand-new arrival.聽 聽She鈥檚 tiny, with masses of rich brown hair, deep blue eyes, a voracious appetite, nippy teeth, and no respect for the difference between daytime when you should be awake and night-time when you shouldn鈥檛.聽 Our cocker spaniel puppy has turned life upside down leaving me wondering what part of me doesn鈥檛 know how to say No! Like with all Jewish infants, naming our puppy is fraught. Our family messaging group has gone crazy with evidence backed ideas, well-argued counter-offers, and the occasional veto.聽
With my oldest, Louis heroically moving home to do the night shift on the downstairs sofa, Raphi using his working day to research name etymology, Sally as photographer in chief, and husband Dan looking after our grown dog Basel, everyone thinks their idea is best. Traditionally in Jewish families, a new-born is named after a deceased relative, but we didn鈥檛 have an auntie fido.聽 Finding the puppy a Jewish name, one with meaning 鈥� and one which can be shouted in the park without sounding ridiculous, is challenging.聽
Most of MY suggestions inevitably focus on food 鈥� bagel, strudel, rugelach and vegetarian schnitzel (ok not ideal).聽 Our favourite places in Israel 鈥� Rosh Hanikra, Negev or Dizzengoff shopping Centre don鈥檛 work in the park. Strong feminist family role models 鈥� Esther, Miriam and Hannah - have spirit but seem less cuddly. And this year with so much pain, anxiety and loss, cuddles matter more than ever. 鈥楧ogs鈥�, said esteemed Rabbi Wittenberg, 鈥渇eel our sorrows and comfort us in distress. They share their exuberant enthusiasm for life. They give the grief-stricken a reason to get out of bed in the morning. With an affectionate lick, they encourage the anxious child just back from her new school to tell everything into their soft, attentive ears. At the heart of it all is love.鈥澛�
This morning, at 5am, as Louis slept peacefully through yapping which should have woken not only a mother dog but an entire household, I came down in my nightie and raincoat, picked up the puppy and took her outside.聽 She may have no name, and no concept of night-time, but our little dog is now part of the family 鈥揳 taker and a huge giver of love.