Finding Inspiration in Shabbat, Havdalah Songs, and My Puppy

During the week, we get busy checking off our to-do list, going to school and work and attending enrichment classes or events. When we take Mitzi in the car with us, we notice she loves howling along with the music we play in the car. Sometimes we think it’s cute, other times we get a bit annoyed because her howls are not in sync with the songs, so we tell her to hush and shush. 

But on Shabbat, we take Mitzi on longer walks, we play catch with her, and we give her plenty of belly rubs. 

“Do you think Mitzi loves Shabbat as much as we do?” My son asked me one day. 

“I think Shabbat is her favorite day of the week.” I answered. 

Knowing how much Mitzi loves to sing, I began to wonder what it would be like if there was a puppy who wanted to sing every day but heard grownups tell her to hush and shush? I named the puppy Shira because it means song in Hebrew. 

In SHIRA THE SINGING PUPPY, Shira has to wait all the way until the end of Shabbat when she can finally sing and howl into the bright starry night. It is not until Havdalah, when her family sings songs of hope for a good week, that Shira gets to sing. Sometimes, after the hustle of a busy week, it takes time for us to really settle into ourselves. Sometimes it takes a full 24 hours to fully relax and reconnect with who we truly are. 

Also, in my family, we like to teach our kids the difference between prayer and song. When we bless the candles, the kiddush cup or the Challah, we are putting our attention on what is most deep and holy. The prayer is meant to elevate us and needs to be treated with respect. We have Shira the puppy wait until Havdalah to howl to teach our children the value of having sacred and holy time. As we separate the Holy from the mundane, we distinguish between a time to pray and a time to sing. 

I have so much gratitude to Joni Sussman for believing in my story and helping me shape it to its final product.