[nagdu] Concerning Religion And Dogs

[Dan Weiner]

Your information regarding the Muslim being licked by a dog is incorrect as
far as I'm aware. I think being licked would requirewashing before prayer,
not fasting for three days, I think the guy who told you that was giving you
a pig in a poke. But regardless of that:
My concern foranyone's religious purity ends where violation of my access
rights begins.
I would have the same irreverant opionion related to people of my own
inherited religion, judaism. Bottom line is I really don't care. I respect
it but I couldn't care less.
Guide dog access is not a dog popularity contest--smile.

Glad to see you Chaim, I remember you from Buddy-l.


Dan W.

dcwein at dcwein.cnc.net



-----Original Message-----
From: nagdu [mailto:nagdu-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf Of Chaim B. Segal
via nagdu
Sent: Tuesday, January 13, 2015 8:15 PM
To: nagdu at nfbnet.org
Subject: [nagdu] Concerning Religion And Dogs

 BS'D:

I am starting this message with those three letters, as I saw someone else
on here do so. I was pleasantly surprised to find presumably a fellow Jew on
here. I don't know who you are yet. For those who don't know, those three
letters are a salutation which mentions the Divine.

Chaim Segal here.

I am extremely behind on messages. I get this list in Digest mode, and did
not realize how high traffic it is. I have been very busy at work, with this
being the beginning of the semester in college and our customer service call
center is being flooded with calls. I generally do E-mail during the day at
work, but have a few spare moments here at home to share some thought.

While I would say that that remark about "soap and water" where Muslims are
concerned is a little insensitive, I can see the humor in it, but want to
explain something about religious beliefs that many in our more-or-less
secular society have a hard time understanding. I have been an observant Jew
nearly my entire life, and will say that despite the turmoil in the Middle
East, Judaism and Islam share a few similar beliefs, and customs and
practices related to the latter.

Let me begin with an explanation, and then I will tie dogs in to the matter.

To begin with, the concept of what is holy differs somewhat greatly in
Judaism and Islam from Christianity. For example, we as observant Jews are
not allowed to even think about matters relating to scripture or prayer in a
bathroom. When I attended the Ohio State School for the blind, I was friends
with a Christian guy who could not understand this. His prevailing question
to me was, "If God is everywhere anyway, then why not mention his name in
the bathroom?" 

Unlike Christianity, Judaism and Islam have a concept of impurity. In
certain respects, this is more apparent with Islam. Neither group eats the
meat of a pig, though for a Jew to touch a live pig is not necessarily
against the law. The sector of the Orthodox Jewish community known as
Chasidim, whose belief system revolves highly around teachings derived from
mysticism, does have a certain amount of concern with regard to having
contact with non-Kosher animals. For example, they will not allow their
babies to lay on sheets or blankets with pictures of animals which are
unfit for us to eat. In general, Modern Orthodox, Conservative, and Reform
Jews do not have these concerns. However, I am recently finding that there
are plenty of Jews who are more modern who are no more comfortable than some
more observant. I guess it is a matter of individual experiences and how
someone is raised etc. On a side note, prior to my leaving work today, I had
two experiences with African Americans within minutes of each other which
were totally opposite. In the first experience, I shared the elevator in the
building with a man who wanted to be sure Yaahtzee did not bite. In the
second experience a few minutes later, I was waiting outside for my bus, and
a woman came along who remembered me from before, and was commenting on how
she really loves Yahtzee.

Now, here's where these cab drivers are concerned. Now, before I go any
further, let it be known that I personally don't feel any of these folks
have a valid  excuse to refuse us in their cabs. Even if they are
independent contractors, they are providing a service to the general public.
And, with this being said, they must adhere to the laws of our land if they
are choosing to make this country  their home.

Apparently, it is no joke. If an observant Muslim is licked by a dog, they
have to fast for three days, and immerse themselves (or at least where they
were licked) in dirt. This being said however, it is my understanding that
the Koran provides for concern for those who have special needs and
considerations. My sister-in-law spent 17 years of her life in Saudi Arabia.
She has told me on a few occasions that the Prince of the country would have
given her permission to be trained with a guide dog. 

It is my understanding that a respectable Shaik from Canada has handed down
a ruling that cab drivers are permitted to transport blind people and their
dogs. This being said, I think a law ought to be passed that anybody who
signs up with any cab company to be a driver must sign a contract with the
state that they will not refuse service animals under any circumstances.
There are other types of jobs these people can work which would not require
them to be in contact with animals.

Chaim 

Chaim B. Segal
Customer Service Representative
Sinclair Community College
E-mail: chaimsegal at sbcglobal.net

Every man, woman, every boy and girl,
Let your love light shine, make a better world.
[Daryl Hall & John Oates 

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