[nagdu] Concerning Religion And Dogs

Wed Jan 14 03:34:35 UTC 2015

iT may be incorrect but I've had a lot of them tell me that.
----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Dan Weiner via nagdu" <nagdu at nfbnet.org>
To: "'Chaim B. Segal'" <chaimsegal at sbcglobal.net>; "'NAGDU Mailing List,the 
National Association of Guide Dog Users'" <nagdu at nfbnet.org>
Sent: Tuesday, January 13, 2015 9:10 PM
Subject: Re: [nagdu] Concerning Religion And Dogs


> 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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