Kindness to creatures

Synagogue uses Noah's Ark to teach about caring for animals

LEISAH NAMM
Managing Editor

Rabbi Elana Kanter, left, pets an iguana held by Heather Buck, right, off-site instructor for The Phoenix Zoo. Buck visited The New Shul during a Family Learning Adventure program about Noah's Ark. The children getting an up-close look are, from left, Calyn Shahon, Jared Shahon, and Gabi Wasserman.

Photo by Leisah Namm

The Torah portion that inspired the summer camp song favorite "Rise and Shine" also inspired last weekend's Family Learning Adventure for The New Shul.

"Our kids this week are learning about the story of Noah and how God asked Noah to bring the animals into the ark two by two and that's how the animals are saved," says Rabbi Elana Kanter of the traditional-egalitarian congregation in Scottsdale.

"In that context, we had The Phoenix Zoo come to us to explain to us more about animals and to help the kids learn so that we can better care for animals and be kinder to them."

Heather Buck, off-site instructor of The Phoenix Zoo, brought a variety of animals - from the Giant Hairy Scorpion to a slithering constrictor. Children and adults were able to pet an iguana and get up-close looks at an Arizona Walking Stick, an owl, an Egyptian Spider Mouse and a Tiger Salamander.

Buck also described different characteristics of the various animals, such as the Arizona Walking Stick's average life span of 90 days and the Madagascar Hissing Cockroach's hissing when scared.

Kanter also explained to the children the Jewish value tzaar baalei chaim, "which is our way of being kind to animals and caring for them," she explains.

Participants also received the opportunity to join in a tzedakah project for a primate society in Hawaii.

A KPHO-Channel 5 camera was present to capture the event, held at a member's home in Scottsdale. The morning also included arts and crafts focusing on the Noah's Ark theme, stories and, of course, a spirited rendition of "Rise and Shine."

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