Rabbi Attends Torah Event With Service Dog for PTSD Support

An unusual moment occurred at a religious gathering, the "Hakabalat Panai Rabo" event, when Rabbi Menachem Perl, head of the Tzomet Institute, attended with his service dog. The dog assists Rabbi Perl in coping with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) stemming from his service at the Shura military camp, where he treated bodies of fallen soldiers during the war.

Rabbi Perl, a respected scholar and former head of the Halakha department in the Military Rabbinate, sat with other prominent rabbis, yeshiva deans, and judges at the head table, accompanied by his dog. This integration of the service animal into a high-level religious event drew significant attention.

Yehuda Wald, CEO of the Religious Zionism party, commented on the scene, calling it unprecedented in Jewish history. He highlighted the dog's role in Rabbi Perl's healing process after experiencing severe trauma from his wartime duties. "This is complete Torah. Torah that is attentive to broken hearts in need of comfort, Torah that keeps the wounded of war, body and soul, before its eyes, connected and uplifting," Wald stated, emphasizing the Torah's compassion for those affected by war.

Wald praised the event and the rabbis present, viewing the moment as a testament to the Torah's embrace of individuals wounded in body and spirit. He concluded by expressing blessings for the nation whose leaders and Torah embody such inclusivity and support for war veterans.