Perek Shira - The Song of the Dog

[Music] [Applause] [Music] the dog says come let us prostrate ourselves and kneel let us bow before Hashem our maker the dog is a dedicated and cherished detective that recognizes its master and subjugates itself entirely to his will dog in Hebrew is Kellan which is said to be a contraction of the words who lobe leg meaning entirely heart this refers to the dogs unashamed expression of its heart to it even small dogs will bark impudently it means many times their size if that is what they feel it is this heart that is attuned to the emotions of its master with whom it is bound in devoted companionship the dog has the understanding to appreciate the hand that feeds it and it reciprocate with unquestioning obedience friendship and adoration there is an old parable throw a dog a bone and it will lick the dust of your feet it will protect its master even at the risk of its own life canines are carnivores nonetheless game hunters would make use of hunting dogs to bear down prey and hold it for them the dog would not eat the meal itself but rather save it for its revered master there are innumerable breeds of dogs and they fill a variety of essential roles in society yet the universal role of every dog is its song to the Creator in which it invites mankind to serve the ultimate master with comparable Allegiance come let us prostrate ourselves and kneel let us bow before Hashem our maker the dog hears our call we too should hear its call to serve our master and benefactor Hashem has done more for us than any master has done for his servant and any King has done for his nation he created us removed us from our shackles of Egyptian slavery and granted us the bounty of world in the land of Israel day by day it is he who provides our basic needs of food and shelter and a life far more blessed than that of a dog and this is all nothing compared to what he has promised us in the future if the dog can be loyal to its master for the sake of a dry bone all the more so we who are capable of true appreciation and gratitude should prostrate ourselves and perform our devoted divine service as a labor of love and passion the dog will be loyal to the lowliest of masters we should surely submit ourselves full heartedly to the will of the Living God upon whom we are entirely dependent recognize a Shem as your only master and devote your life to him never distance yourself from him if he disciplines you do not become disheartened he is training you to perfection hold back from trivial prohibited benefits and merit to the far greater treasures the master has promised take pleasure fulfilling his will and enjoy his constant company he is our God and the sole reason for our existence you [Music] [Applause] [Music] [Applause] [Music] you [Music]