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July 2, 2009

Rabbi Abraham J. Twerski: The hallmark of a person

Abe Novick: Up, up, and aliya

July 1, 2009

Rabbi Avi Shafran: The Road Taken

The Kosher Gourmet by Marialisa Calta: Get into the holiday spirit with these Star-Spangled desserts

June 30, 2009

Rabbi Binyomin Ginsberg: What makes a great parent?

Caroline B. Glick: Ideologue-in-Chief

June 29, 2009

The Jewish Ethicist by Rabbi Dr. Asher Meir: Beware of 'Caveat Emptor'

Steven Emerson: ACLU pushing for more money for Hamas

June 26, 2009

Rabbi Yoni Posnick: Learn the secret to a healthy marriage from a scriptural villain

Caroline B. Glick: Barack Obama vs. International Law

June 25, 2009

Rabbi Shimon Apisdorf: The Absurd Power of Truth

Jordan "Gorf" Gorfinkle's strip: Everything's Relative

June 24, 2009

Rabbi Yonason Goldson: Advancement of technology is a wake-up call for humanity

The Kosher Gourmet by Andrea Weigl: Summer on a stick: Making frozen treats can be easy, creative and fun

June 23, 2009

Martin M. Bodek: 'On Surnames': And so, We Begin

Caroline B. Glick: The Obama Effect

June 22, 2009

The Jewish Ethicist by Rabbi Dr. Asher Meir: Working for a corrupt firm

N. Richard Greenfield : Where are American Jews?

June 19, 2009

Rabbi Abraham J. Twerski: Emotion v. intellect

Caroline B. Glick: Israel's rare opportunity

June 18, 2009

Jonathan Rosenblum: Sometimes it is more essential to define the nature of evil than good

Jordan "Gorf" Gorfinkle's strip: Everything's Relative

June 17, 2009

Rabbi Yonason Goldson: The Language of Confusion

The Kosher Gourmet by Linda Gassenheimer: Nothing pleases Dad more than a thick, juicy onion-smothered steak. Add home-Baked Potato Chips and …

June 16, 2009

The Jewish Ethicist by Rabbi Dr. Asher Meir: Career v. Careersism

Caroline B. Glick: Obama's losing streak and Israel

Richard Z. Chesnoff: ‘Palestinians’: Never Missing an Opportunity …

June 15, 2009

Israeli Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu: How Judea and Samaria can become 'Palestine'

Daniel Pipes: Where Netanyahu's speech failed

June 12, 2009

Rabbi Abraham J. Twerski: Some big thoughts about not acting so big

Caroline B. Glick: Obama's High Commissioner

June 11, 2009

Victor Davis Hanson: Our historically challenged President

Mitch Albom: Beware the True Believers

Lewis Grossberger: What we learn from the new Hitler photos

June 10, 2009

Mort Zuckerman: What Obama and his advisors won't -- or refuse to -- grasp about Israel and the Muslim world

The Kosher Gourmet by Steve Petusevsky Lotsa pasta: Tips, techniques and (amazing) taste

June 9, 2009

Anne Bayefsky: Obama's stunning offense to Israel and the Jewish people

Frank J. Gaffney, Jr.: America's first Muslim president?

June 8, 2009

The Jewish Ethicist by Rabbi Dr. Asher Meir: Merchant must take responsibility for careless shopper?

Mark Steyn: A superpower that feeds on mediocrity cannot survive for long on leftovers from the past

Richard Z. Chesnoff: How do you say 'kumbaya' in Arabic?

June 5, 2009

Rabbi Abraham J. Twerski: In quest of spirituality

Caroline B. Glick: Obama's Arabian dreams

Charles Krauthammer: The Settlements Myth

June 4, 2009

Paul Greenberg: The War Comes to Little Rock

The Kosher Gourmet by Judy Hevrdejs: Splash it on! Tap your inner jazz musician and improvise when stirring up a vinaigrette

June 3, 2009

The Jewish Ethicist by Rabbi Dr. Asher Meir: Q. Should terrible teacher be exposed?

Jonathan Rosenblum: The Israel Lobby: Missing in Action

June 2, 2009

Dennis Prager: The Speech President Obama Won't Dare Give in Egypt

Frank J. Gaffney, Jr.: Pressure on Israel raises war risk

Oct. 29, 2003
Mortimer B. Zuckerman: Graffiti On History's Walls (MUST-READ!)

Jewish World Review April 4, 2008 / 28 Adar II 5768

Love on 4 Paws

By Greg Crosby


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http://www.JewishWorldReview.com | The following is a love story. Love can come in all shapes and sizes. And very often it comes with a wet nose, a hairy face and on 4 paws. I received a wonderful, heartwarming letter from a reader awhile ago, it touched me and I would like to share with you. The letter was signed Dorothy Wilber and she titled it "Love on 4 Paws." She was writing me about her daughter Cynthia's dog, Hanz, a small miniature schnauzer. Hanz is a very special boy - he is a therapy dog.


Cynthia devotes her Saturdays and Sundays off of work to take Hanz to Los Angeles Children's Hospital, Shriner's and St. Joseph Hospital nun's nursing home. You can imagine how the kids love to see Hanz whenever he walks into their rooms. Of course many of these children and teens are extremely ill, some terminally. These children are hooked up to tubes, some can't move, some have been in serious automobile accidents.


For many of the children a visit from Hanz can be the highlight of their week, and Hanz has a pretty good time of it, too. Hanz is among 15 other dogs in the program, each pooch wears a green vest when they visit. But thanks to Cynthia, Hanz stands out a bit more from the rest of the pack of therapy dogs. Now I know this might sound crazy, but Hanz walks in bedecked in various outfits.


Figuring the kids could undoubtedly use a good laugh, Cynthia decided to dress Hanz up in a doctor's outfit complete with glasses and a stethoscope. One child in particular, a little boy who never seemed to smile, was told by Cynthia that there was a new doctor who needed to see him. Then in walked little Hanz in full doctor costume and the little boy squealed with delight. Hanz has been known as Dr. Love ever since.


Once Cynthia dressed Hanz up as a Harley Davidson biker wearing a leather jacket and sitting on a motorcycle. She took pictures of him and made stickers from them so that the children could stick them up in their rooms. Needless to say, the kids loved seeing their favorite Dr. Love posed on his very own motorcycle.


Stories about Hanz have been written up in newspapers and he even came in as a semi-finalist in the National "My Pet, My Pal" contest - chosen by Lassie, no less. Yup, Hanz is quite a celebrity. But mostly to all those children at the hospital, Hanz is just simply their best friend.


Meanwhile at the nun's nursing home, Hans is bringing enjoyment to another generation altogether. It's funny, but one doesn't tend to think of nuns as getting old and needing nursing home care, but of course they do. Nuns are only human. They need as much love and attention as the kids in Children's Hospital. An 81 year old nun needs to feel the warmth of a little dog like Hanz just as much as that 6 year old little girl with a debilitating illness.


Whether it's Children's Hospital or the nursing home, everyone loves Hanz and his buddies. They bring a sense of love and happiness to those who most need it. You can't buy that kind of fulfillment for any amount of money - you can try, but it will never happen. As I say, these puppies are special. Very special. But then people such as Cynthia are pretty special too.


As I said, love can come in all shapes and sizes - and in all breeds. Animal therapy has been shown to have real health-giving results and helps patients to recover faster. For kids and seniors who are sick and think they may be forgotten, it is more than a heeling experience, it is a Godsend. If you would like to know more about therapy dogs, visit their web site at: WWW.LOVEON4PAWS.org

Every weekday JewishWorldReview.com publishes what many in the media and Washington consider "must-reading". Sign up for the daily JWR update. It's free. Just click here.


JWR contributor Greg Crosby, former creative head for Walt Disney publications, has written thousands of comics, hundreds of children's books, dozens of essays, and a letter to his congressman. A freelance writer in Southern California, you may contact him by clicking here.

Greg Crosby Archives

© 2006, Greg Crosby

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