It’s Erev Rosh HaShanah, and services are about to begin. The synagogue is packed. As the congregants are milling around, shmoozing before services, everyone seems to be distracted by a man who has brought with him a Golden Retriever. “What chutzpah!” an elderly woman whispers aloud. Services begin, and everyone is fascinated by how well the Golden behaves.

The next morning, the man and his Golden arrive early and promptly begin dovening. This time, he is wearing its own little tallis and yarmulke, and even appears, upon closer inspection, to be shuckling back and forth as the hazzan intones the prayers. The congregation is amazed.

The week goes by and Kol Nidre arrives. The solemn worship service begins. The man and his Golden are back, and this time, just as the hazzan is about to begin the prayers, he stands up on its hind legs and howls “BarOOCH....!” more melodically than the best hazzan.

After the service, everyone is clamoring to meet this man and his remarkable dog. Finally the rabbi comes up to him and says, “That’s one talented pooch you have there. You know, you should really consider sending him to Rabbinical school.” The man looks down, shakes his head, throws up his hands in disgust and says, “YOU TALK TO HIM! He wants to be a doctor!”