Our Hen House
Our Hen House
  • Home
  • Podcasts
    • Our Hen House Podcast
    • Animal Law Podcast
    • Antiracism Audio Series
    • Limited Series: Teaching Jasmin How to Cook Vegan
  • About
    • About Our Hen House
    • Inside the Coop – Bios
    • Join the Flock
    • Suggest a Guest
    • Press Coverage
    • Policies
    • Contact
  • Learn More
    • Videos
    • Blog
      • Book Reviews
    • Hen Press
    • Why Animal Rights?
      • Animal Testing and Research
      • Clothing
      • Companion Animals
      • Dairy
      • Eggs
      • Entertainment
      • Fishes
      • Meat
      • Veganism
      • Wildlife
      • What to do?
  • Donate
Blog

What a Mitzvah! Two 12-Year-Olds Change the World

by Mariann Sullivan August 7, 2012
written by Mariann Sullivan

I love these girls!!
Becca Davis and Emily Marget are both 12 years old and getting ready for their next BIG event — their Bat Mitzvah. For some kids, that involves thoughts of parties, clothes and the terrifying prospect of forgetting all their Hebrew just when they need it the most. And, to be fair, perhaps those things are of concern to Becca and Emily.
But what they have really devoted their time to, and gone out of their way for, is their required “mitzvah” project — they have to do a good deed promoting social justice.
Becca and Emily, who clearly think bigger than a lot of 12-year-olds, decided that they would devote themselves to getting a law passed. And, in light of the fact that they care about animals, they chose to work on legislation to give Massachusetts judges power to include family pets in protection orders issued in cases of domestic violence. Just the other day, Governor Patrick Deval signed the bill into law, as part of an omnibus bill increasing protections for animals in a number of different ways.
One particularly interesting quote from an article in the Boston Globe about the girls is from their rabbi, Ronne Friedman.“Where others might have seen this as a less compelling issue,” Friedman said, “they brought to it a passion that I think is quite remarkable and unusual. It moved others to take it seriously.”
Exactly who were these “others” who had to be convinced that this was not “less compelling” than other issues that 12-year-olds might take on? Doing something that can help save animals from grievous harm, and save victims of violence from taking unwarranted risks to help their pets — or from  hideous grief when those pets are harmed — is about as “compelling” as it can get. My guess is that, like many who advocate for animals, these girls had to deal with a few attitudes along the way, and they stuck through it.
In the process of helping animals and people, Becca and Emily also learned a lot about the legislative process and lobbying a bill, including the art of the “elevator speech” and how to testify before a committee. I have no doubt that they will put these skills to work for  animals again. I see a bright future here. Mazel Tov.
 

Share 0 FacebookTwitterPinterestEmail
previous post
Book Review: “Falling Into Green: An Eco-Mystery” by Cher Fischer
next post
“I’m Sorry: How An Apologist Became An Activist” Comes to NYC Fringe, Last Performance Dedicated to OHH

You may also like

Lives in the Balance: The Federal Government’s Clandestine War on Wildlife

Social Justice Just a Text Away?

Because of you, 2015 has been our best ever!

10 Tips for Shifting to a Plant-Based Diet

Calling All Lawyers (and Law Students)!

Staying on Top of Animal Law

Flock Doc: “Their podcast is my bread and vegan butter.” You Love...

The Power of Silent Vigils for Animals (& NARD2)

Promoting Veganism in America’s Dairyland

“Lesbian vegans, but no cliché” OMG! Time Out NY!

Search Episodes

Subscribe to our Shows

Apple PodcastsGoogle PodcastsSpotifyStitcherPocketCastsAmazon Music
More
  • Apple PodcastsApple Podcasts
  • RSSRSS
  • SpotifySpotify
  • Google PodcastsGoogle Podcasts
  • Amazon MusicAmazon Music
  • StitcherStitcher
  • PocketCastsPocketCasts
  • CastBoxCastBox
  • Player.fmPlayer.fm
  • TuneInTuneIn
Apple PodcastsGoogle PodcastsSpotifyStitcherPocketCastsAmazon Music
More
  • RSSRSS
  • Apple PodcastsApple Podcasts
  • Google PodcastsGoogle Podcasts
  • SpotifySpotify
  • Amazon MusicAmazon Music
  • StitcherStitcher
  • CastBoxCastBox
  • Player.fmPlayer.fm
  • TuneInTuneIn
  • PocketCastsPocketCasts

Subscribe to OHH Emails

We don’t spam or share your email with others. Privacy policy.

Please Check Your Email to Confirm Your Subscription!

Instagram

Join us On Facebook

Join us On Facebook

Keep in touch

Facebook Twitter Instagram

Donate & Triple Your Impact!

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Instagram

@2021 - Our Hen House


Back To Top
Our Hen House
  • Home
  • Podcasts
    • Our Hen House Podcast
    • Animal Law Podcast
    • Antiracism Audio Series
    • Limited Series: Teaching Jasmin How to Cook Vegan
  • About
    • About Our Hen House
    • Inside the Coop – Bios
    • Join the Flock
    • Suggest a Guest
    • Press Coverage
    • Policies
    • Contact
  • Learn More
    • Videos
    • Blog
      • Book Reviews
    • Hen Press
    • Why Animal Rights?
      • Animal Testing and Research
      • Clothing
      • Companion Animals
      • Dairy
      • Eggs
      • Entertainment
      • Fishes
      • Meat
      • Veganism
      • Wildlife
      • What to do?
  • Donate
Our Hen House
Search Podcasts
  • Home
  • Podcasts
    • Our Hen House Podcast
    • Animal Law Podcast
    • Antiracism Audio Series
    • Limited Series: Teaching Jasmin How to Cook Vegan
  • About
    • About Our Hen House
    • Inside the Coop – Bios
    • Join the Flock
    • Suggest a Guest
    • Press Coverage
    • Policies
    • Contact
  • Learn More
    • Videos
    • Blog
      • Book Reviews
    • Hen Press
    • Why Animal Rights?
      • Animal Testing and Research
      • Clothing
      • Companion Animals
      • Dairy
      • Eggs
      • Entertainment
      • Fishes
      • Meat
      • Veganism
      • Wildlife
      • What to do?
  • Donate

Subscribe

Apple PodcastsGoogle PodcastsSpotifyAmazon Music
More
  • Apple PodcastsApple Podcasts
  • RSSRSS
  • SpotifySpotify
  • Google PodcastsGoogle Podcasts
  • Amazon MusicAmazon Music
  • StitcherStitcher
  • PocketCastsPocketCasts
  • CastBoxCastBox
  • Player.fmPlayer.fm
  • TuneInTuneIn
Apple PodcastsGoogle PodcastsSpotifyAmazon Music
More
  • RSSRSS
  • Apple PodcastsApple Podcasts
  • Google PodcastsGoogle Podcasts
  • SpotifySpotify
  • Amazon MusicAmazon Music
  • StitcherStitcher
  • CastBoxCastBox
  • Player.fmPlayer.fm
  • TuneInTuneIn
  • PocketCastsPocketCasts

OHH NEWSLETTER

We don’t spam or share your email with others. Privacy policy.

Please Check Your Email to Confirm Your Subscription!

 
Sign In

Keep me signed in until I sign out

Forgot your password?

Password Recovery

A new password will be emailed to you.

Have received a new password? Login here