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Kapparot – Venerated Custom Or Controversial Practice?

5 Tishri 5784 – September 20, 2023

Photo Credit: Tomer Neuberg / Flash90

Enkin-092223 — A man performs kapparot with a live chicken.

The widespread practice of performing Kapparot with live chickens is subject to considerable debate and controversy. As the practice of Kapparot is not mentioned anywhere in the Talmud or early codes, there have been authorities throughout the ages who tried to ban the practice¹ but to no avail. It has also been noted that Kapparot resembles and possibly derives from ancient forms of witchcraft in which it was believed that one can transfer one’s sins to an animal. As such, some authorities argue that Kapparot has no place in Jewish practice and should be dismissed, if not outright forbidden.

Other authorities defend the Kapparot ritual, explaining that it is not an exercise in magic but rather one of psychology. It is believed that declaring, “This is my substitute, this is my atonement…” upon a chicken which is then slaughtered will arouse one to repentance, which is certainly good preparation for Yom Kippur.²

The Rambam elaborates upon this idea further, suggesting that if we are worthy of death due to our many sins, G-d in His mercy allows us the luxury of substituting an animal for slaughter rather than be slaughtered ourselves. Indeed, while performing Kapparot one should contemplate the fragility of life and how one is constantly at G-d’s mercy.

Following the slaughter, the chicken should be donated to the poor for holiday consumption.³ The intestines, however, are given to the birds, which is intended to symbolize our concern for both man and beast.⁴ Indeed, this reminds us that we are not only required to be merciful towards human beings but that such a requirement extends to all of G-d’s creations.⁵

The Ashkenazi approach to Kapparot considers it to be a minhag vatikin, a venerated practice that must not be neglected. Indeed, we are even taught to use a separate chicken for each family member.⁶ In keeping with the practice of the Arizal, many individuals perform Kapparot in the early hours of erev Yom Kippur following the selichot prayers, as this is said to be a time of Divine favor.⁷ Some authorities have compared performing Kapparot to offering a sacrifice in the Beit HaMikdash.⁸ According to this approach, one should wait until at least the crack of dawn to perform Kapparot to recall that sacrifices were never slaughtered in the Beit HaMikdash at night.⁹

Others are not particular regarding when to perform Kapparot and do so at any time between Rosh Hashana and Yom Kippur, and not necessarily on erev Yom Kippur. Indeed, several authorities recommend performing Kapparot promptly after Rosh Hashana so that the shochtim will not be under the pressure of having to slaughter a large number of chickens on erev Yom Kippur.¹⁰ The long lines and rushed atmosphere typical of erev Yom Kippur Kapparot gatherings frequently lead to invalid slaughter and render the chickens, which are later distributed to the poor, as non-kosher.¹¹ One should only use a shochet who is licensed by the municipal authorities to practice and who pays taxes on the income earned from slaughtering the Kapparot.¹²

A growing number of individuals prefer to use fish or even money as an alternative to chickens for Kapparot due to instances of animal abuse associated with the use of live chickens. According to some authorities, the use of fish is to be preferred for Kapparot over anything else.¹³ It is interesting to note that Rashi also used to perform Kapparot – but he didn’t use a chicken, fish, or money. He used flowers.¹⁴

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