Animal Cruelty in the practice of Kapparot

"This is my exchange, my substitute, my atonement. This rooster shall go to its death, but I shall go to a good, long life, and to peace."


It is stated (in the article) that since the sixth century, the ceremony of transubstantiating one’s sins into a body of a chicken citing the incantations "This is my exchange, my substitute, my atonement. This rooster shall go to its death, but I shall go to a good, long life, and to peace" and then slaughtering it, which traditionally is acted out in the days leading up to Yom Kippur, has prevailed among Jewish communities.

According to the Jonah Mandel’s article, Senior Rabbi Aviner sends SPCA Israel letter, video explaining why according to halacha it is wrong to use chickens in pre-Kippur atonement rite. Other rabbis such as Rabbi Yosef Karo (author of the Shulhan Aruch), the Rashba and Nahmanides are among those that object for reasons such as “potentially problematic slaughtering, the non-Jewish superstitious character of it, and the unnecessary cruelty inflicted on the animals at a time of year that ought to be marked by mercy and benevolence.”

(Youtube video Kapparot in Jerusalem)

Modern practices include the exchanging of the fowl for grain, money or giving charity.  The SPCA sent out requests to many of the country’s leading rabbis, and was “happy to receive a clear voice of support from Aviner, one of the most influential rabbis and educators in the national-religious sector.”  According to the article, "Aviner leads the reader through the halachic discontent over the use of chickens in the kapparot by beginning with Rabbi Karo, the ultimate halachi source for Sephardi Jewry, who called it the custom of the Amorite – simply put, a superstition.”

To further encourage their cause, SPCA Israel members toured Shuk Hatikva in south Tel Aviv dressed in blood-red shirts with images of slaughtered chickens. They hoped that with the ghastly images, it would persuade those practicing to substitute chickens with charitable money. These tours were not welcomed by the chicken slaughterers in the market, however, according to Mandel, only harsh words were exchanged.

(SPCA Israel's video against the use of chickens in Kapparot)

Based on Mandel's written work, he writes how some Rabbis and various groups agree that the use of chickens in Kapparot is animal cruelty. Whether or not the author is genuinely upset in regards to the chickens is subjective, but what can be said is that Mandel felt that this particular issue deserved to be written about. Therefore, who is morally responsible for these actions?

According to the definition of Dignity of Persons, "it is the act in which you may treat humanity whether in your own person or that of another, always as an end and never as means only (Phil 305 lecture)." Simply put that one must take into account people for who they are and therefore treat them for who they are versus what they are. Hence the golden rule, treat others as you would like to be treated. When taking into account the ordeal of the chickens, many practicing individuals will argue they are animals and there is no difference between slaughtering the chickens for religious practices or buying KFC. In addition, though the chickens are slaughtered for religious practices, the bodies are donated for food and thus cannot be seen as wasteful or animal cruelty.

(PETA video against the use of chickens in Kapparot)

There is a line that the man states in the video located on the article’s link, that only with the actual slaughter may one exchange blood and therefore receive the chicken’s strength. This line bothers me, “with the actual slaughter can one receive the chicken’s strength.” It reminds me of a similar practice in China, where people boil cats alive because only with the struggle of the dying cat does the individual eat its strength. I find it extremely inhumane. 

Another issue that bothers me is the incantations themselves, "This is my exchange, my substitute, my atonement. This rooster shall go to its death, but I shall go to a good, long life, and to peace." Why couldn't an individual just STRIVE to live a good life in general where one did not have to sacrifice a chicken? Chickens are looked down upon since they are common food, however, let's take this into consideration:


"This is my exchange, my substitute, my atonement. This puppy shall go to its death, but I shall go to a good, long life, and to peace."

Now if people used puppies in the Kapparot there would be a HUGE uproar. Why? Because puppies are not common food (maybe to some Asians it is) but they are commonly seen as cute pets. Yet why is the chicken not respected? Also, does this mean if a murderer had a chicken waved around his head... does this mean that he can go and live a good life because the chicken now has his sins??? I HOPE not! I do not question the different cultural practices of others. However, I do question it if it involves animal cruelty. Boiling cats alive, waving around frantic chickens prior to cutting their heads off is inhumane. 






God loved the birds and invented trees.  Man loved the birds and invented cages.  

~Jacques Deval, Afin de vivre bel et bien

Arab and Jewish Tension

In an article written by Gil Ronen, it describes the tension and violence between the Arabs and Jews living in Palestine. According to the article, Jews have faced numerous cases of harrassment by the Arab residents. It states that "nonstop rock-throwing attacks by Arabs against Jews in the eastern Jerusalem neighborhood of Shimon HaTzaddik led to the wounding of an eight-year-old Jewish boy Sunday afternoon." The boy was treated by Magen David Adom emergency services and survived the attack with various afflictions to the face.

Various documentation also portrays Arab children throwing rocks at Jews and damaging property. In addition, it displayed a Jewish individual being attached verbally and physically by a group of Arabs.

Jewish residents believe that the police fail to act accordingly with Arab aggression because of "pressure applied by the radical Left 'both above ground and behind the scenes.'" It is then said that the police are unable to properly assist the Jewish residents from the various attacks because of their fear of confrontation from the extreme Left.

The author of this particular article, focuses on the trials and challenges faced by the Jewish community. Yet it fails to display what actions or reactions the Jewish community has done in response to the harrassment. Were there any counter-attacks on the Arabs from the Jews? Possible verbal & physical harrassment as well (see left picture)?

I cannot help but ask myself what part did the Jewish community play to egg on the tension between the Arabs. What are the reasons for such aggression showed by the Arabs? Why do they feel they are entitled to purposely show verbal and physical violence to another human being? Despite Jewish assumptions, what are the real reasons for law enforcements not properly handling the situation?

I do sympathize with the plight faced by the Jews, however, I believe there are always two sides to one story.



"The truth is rarely pure and never simple." - Oscar Wilde