image_previewKapparos or Kaparot (Hebrew: כפרות‎, “atonements”) is an ancient Jewish ritual to save oneself from a harsh Heavenly decree by it being effected on another object. Vegetables, fish, money, and other objects have been used throughout the centuries, and this is done on the eve of Yom Kippur. The service is performed by grasping the object and moving it around one’s head three times, symbolically transferring one’s sins to the object. The object is then slaughtered or donated to the poor, preferably eaten at the pre-Yom Kippur feast. (Wiki- with RY edits)

Because some have a custom to do this with a chicken – this is the picture that people have in their minds when they hear kapparos/kaparot. It’s a graphic image. But many people do it other ways.

Rashi did it with a basket of vegis.

So what way do you do it?

[poll id=”7″]

About the author

Rabbi Yonah