The Masorti (Conservative) Movement will join forces with the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals – Tel Aviv to fight against the Jewish custom known as kapparot that involves slaughtering chickens as a way of atonement for sin.
Rabbi Jeff Cymet of Congregation Adat Shalom Imanuel in Rehovot said that he would accompany the society on Tuesday when it visits the Carmel Market in Tel Aviv, where the custom is observed publicly.
"I’ll be providing rabbinic support to the people from society," said Cymet, a native English speaker.
"I’ll be telling people at the market that there is an alternative to the kapparot custom that does not involve cruelty to animals."
Quoting from the Shulchan Aruch, the definitive codex of Jewish law written by Rabbi Yosef Karo in the 16th century, Cymet said that the custom was considered a type of idolatry.
I did this once because I’ll do almost anything once. A chicken swinger was in my back yard and I gave a $20 donation.
Lisa posts on Gil Student’s Facebook page: If someone does kapparot and thinks it gets rid of their sins, they’re probably oveir on darkei emori, at best.
BB POSTS: And for those who feel the need for rituals with their teshuva there is always the custom of tashlich as well as the alternative custom of swinging coins over your head which can then be given to tzedaka.
SARUK POSTS: First I should go on record as saying that I do not practice the custom of Kapparot.
Second, I believe that the Rabbi is sticking his nose where it does not belong! How many Chapters of the Shulchan Aruch does the good Rabbi crush underfoot, in HIS manner of serving G-d?
If he were to argue against the custom on logical or general religious reasons, I might be more inclined to be lenient where his opinion is concerned. By quoting the same book that he himself regularly trespasses against though, he is treading too close to the line of hypocrisy, to get away with accusing others of doing the same!
Yisrael, the idea is not that Kapparot actually removes sin, but that this act at one and the same time reminds us of the need to repent and directs us to accept that G-d is the true Judge and our King!
So, the purpose of this custom is to ask G-d, in the advent that some decree has been made, to pass the punishment on to some other lower life form.
You would be correct to wonder at such an idea, that the true Judge can be swayed into acting against some other life form, a judgment that is supposed to be passed onto this person.
The answer lies in the fact that the original custom had to do with actually buying the animal and then giving the meat after slaughter to the poor!
In reality, it was a form of Charity, and that is an act that brings with it great merit.… Read More
Today, many people do not actually buy the animals, and so this is a corruption of the custom and kind of foolish, if you ask me…
