The High Holy Days

SPCA Israel's campaign: encouraging the public to redeem the animals used for atonement instead of slaughtering those chickens

During Kapparot, a ritual carried out close to Yom Kippur, the rooster that is slaughtered will ostensibly atone for the persons sins and will die instead of the person. Over time, Halachik disputes have arisen regarding the ritual slaughter of the chickens, with various Poskim [Halachik deciders] wanting to replace the kappara chickens with donations to the poor.

The Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Animals in Israel, which has been diligently working for over 80 years to prevent animal suffering and cruelty, is joining the call of these Poskim, viewing the custom of Kapparot as a primitive and cruel ritual that does not necessarily involve the performing of a commandment. The chickens used for Kappara are raised in crowded surroundings, are delivered to the parties performing the ritual under difficult conditions and are frequently forced to wait long hours without food and water until they are slaughtered. We believe that on Yom Kippur, a day on which people are accounting for their actions, mercy and compassion, rather than pain and suffering, should be shown to animals and that helping the weak and needy through donations is an act that is more suitable for this day.

During these days the Society put out a flier with the goal of encouraging the public to redeem the animals used for atonement instead of slaughtering those chickens. Anyone interested in helping to distribute the fliers is invited to contact the Society by telephone: *4553.

We wish you an easy fast and that your fate will be written for a good year.