Leading Orthodox Rabbi Rules Kapparot Should Be Done With Money, Not Chickens

"Because this is not a binding obligation but a custom, in light of problems related to kashrut and the suffering of animals, and given the edicts of the aforementioned rabbis, a recommendation must be made to favor performing kapparot through money, by performing the great mitzvah of providing for the needy."

Leading rabbi joins animal rights group's campaign against kaparot
Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals in Israel last week launched its annual information campaign against the ritual slaughter of chickens.
By Yair Ettinger • Ha'aretz

Ahead of the Yom Kippur holiday, the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals in Israel last week launched its annual information campaign against the ritual slaughter of chickens. That campaign just received a boost from an unexpected source, as one of religious Zionism's most influential rabbis joined the call against the practice of kaparot, in which an individual's transgressions are ceremonially transferred to an animal or inanimate object.

Shlomo Aviner, head of Jerusalem's Ateret Yeshiva and rabbi of the settlement of Beit El, has spoken out in the past against the contentious rite. This time, however, he acceded to the SPCA's request and issued a religious ruling that, rather than slaughtering an animal, giving money to the poor is a better method of absolving oneself of transgressions.

"Because this is not a binding obligation but a custom, in light of problems related to kashrut and the suffering of animals, and given the edicts of the aforementioned rabbis, a recommendation must be made to favor performing kaparot through money, by performing the great mitzvah of providing for the needy," Aviner wrote, citing religious decrees by rabbinical authorities from various periods throughout Jewish history.

Comments

[The Real Joe]

He is not a leading Rabbi and is a suspected pervert never mind his record of selling out the community he supposedly represents http://www.theawarenesscenter.org/ClergyAbuseOfAdults.pdf

[What Happens in Uman Stays in Uman]

http://www.theawarenesscenter.org/ClergyAbuseOfAdults.pdf

Case of Rabbi Shlomo Aviner - Back in 2002, serious
allegations were made against Rabbi Shlomo Aviner of
sexually harassing women both verbally and physically.
These behaviors are considered to fall under the category
of "clergy sexual abuse". Like in many other cases, those
who tried to speak out where shunned and made to look as
if they were crazy.

[harold]

He is not a leading Rabbi and is a suspected pervert never mind his record of selling out the community he supposedly represents http://www.theawarenesscenter.org/ClergyAbuseOfAdults.pdf

Thanks for the heads up, so I guess it is still of to do Kapparot (humanely of course).

[harold]

that is

Thanks for the heads up, so I guess it is still ok to do Kapparot (humanely of course).

[Barry]

Harold, one can use hard cheese. Some years ago when I visit the Galil, I bought a considerable consignment of various local cheeses specifically for that purposes. Now if anyone asks me, I tell them that I obtained atonement for my sins through cheeses of Nazareth.

Another advantage Harold is one looks less ridiculous holding a Parmesan over one's head than a squawking cockerel.

[harold]

Harold, one can use hard cheese

There are of course many ways to perform the ceremony. The issue is that the people whose minhag is to use a live chicken may want to continue the minhag since many people feel bound to the ways that their fathers taught them and the way they have been doing it all their lives. They do not want to change because a perv rabbi, or PETA or SPCA and their ilk tell them to change. I used to use a chicken as well, if done properly the chickens are resilient enough to have them lifted and twirled a few times around ones head. They are not that fragile. I chose to stop since they scared the bejeezus out of me as a child.

[Shmarya]

"He is not a leading Rabbi and is a suspected pervert never mind his record of selling out the community he supposedly represents http://www.theawarenesscenter.org/ClergyAbuseOfAdults.pdf"

Thanks for the heads up, so I guess it is still of to do Kapparot (humanely of course).

Moron.

What about all the pro-chicken-kapparot rabbis who have sexually abused kids, covered up for pervs, extorted money from women needing gets, etc.?

Would their position on kapparot mean you'd only use money?

[harold]

Would their position on kapparot mean you'd only use money?

I think this is more of an issue on what is your minhag. This issue of kapparot comes up here year after year to make fun the rituals of Jews.

Soon I expect to begin the "stories" ridiculing the use of lulav and esrogim and eating in a sucah. Let’s see, last year it was the Schach that was the brunt of the ridicule, what will it be this year? Bets anyone?

[harold]

Question gentlemen. If one does the kapparot with money and then donates the money to FaledMessaih, was one mekaim the mitzvah of kapparot?

[Hometown Postville]

So doing the "whirling dervish" with money will achieve the same result??? I can't grasp the concept of getting rids of sins by physically twirling around. The action required is: "Go and sin no more." Some of those perverted pedophiles must be dizzy all the time.

[David]

They are not that fragile. I chose to stop since they scared the bejeezus out of me as a child.

Posted by: harold | September 13, 2010 at 05:35 AM

Why did the animals scare you Harold? Unfortunately, like many Charedim, I fear you were not taught to understand or respect animals. I have seen the way Charedim interact with many animals. Whether it be with a pet of a secular Jew that they happened to be near (or, GASP!, the pet of a non-Jew), whether it be an animal that turns up distressed/lost on their property or whether it be with some other random encounter with an animal, with few exceptions, they have no clue as to an appropriate response or behaviour with the animal.

One thing that particularly scares me, and I have mentioned on this blog before, is that many, or even most, Charedim seem to be taught/believe that dogs are dirty and/or dangerous. This results in Charedi kids being irrationally scared of dogs and and this is a recipe for disaster. As with any animal, inappropriate behaviour with the animal, combined with fear, is likely to result in an attack.

The failure of Charedim to educate their children in this aspect of life education represents yet another failure of the Charedi "education" system and another example of what most people would interpret as child neglect.

[Shmarya]

This issue of kapparot comes up here year after year to make fun the rituals of Jews.

Please.

The issue comes up because haredi kapparot providers keep breaking local and state laws, and because the chickens are poorly and cruelly handled before slaughter.

I realize this is a big concept for your your exceedingly tiny mind, but dina d'malkhuta dina and tzaar baalei hayyim are both halakhot, not customs, and their observance comes BEFORE kapparot, which is only a custom, a custom that is not universal and is decried by significant halakhic authorities.

Process that.

[chaim1]

No one seems to have mentioned that little chickens cant take all sins. No wonder this 'rabbi' says one cant use a chicken it would die of fright after absorbing his sins! Even a whole truckload wouldnt be enough!
It is a shocking indictment on our society that he can still call himself a rabbi and the blogs lap his words.
Another blog supposed to be MO has also a guest post in the ten days of penitence by a 'great rabbi' whose sons are on that 'awareness list'. and on google he is also accused apparently by his sons no less.
What is the world coming to! Is there no rabbi left in the world. That we have to listen to 'these'.
In any other religion they would be forced to resign but in ours oh no. They are just shielded by their family who are also rabbis.
The gemoro at the end of succa says if there is a bad sheep in the family they are all tarred, and in this family there are more than one.

[Garnel Ironheart]

I bought a stuffed chicken toy and use that.

[Barry]

To advise those inclined to use chickens for kaparos to use money instead is like telling Pastor Terry Jones to swap his korans for potatoes of equal value and roast them instead. It somewhat misses the point of what the ceremony is all about.

You cannot use a frozen chicken for kapparos because it is already dead. You cannot use a wild American Eagle for kapparos as you cannot catch it and make it dead.

Kapparos reflects a primitive urge. The urge to substitute another for the DEATH BY EXECUTION you deserve for your sins. You cannot carry out a death sentence on money, you can only inflict death on something that is living!
For those who see that repetance, prayer and charity as the way to avoid divine retribution, there is no need to find a 'substitute' for that retribution.

[Garnel Ironheart]

But Barry, the point is that this is an invented ritual only a few centuries old. It has been criticized by the most important poskim of the last 500 years.

[WoolSilkCotton]

Use Lemrick Nelson for kapporos.

[WB MASON]

regarding the allegations against R. Aviner - Maariv, the newspaper that originally published the story against him, funded an investigation into the story and concluded it was not true and published an official retraction. At the time, there were hundreds of signatories on posters put up throughout Israel and many markolets refused to sell the paper. The Awareness center should remove it and people in general should be careful with destroying people's reputation.

[Barry]

The point I was seeking to make is that we as human beings, to less or greater extent, allow our hearts to rule over our heads. We allow our rationality to be overruled by primitive urges.
Our heads tell us that the kapparos ceremony in which a chicken is declared a 'substitute' is no better than voodoo and is against halacha. However some of us can not overcome our heart's primitive urge to go along with that nonsense anyway.

To use money does not satisfy the primitive urge because you cannot kill money, whilst at the same time it cannot satisfy the rational side because the idea of substitution is irrational. That is why kapparos with money can never catch on.

[harold]

Why did the animals scare you Harold?

When I "used" chickens for Kapparot was when I was under 10 years old. The butcher would come to our home and he would twirl the chicken in our kitchen over my head. As to why I was scared?

The chicken had (1)sharp claws (2) a sharp beak (3) his wings were flapping all over me. I don't think any words would have convinced me that I had nothing to fear.

I would make an exception this year and not use money if I could swing Lemrick Nelson around my head into a couple of concrete walls for a good 5 minutes. Ah even saying that makes me feel good.

[WoolSilkCotton]

Harold, you stole my line about Lemrick Nelson. I demand a hat tip!

[Monsey Hocker]

Hassidics will use any excuse possible to choke a chicken.

[Maskil]

I was going to say that any "Leading Orthodox Rabbi" who "Rules Kapparot Should Be Done With Money, Not Chickens" leads no one but chickens. However, Rabbi Aviner is without question a "Leading Orthodox Rabbi" - harold, you should be ashamed to even respond to mendacious slander as you did. You are not from his yeshiva so you can put his opinion in your back pocket for the meantime and maybe one day you'll find it relevant, and maybe not.

But this is a major landmark ruling, and while I have never met Rabbi Aviner and this year I'll do no different than last (incidentally, not that I give a chicken-shit, I do go to kaparot with a small group in Mea She'arim where you see no more than 50 people convened and each man takes his own chicken from the crate to the shochet, very clean and delicate - unlike what happens at the shuk before, during and after), but this ruling will definitely spell the beginning of the end of chicken kaparot and their shit on my hands and shoes (yes, in order to handle them where I do kaparot, without killing the chicken in your hands, you're gonna get some of it on your hands, great for the chickens, but pretty freaking gross!). [I know I said I'm Hiloni, but read the other article - no Israeli goes one year without keeping a single mitzva or even without keeping a single minhag, it's inevitable.]

It took a lot of courage, beki'ut, and openmindedness for him to go public with this ruling. May he inspire others who do not take the time to listen, the effort to study and the gumption to state their positions publicly!

[Cheskel]

"""Leading Orthodox rabbi"""


ha, as in who? Rav Fienstein,Rav Shteineman,Rav Wosner?
Next heading: Leading Orthodox Rabbi Avi Wiess.
In Chabad you might be an expert but in Orthodox,oh please.


"""I realize this is a big concept for your your exceedingly tiny mind, but dina d'malkhuta dina and tzaar baalei hayyim are both halakhot, not customs, and their observance comes BEFORE kapparot, which is only a custom, a custom that is not universal and is decried by significant halakhic authorities"'"

Tzaar baalei chaim is an iser,no argument. And people who do the custom of Kapores need to be more careful. However,a custom that is mentioned in Schulkan Arech is not just A custom. There are many customs that Orthodox observant jews do,and is not mentioned in Schulkan Arech,maybe then its called "only a custom".
The Schulkan Arech is full with Minhagem from the mahril etc

On many halachos or customs there are disagreements among the previous poeskim. This is how we follow halacha or a custom.One says this the other says that and what was accepted is what we follow.

[Shmarya]

There are many customs that Orthodox observant jews do,and is not mentioned in Schulkan Arech,maybe then its called "only a custom".
The Schulkan Arech is full with Minhagem from the mahril etc

The author of the Shulkhan Arukh called it a pagan custom and said it should not be done.

Past that, mentioned in the SA or not, it is still subservient to actual Jewish laws.

[Bassy the Haredi Slayer]

While rav Aviner is definitely goofy, he wrote tens of books (some which I had the misfortune to read) mostly complaining about boys and girls not being separated from birth, the allegations against him never held and the paper retracted them.

The Awareness center should be looking into allegations of Jewish people eat Jewish babies as expose by Vicky Polin here..

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mRYm5YtaCQo

[Maskil]

"Subservient" - Good use Shmarya! That is a very good way to put in context the fact that minhagim and lower level mandatory practices are perpetually bound by the more concrete and systematic halachot and are always apt to being redefined or reapplied. Thank you for such a succint explanation. You should use that more often.

[Bassy the Haredi Slayer]

"""Leading Orthodox rabbi"""

ha, as in who? Rav Fienstein,Rav Shteineman,Rav Wosner?

At least Rav Aviner did not get money from Tropper and did not kiss his ass like Wosner and Shteineman.

Reuven Feinstein, the son of r' Moshe Feinstein received millions of dollars from Tropper.

[assist]

Barry

"Another advantage Harold is one looks less ridiculous holding a Parmesan over one's head than a squawking cockerel."

Also you don't get bird crap in your hair.

[justayid]

The anthropoligical meaning of the death by execution in lieu of the death in the umane tokef is powerful. Though I wouldnt personally consider it worth the torture to the chicken.

I like the cheeses idea though. But its hard to find cheeses of gallilee where I live.

[Office of the Chief Rabbi]

At Shavuot, we are all Jews for Cheeses.

[Cheskel]

""The author of the Shulkhan Arukh called it a pagan custom and said it should not be done.""

Ive said before that on this blog i don't like to comment back and forth when it comes to Halacha. A blog when its sole purpose is to defame orthodox observant Jews. When i do,its once or twice just for the illiterates to see that you are wrong.

The Bais Yoseph says that it shall not be done. I dont know what the Sphardim do.
The Ramah says that it is a minhag Vasikin and its from the time of the Geaonim.
All of the halachos or minhagim that is mentioned by the Ramah,is followed.

You can have the last word.

[WoolSilkCotton]

Chickens were used back in der alter heim because most people in the shtetl had a few chickens in the yard, and so it was convenient to use.

But today? Can't there be any reasonable approach that allows alternatives, or do we have to truck in loads of chickens, deal with all the sanitary issues of such a large volume operation, the legalities, etc.? Must everything be done as if this was still the year 1740 in White Russia, no matter what the expense and hassle involved?

[Monsey Hocker]

Choking the chicken is done daily in hassidic circles, multiples times a day, all year round, as evidenced by the murky gunk floating at the bottom of your local hassidic mikva at any given time. This hullaballoo about what goes on once a year is off the mark - they do this all the time, whenever the urge overtakes them.

[Monsey Hocker]

WSC is absolutely right. Use something convenient for today, like a homo or a child molesting rebbe.

[WoolSilkCotton]

MH, I suggested earlier that we use Lemrick Nelson for the kapporos ceremony.

[Cheskel]

""Mikvah,homo, child molesting rebbe""

Do i hear fiegalach roaming in someones head? is this what you were told on how to fight your demons?

[Monsey Hocker]

It's your world Chezkel, we're just victimized by it.

[Monsey Hocker]

WSC, with all due respect, Lemrick is just one negro. The local rebbe-perv is far more abundant in frum society.

[Maskil]

Cheskel,

Unfortunately you are correct. This blog is infested with child molesting Rabbeim, who at times release their anxiety and guilt by attacking such offenses, while it is their own demons with whom they are struggling to battle. It is shameful, but somehow Shmarya has succeeded in attracting a hoard of these Rebbeleh perverts and is completely unapologetic for this. Recently this blog was named the number one hot spot on the Internet for child molesting Rabbeim, rachmono li-tzlan!

Nu, zol zein a kaporo, be-emes la-amitoso, and hopefully some of them will succeed in ridding some of their demons and fewer Chasidim will grow up to be "feigelach," as you put it, due to these sicko Rabbeim who swarm in this perverse blog like flies swarming on fresh feces.

[effie]

Maskil: Take your meds. You sound like a loon.