Activists “Take to the Streets” to End Chicken Kaporos in New York City!
Already this summer, the Alliance to End Chickens as Kaporos is taking to the streets to educate NYC residents about the cruelty and illegality of using chickens in the Kaporos ritual. For those wishing to practice the ritual, coins may be used and donated directly to charity. Abusing and slaughtering thousands of chickens on Brooklyn streets - any streets – is unacceptable and more and more rabbis are speaking out against this brutal ritual.
We are pleased to show you this slideshow of Alliance activities in Brooklyn. We thank Shimon Shuchat for this report:
-
The first photo (with five people) is from the Avenue J location. All
the other ones are from Avenue M (Ave. M had the most foot traffic). Here
are the exact addresses
- 1309 Avenue J Brooklyn, NY 11230
- 1609 Avenue M, Brooklyn, NY 11230-6006
- This community is a very diverse Jewish community (many modern orthodox) so we got a lot of positive responses. Lots of people told us they were already using money. One guy told us on video (linked below) that he's not using chickens anymore after speaking with us. The response will likely be different when we go to the more heavily ultra-orthodox areas like Borough Park and Williamsburg (Borough Park is this coming Sunday, July 9). We also met a Rabbi who told us he tells his congregation to use money. I sent him an email asking him if he's willing to go public with his opposition to Kaporos with chickens.
Watch the video interviews
The Alliance to End Chickens as Kaporos is a project of United Poultry Concerns. Formed in New York City in June 2010, the Alliance is an association of groups and individuals who seek to replace the use of chickens in Kaporos ceremonies with money or other non-animal symbols of atonement. The Alliance does not oppose Kaporos per se, only the cruel and unnecessary use of chickens in the ceremony.
The Alliance to End Chickens as Kaporos is taking our case to the New York Court of Appeals. Please donate to support our legal challenge! All donations are tax-deductible.
Thank You!
Statements By Rabbis Against the Use of Chickens for Kapparot
Rabbi Shlomo Goren, Former Chief Rabbi of Israel
“Kapparot is not consistent with Jewish teachings and law. Repentance and charity can be better accomplished by using money instead of a slaughtered chicken.”
Rabbi Yitzchock Kaduri zt’’l, Renowned Sephardic Kabbalist
“It is best to give a donation to the less fortunate to Atone for sins, in lieu of the Tzaar Baalei Haim which is a sin in the Torah, and because of the high potential for breach of Kashrut that arises from (improper) Shechita of the chickens from Kapparot.”
Rabbi Shlomo Aviner, Rosh Yeshiva of Yeshivas Ateret Yerushalayim
"Since this [Kapparot] is not a clear duty but rather a tradition, and in the light of the kashrut problems and cruelty to animals…it is recommended that one should prefer to conduct the atonement ceremony with money, thus also fulfilling the great mitzvah of helping poor people."
Rabbi Chaim David Halevi, Former Sephardic Chief Rabbi of Tel Aviv-Jaffa
“Why should we, specifically on the eve of the holy day of Yom Kippur, be cruel to animals for no reason, and slaughter them without mercy, just as we are about to request the same compassion ourselves from the living God.” (Assa Lecha Rav, Part III)
Rabbi David Rosen, Former Chief Rabbi of Ireland
"Beyond the objections…of the Ramban, Rashba and the Bet Yosef to the custom of 'kapparot,' and beyond the warnings of rabbinic authorities such as the Chayei Adam, Kaf HaChaim, Aruch HaShulchan and the Mishanah Brurah regarding the halachic infringements involved in using live fowl for this custom, the latter also desecrates the prohibition against ‘tzaar baalei chayim.’ Those who wish to fulfill this custom can do so fully and indeed in a far more halachically acceptable manner by using money as a substitute.”
Rabbi David Lau, Current Ashkenazi Chief Rabbi of Israel
“I am turning to those accustomed to…doing Kapparot with an animal to remind them of the holy obligation that exists throughout the year to refrain from causing suffering to animals, to prevent any unnecessary pain and suffering to animals… My prayer is that we will be able to fulfill [the precept that] anyone who is merciful toward God’s creations will himself merit the mercy of He Who Dwells on High.”
Rabbi Gershon Tannenbaum
“Reviewing the entire current Kapparot situation, using alternatives to chickens such as money to tzedakah, might be the desirable option.”
Rabbi Shlomo Zalmen Auerbach zt’’l
Towards the end of his life Rabbi Shlomo Zalmen Auerbach began to do kapparot with money instead of chickens after he came to the conclusion that the use of chickens conflicted with the Torah’s prohibition on causing unnecessary pain and suffering to animals.
We are distributing these flyers at both locations in English and Hebrew.
