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New York - The Minhag Of Kapparos Ritual According To Halacha |
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But why a chicken?
A number of reasons are cited. Firstly, a chicken was the most common animal found in the Jewish home, more so than any other domestic animal. Secondly, the Talmud (Yoma 20b) tells us that another name for the chicken is a "gever," which is also a synonym for a human being.
The implication is quite clear. The chicken, whose name is the same as that of our species, is serving as a substitute for us. There is a third reason cited. According to the Talmud (Bava Metzia 86b), the chicken is the crème de la crème of fowls. (Since, halachically speaking, a turkey is in the same class as a chicken, it is quite understandable why Benjamin Franklin wished to make the turkey the national bird of the United States—his view coincided with that of the Talmud.)
Nonetheless there were many Rishonim who were strongly against this custom. No less than the Rambam, the Ramban, the Rashba, and Rav Yoseph Karo himself were strong opponents of this practice. Rav Karo, in his Beis Yoseph, even labels it "darchei Amori—the ways of the gentiles." The Rosh, however—the Ashkenazic giant who was one of the three pillars of halachic codifers encouraged the practice, as did his son, the author of the Tur, as well as the Rama, Rabbi Moshe Isserles.
The custom became widespread in Ashkenazic circles.
Rabbi Mordechai Yaffe, a student of the Rama, writes that one may also use fish for kapparos, rovided that one can tell the difference between the male fish and the female fish. (A man takes a male, and a woman takes a female.) Indeed, the Aleph HaMagen writes that fish are preferable to chickens, because there are no problems with the shechitah and the subsequent examination to ensure that the chicken has not become a t'reifah. So, if one were to use salmon how does one tell the difference between a male salmon and a female salmon? There is an easy way to tell: the adult male salmon has a hooked nose (actually a hooked lower jaw), called a kype. The fairer type of salmon has a smooth nose (this without surgery, mind you).
The Chayei Adam writes (and the Mishnah Berurah cites this position) that it is common to use money that will be destined for charity for kapparos. This has numerous advantages. Firstly, it deals with the
issue of darchei Amori that the Rishonim were concerned about.
Secondly, it deals with the issue of t'reifos which the Aleph HaMagen discussed. Thirdly, it creates greater opportunity for tzedakah. And fourthly, it addresses the not inconsequential issues of tza'ar
ba'alei chayim. For example, we must ask ourselves: How are the chickens transported to the kapparos? How many could die of heat exhaustion, starvation, dehydration, etc.? Also, are the chickens actually wasted?
One advantage of using a chicken, however, is that it gives the person the very rare opportunity to perform the mitzvah of kisui ha'dam, of covering the blood of a fowl or wild animal that is slaughtered. If the person wishes to perform this mitzvah, then he should be appointed by the shochet to be the shochet's shaliach, his agent. In this manner, the mitzvah of kisui will be performed in the ideal fashion,
where the person who performs the kisui is the shochet. (This was the view of Rav Shlomo Zalman Auerbach, zt'l, in Minhagei Eretz Yisrael, page 412.)
Before we perform the kapparos ceremony, we recite pesukim from Tehillim and from Iyov. Then as the chicken (or the money) is swung above the head three times, the following is recited three times: "This is my exchange, this is my substitute, this is my atonement."
"This rooster [or "This hen"] will go to its death—" or "This money will go to charity—" "—while I will enter and proceed to a good long life and to peace."
If one opts for the Chayei Adam version, how much money is used? Most people seem to use either one dollar per person, or 18 dollars (or 18 cents) per person, to indicate "chai." The Magen Avraham writes that one should use the amount of money that a chicken would cost. An adult-size chicken can be purchased live for about $5 or $6 per chicken at the time of this writing (close to Tishrei 5769). The
AriZ'l and the Shla both write that a white chicken should be used, so one should add another $2 or $3 for each chicken.
Whichever way we decide to perform this minhag, we should all merit a complete atonement this Yom Kippur. Amein!
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Read Comments (47) — Post Yours »
1
Oct 05, 2008 at 09:29 AM shtinker Says:
does anyone know if you have 5 boys could you just take one male chicken for all of them? or you need to spend 30-40 dollars. or better to do kapures with money for tzadukah rather then using one chicken for all of them?
2
Oct 05, 2008 at 09:58 AM Anonymous Says:
The Mechaber is correct in labeling this practice "darchei Amori." It is actually very pagan in origin and a chicken is still used during Hindu cremation ceremonies. Also, the rooster was held in high esteem by the ancient Greeks and European folk stories tell of the devil fleeing from the crow of the rooster.
Maybe this is why we say vidui so many times on Yom Kippur!
3
Oct 05, 2008 at 09:53 AM Dayan Y Says:
one is enough
4
Oct 05, 2008 at 09:50 AM Anonymous Says:
To 9:29
Yes, you can use one zocher for all males and one n'keva for the females. I have been doing it this way for many many years
5
Oct 05, 2008 at 09:48 AM shmiel Says:
The bigger question is if you can use maaser money for kappures
6
Oct 05, 2008 at 10:06 AM Anonymous Says:
Today's climate dictates the use of money. One bird is/was commonly used for all children and minors of the same gender.
7
Oct 05, 2008 at 10:04 AM AuthenticSatmar Says:
While it is preferable to use 1 chicken per person, it is halachically acceptable to use 1 male chicken for multiple males.
8
Oct 05, 2008 at 10:42 AM truth Says:
ask your ruv not vin news
9
Oct 05, 2008 at 11:21 AM Yossele Says:
“ The Mechaber is correct in labeling this practice "darchei Amori." It is actually very pagan in origin and a chicken is still used during Hindu cremation ceremonies. Also, the rooster was held in high esteem by the ancient Greeks and European folk stories tell of the devil fleeing from the crow of the rooster.
Maybe this is why we say vidui so many times on Yom Kippur! ”
I guess the Rosh, Tur, Ramo and Shaloh probably didn't know what they were taking about, right...?
10
Oct 05, 2008 at 12:08 PM Anonymous Says:
what if the kapparos money is used to pay health inspection fines?
11
Oct 05, 2008 at 12:56 PM TorahTruth Says:
“ I guess the Rosh, Tur, Ramo and Shaloh probably didn't know what they were taking about, right...? ”
I guess the Rambam and Ramban, Rashba, and Mechaber and many others didn't know what they were talking about... right? Why enter into a Machlokes when this practice, at least according to many Rishonim is Darkei Amori when you can perform this Minhag with money according to everyone?
12
Oct 05, 2008 at 12:33 PM Use Your Head Says:
If it was in my power, I would forbid the use of chickens for this ritual. Nowadays in many communities it has become a case of "mitzvah haba'ah ba'aveirah", or at the very least "yotzah s'choro b'hefseido".
13
Oct 05, 2008 at 01:29 PM bigwheeel Says:
“ does anyone know if you have 5 boys could you just take one male chicken for all of them? or you need to spend 30-40 dollars. or better to do kapures with money for tzadukah rather then using one chicken for all of them? ”
There is a famous story by one of the contemporary Badchanim about two friends who got stcuk in a hotel in a faraway city on Shabbos. Having no wine or Lechem Mishna, or other cooked food. They found a bottle of Vodka and substituted that for each component of the Shabbos Seudah. When they were ready to "Bench", one friend asked of the other "Did we forget [to drink "for"] something? The friend replied, Yes! we forgot to "Drink" after [eating] the fish!!!
14
Oct 05, 2008 at 01:15 PM Anonymous Says:
This guy has a sense of humor - "That the female fish don't have long noses - "this without surgery mind you" Did anyone else notice this??
15
Oct 05, 2008 at 01:46 PM talking fish Says:
all poskim agree that cillul hashem is a very severe aveira and even yom kippor isnt mechaper. i have yet to hear a posek say that a chiken supersedes a chillul hahem.
All would agree that that a fish or money is better then an outright chillul hashem.
16
Oct 05, 2008 at 01:47 PM Yossele Says:
“ I guess the Rambam and Ramban, Rashba, and Mechaber and many others didn't know what they were talking about... right? Why enter into a Machlokes when this practice, at least according to many Rishonim is Darkei Amori when you can perform this Minhag with money according to everyone? ”
It's not "entering into machlokes" when kapparos is already a minhag in our kehillos for at least 1500 years.
If you're a "Samach-tet"-nik, I can fargen you not to do kapparos.
17
Oct 05, 2008 at 02:48 PM ShatzMatz Says:
Yossele. Can you please enlighten me? Do you have any source taht mentions this minhag in a positive light from 1500 years ago? I think that it is much more recent than that. It should also be pointed out that the Machaber originally referred to Kapporas as a "Minhag Shtus" in addition to being Darkei Amori. Later versions of Shulchan Aruch have removed the words "Minhas Shtus". You dont have to be a genius to figure out that Hashem has no nachas from this minhag nowadays. Simple logic would dictate that it be abolished and replaced by money. You can sponsor a Masbia meal for $6. How nice would it be for each member of the family to shlug kapporos with $6 and then have all the children persoally drop off their money at Masbia to sponsor a meal?
18
Oct 05, 2008 at 03:09 PM TorahTruth Says:
“ It's not "entering into machlokes" when kapparos is already a minhag in our kehillos for at least 1500 years.
If you're a "Samach-tet"-nik, I can fargen you not to do kapparos.
”
Well I'm not sure where you get your source that a Minhag that has been around for 1500 years defines it as not being a Machlokes... Singing Borchuni L'shalom has also been a Minhag for many years and yet the Goan says not to sing it... Please use logic my friend... Torah is not just what you zaidy and bubby did... it needs to pass the Halacha test... and as with all Halacha (especially only a Minhag) where we have a way to perform it without entering into a potential problem as in the case of Kaporos it would be preferable to avoid the Machlokes... YES MACHLOKES.
19
Oct 05, 2008 at 03:22 PM Tachlis Says:
Instead of arguing about a minhag that many keep and many don't keep, let's talk tachlis - here's the shayla:
Does anyone know how to clean a Borrsollino hat that got pooped on by a chicken?
This is a hefsed merubah!!
20
Oct 05, 2008 at 03:21 PM moving to the left Says:
In this day and age there's no doubt that packing chickens into crates like sardines and many people not knowing how to handle chickens creates tzaar baalei chaim. Just because a minhag is 1500 years old, without any biblical or Talmudic basis,
doesn't mean it's not shtus.
21
Oct 05, 2008 at 03:32 PM Dayan Says:
“ Instead of arguing about a minhag that many keep and many don't keep, let's talk tachlis - here's the shayla:
Does anyone know how to clean a Borrsollino hat that got pooped on by a chicken?
This is a hefsed merubah!! ”
Tshuva:
The hat must be kept till Pessach and burned with the chometz.
A poopped on hat cannot be worn during t'filah.
22
Oct 05, 2008 at 03:27 PM Anonymous Says:
“ The Mechaber is correct in labeling this practice "darchei Amori." It is actually very pagan in origin and a chicken is still used during Hindu cremation ceremonies. Also, the rooster was held in high esteem by the ancient Greeks and European folk stories tell of the devil fleeing from the crow of the rooster.
Maybe this is why we say vidui so many times on Yom Kippur! ”
who r u to say MECHABER is correct. of course the "heilige" mechaber is always correct.
& how dare u talk like that on "heilige" ASHKENAZIC minhagim?
23
Oct 05, 2008 at 04:12 PM Anonymous Says:
“ The Mechaber is correct in labeling this practice "darchei Amori." It is actually very pagan in origin and a chicken is still used during Hindu cremation ceremonies. Also, the rooster was held in high esteem by the ancient Greeks and European folk stories tell of the devil fleeing from the crow of the rooster.
Maybe this is why we say vidui so many times on Yom Kippur! ”
Thank you Mr. AmHa'OretzGamur for your stupid comment.
24
Oct 05, 2008 at 05:20 PM Esrog Says:
Rabboisai, The REAL minhag was always to do kaporos with money, as we say in unisaneh toikef: u'teshuva,u'tefila,u'TZEDAKAH maavirin es roah hagizeira. But what happened was that people were too stingy and they didn't want to use $18, so the Rav gave them a heter to use a chicken.. after all even a shechted, kashered, cleaned, cut, and packeged chicken in you local grocery does not cost $18. ודו"ק.
25
Oct 05, 2008 at 06:33 PM Chicken man Says:
The Jamaicans and Haitians also keep chickens and other animals and shecht them in their avoda zora ceremonies. Jews should use money for kapparos in order not to be the like goyim.
26
Oct 05, 2008 at 06:51 PM true torah Says:
when moshiach comes with the new beis hamikdash these reform jews will ban kurban pesah and all korbunis becuase its tzar baal chai and also it creates a health issue because the entire azura becomes drenched with blood from so many animals not to forget the huge chillil hashem that the azura is filthy from so much blood and animal poop
27
Oct 05, 2008 at 06:57 PM Milhouse Says:
“ Well I'm not sure where you get your source that a Minhag that has been around for 1500 years defines it as not being a Machlokes... Singing Borchuni L'shalom has also been a Minhag for many years and yet the Goan says not to sing it... Please use logic my friend... Torah is not just what you zaidy and bubby did... it needs to pass the Halacha test... and as with all Halacha (especially only a Minhag) where we have a way to perform it without entering into a potential problem as in the case of Kaporos it would be preferable to avoid the Machlokes... YES MACHLOKES.
”
She'al ovicho veyageidcho, zekeinecho veyomru loch. What reason do we have to keep ANY of Yiddishkeit, except that it's the mesorah that we've been handed down from our ancestors?
28
Oct 05, 2008 at 07:10 PM TorahTruth Says:
“ She'al ovicho veyageidcho, zekeinecho veyomru loch. What reason do we have to keep ANY of Yiddishkeit, except that it's the mesorah that we've been handed down from our ancestors? ”
Mesorah is something that goes back to Moshe M'pei HaGivurah... I dare say, a Minhag that was started much later and was met with much criticism from the outset does not fall under the same category.
29
Oct 05, 2008 at 07:05 PM TorahTruth Says:
“ when moshiach comes with the new beis hamikdash these reform jews will ban kurban pesah and all korbunis becuase its tzar baal chai and also it creates a health issue because the entire azura becomes drenched with blood from so many animals not to forget the huge chillil hashem that the azura is filthy from so much blood and animal poop ”
A rathe silly comment... Korbanos are Min HaTorah... how do you compare that to Kaporos which is a Minhag and a questionable one at that??? Also there were Halachos of cleanliness in the Bais HaMikdash... in fact the Gemorah says there was never a fly in the Bais HaMikdash because of Korbanos. So lest not make excuses for our "unzireh menchin" (as you would say) who make a Chilul HaShem by leaving a filthy mess in the name of a Minhag. If it makes a Chilul HaShem because of this it's a Minhag Habaah B'Aveirah!
30
Oct 05, 2008 at 07:17 PM TorahTruth Says:
“ She'al ovicho veyageidcho, zekeinecho veyomru loch. What reason do we have to keep ANY of Yiddishkeit, except that it's the mesorah that we've been handed down from our ancestors? ”
One more point Milhouse.... the same Mesorah that you refer to, handed down that this is a problematic Minhag so why do you only accept the "Mesorah" to practice it?
31
Oct 05, 2008 at 07:52 PM Anonymous Says:
“ One more point Milhouse.... the same Mesorah that you refer to, handed down that this is a problematic Minhag so why do you only accept the "Mesorah" to practice it? ”
70 faces to the torah (aiyin ponim ltorah) but you follow youir own mesorah!!
32
Oct 05, 2008 at 07:51 PM Anonymous Says:
One humble opinion: the masses will never give it up for the same reason all kinds of segulos are so popular. The Masses believe that these little 'tricks' can somehow replace the hard work the RBS"O asks of us. Twirling a chicken and wearing red strings is so much easier than wottying about all those foolish notions scribbled down in the Toras Chovos Halevavos.
33
Oct 05, 2008 at 07:55 PM Anonymous Says:
Somehow I doubt if any of those faces looks a scared chicken about to vomit from being twirled around one time too many.
34
Oct 05, 2008 at 08:55 PM bigwheeel Says:
“ when moshiach comes with the new beis hamikdash these reform jews will ban kurban pesah and all korbunis becuase its tzar baal chai and also it creates a health issue because the entire azura becomes drenched with blood from so many animals not to forget the huge chillil hashem that the azura is filthy from so much blood and animal poop ”
True Torah; If you would read (not to mention study) the "Seder Korban Pesach" (The Order of Offering the Passover Sacrifice) you would learn that they had a very sophisticated [and efficient] drainage and cleansing system, where the floor and wall that were of Granite were scrubbed after each [of Three] groups finished the ceremonies!!!
35
Oct 05, 2008 at 09:30 PM Anonymous Says:
“ One more point Milhouse.... the same Mesorah that you refer to, handed down that this is a problematic Minhag so why do you only accept the "Mesorah" to practice it? ”
70 faces to the torah (aiyin ponim ltorah) but you follow youir own mesorah!!
36
Oct 05, 2008 at 09:52 PM shaul in monsey Says:
"today's climate dictates the use of money..."
Is poster 6 serious? I wonder if when the "malchusei dina" come and tell us that since it is inhumane to use cow skin for klaff and tefillin, this same poster will suggest that paper would be appropritae for stam and vinyl for tefillin retzuos.
I visited the kapporos center today in Monsey twice and was amazed at the kiddush Hashem. That's right, KIDDUSH HASHEM. Only a view adverse to and biased against yiddin could possibly suggest that what went on there today was anything less.
There were children and parents of every facet of yahadus, from chassidim, to modernish, litvish to baalei teshuva, young and old.
As for cleanliness, the odor was strong near the caged area, nowhere else. I saw nothing out of the ordinary as far as care for the chickens themselves. I'm sure PETA would have been offended, but they would have been offended if every chicken was given a sealy posturepedic bed, down comforter and flat panel FIOS.
I personally find the criticism for this minhag grotesque.
37
Oct 05, 2008 at 10:27 PM TorahTruth Says:
“ "today's climate dictates the use of money..."
Is poster 6 serious? I wonder if when the "malchusei dina" come and tell us that since it is inhumane to use cow skin for klaff and tefillin, this same poster will suggest that paper would be appropritae for stam and vinyl for tefillin retzuos.
I visited the kapporos center today in Monsey twice and was amazed at the kiddush Hashem. That's right, KIDDUSH HASHEM. Only a view adverse to and biased against yiddin could possibly suggest that what went on there today was anything less.
There were children and parents of every facet of yahadus, from chassidim, to modernish, litvish to baalei teshuva, young and old.
As for cleanliness, the odor was strong near the caged area, nowhere else. I saw nothing out of the ordinary as far as care for the chickens themselves. I'm sure PETA would have been offended, but they would have been offended if every chicken was given a sealy posturepedic bed, down comforter and flat panel FIOS.
I personally find the criticism for this minhag grotesque. ”
If you find the criticism for this Minhag grotesque... take it up with the Mechaber...
38
Oct 05, 2008 at 10:52 PM Yossele Says:
“ Yossele. Can you please enlighten me? Do you have any source taht mentions this minhag in a positive light from 1500 years ago? I think that it is much more recent than that. It should also be pointed out that the Machaber originally referred to Kapporas as a "Minhag Shtus" in addition to being Darkei Amori. Later versions of Shulchan Aruch have removed the words "Minhas Shtus". You dont have to be a genius to figure out that Hashem has no nachas from this minhag nowadays. Simple logic would dictate that it be abolished and replaced by money. You can sponsor a Masbia meal for $6. How nice would it be for each member of the family to shlug kapporos with $6 and then have all the children persoally drop off their money at Masbia to sponsor a meal? ”
Brilliant teyrutz
39
Oct 05, 2008 at 11:02 PM Yossele Says:
“ Well I'm not sure where you get your source that a Minhag that has been around for 1500 years defines it as not being a Machlokes... Singing Borchuni L'shalom has also been a Minhag for many years and yet the Goan says not to sing it... Please use logic my friend... Torah is not just what you zaidy and bubby did... it needs to pass the Halacha test... and as with all Halacha (especially only a Minhag) where we have a way to perform it without entering into a potential problem as in the case of Kaporos it would be preferable to avoid the Machlokes... YES MACHLOKES.
”
1. In a situation where there are many deyos, there is no decisor stronger than minhag (the minhag of your kehilla, not the one you "pick").
2. Every tinok shel beis raban knows that minhag Yisroel Torah hi. "Only a minhag" is a ridiculous phrase only used by grobe mentchen.
3. I think the Ramo passes your "halachic test" - I wonder if you pass his...
41
Oct 06, 2008 at 03:43 AM Anonymous Says:
In 500 years from now, when our descendants have their annual fight over Kapporos, they will not cite the opinions of the Mechaber, Rosh, Rambam, Rema...
They will have far more reliable and learned sources to quote - The great and unparalled Halachik authorities TorahTruth, Yossele, Anonymous, Millhouse...
42
Oct 06, 2008 at 02:23 AM Anonymous Says:
“ Yossele. Can you please enlighten me? Do you have any source taht mentions this minhag in a positive light from 1500 years ago? I think that it is much more recent than that. It should also be pointed out that the Machaber originally referred to Kapporas as a "Minhag Shtus" in addition to being Darkei Amori. Later versions of Shulchan Aruch have removed the words "Minhas Shtus". You dont have to be a genius to figure out that Hashem has no nachas from this minhag nowadays. Simple logic would dictate that it be abolished and replaced by money. You can sponsor a Masbia meal for $6. How nice would it be for each member of the family to shlug kapporos with $6 and then have all the children persoally drop off their money at Masbia to sponsor a meal? ”
"You dont have to be a genius to figure out that Hashem has no nachas from this minhag nowadays"
Is it just me, or do others also get nervous when anyone claims to know the thought processes of the RBS"O?
43
Oct 06, 2008 at 08:11 AM TorahTruth Says:
“ 1. In a situation where there are many deyos, there is no decisor stronger than minhag (the minhag of your kehilla, not the one you "pick").
2. Every tinok shel beis raban knows that minhag Yisroel Torah hi. "Only a minhag" is a ridiculous phrase only used by grobe mentchen.
3. I think the Ramo passes your "halachic test" - I wonder if you pass his...
”
If I am not mistaken, the concept of Mihag Yisrael Din does not apply to a situation where there are counter Dayos that say it is Assur. Minhag Yisrael Din apply when it is a custom that has no Halachik concerns. When you have a Minhag (and yes "only a Minhag") that there are Rishonim and Achronim that say NOT to do it because it is Darkei Amori and they offer an alternative way to perform this Minhag that is Lichol Hadayos acceptable, I don't think we would apply this concept of Minhag K'Din.
44
Oct 06, 2008 at 10:47 AM shaul in monsey Says:
Frankly, there is no mechanism for extracting comments out of context and then presume that they form the basis for a psak, let alone one that would eliminate a minhag. I'm sure if the mechaber said that the minhag was a minhag shtus, and yet the minhag survived, then as has been commented on, that minhag is Torah, regardkess of any ciriticism it may have casued.
And certainly a motley bunch of half literate posers on a blog aren't going to effect any change in this minhag either. But what these amei haaretz should be concerned about is Jewish Continuity. That is an issue of supreme imporetance that even these troglydites who suggest banning kapporos with a chicken should be able to understand.
The fact is that the churban Europe, by virtue of intermarriage, is open ended. Whether you end a line of Jewish blood through murder or by marrying a goy, the net result is the same. And it is the perpetuity of our ancient minhagim, no matter what your personal opinion is, that stands at the fore as the initial line of defense against this tragedy.
The fact that someone would suggest to abolish a minhag Yisroel because they found it in some way rude or disgusting is in my opinion evidence of a lack of emunah. That someone would go further and suggest that the Ribbbono Shel Olam takes no joy in the practice of kapporos with a chicken is presumptuous, indicative of someone suffering from a severe g-d complex, and worthy of nothing but being ignored.
45
Oct 06, 2008 at 11:17 AM Yossele Says:
Incidentally, the "Darkei Amori" is to be makpid on using a white chicken davka. Not the etzem inyan of kapparos.
46
Oct 06, 2008 at 11:47 AM TorahTruth Says:
“ Frankly, there is no mechanism for extracting comments out of context and then presume that they form the basis for a psak, let alone one that would eliminate a minhag. I'm sure if the mechaber said that the minhag was a minhag shtus, and yet the minhag survived, then as has been commented on, that minhag is Torah, regardkess of any ciriticism it may have casued.
And certainly a motley bunch of half literate posers on a blog aren't going to effect any change in this minhag either. But what these amei haaretz should be concerned about is Jewish Continuity. That is an issue of supreme imporetance that even these troglydites who suggest banning kapporos with a chicken should be able to understand.
The fact is that the churban Europe, by virtue of intermarriage, is open ended. Whether you end a line of Jewish blood through murder or by marrying a goy, the net result is the same. And it is the perpetuity of our ancient minhagim, no matter what your personal opinion is, that stands at the fore as the initial line of defense against this tragedy.
The fact that someone would suggest to abolish a minhag Yisroel because they found it in some way rude or disgusting is in my opinion evidence of a lack of emunah. That someone would go further and suggest that the Ribbbono Shel Olam takes no joy in the practice of kapporos with a chicken is presumptuous, indicative of someone suffering from a severe g-d complex, and worthy of nothing but being ignored. ”
I'm not sure I understand your comment... I never suggested banning the Minhag... what I did suggest is that there is a way to perform the Minhag of Kaporos without entering into a Machlokes. If one uses money he can perform Kaporos and not conflict with the Rishonim who say don't use a chicken... I fail to understand why this is so complicated??? We have many Shitos on many things... Rabbainu Tam Ziman for example, that may of us keep for "after" Shabbos, nobody should keep for "before" Shabbos (at least according to R' Moshe)... why??? Isn't it a valid Shita? The answer is that when there are conflicting opinions, even valid ones, we are Machmir so as not to go against the opinion that says it is Assur... So why is Kaporos any different?? Just because it was done by someones Zeideh? Shouldn't we apply the same degree of Chumrah? When did Minhag overide this concept??? Do Kaporos in a way that it conforms to ALL Shitos.
47
Oct 06, 2008 at 11:49 AM Anonymous Says:
“ Tshuva:
The hat must be kept till Pessach and burned with the chometz.
A poopped on hat cannot be worn during t'filah.
”
That was so mean! If you don't have an answer, at least offer some compassion!
48
Oct 06, 2008 at 11:55 AM TorahTruth Says:
“ Incidentally, the "Darkei Amori" is to be makpid on using a white chicken davka. Not the etzem inyan of kapparos. ”
Oy Yossileh... did you even look up the Halacha???... Take out a Shulchan Aruch or Mishna Berurah and look it up before you post... it says "yesh Limnoah Haminhag". The Mechaber is talking about the Minhag of Kaporos nothing about the color of the chicken...