Author Rabbi Yaakov Goldstein

The gender of the chicken to take for Kaparos:[1] One is to take a male chicken for a male family member, and a female chicken for a female family member. Pregnant woman:[2] For a pregnant woman one is to take and slaughter one female chicken on her behalf, and one […]

May Kaparos be redone with the same chicken on another person?[1] This follows the same law as above, that initially each person is to use a single chicken which is then slaughtered and not reused for any other person. However, in a time of need, one may use the same […]

How many chickens should a pregnant woman use for Kaparos:[1] For a pregnant woman one is to take and slaughter one female chicken on her behalf, and one female and male chicken on behalf of the fetus whose gender is in question. [Thus, in total, a pregnant woman takes three […]

What is the law if a woman used a male chicken or vice versa?[1] She fulfills her obligation. The Kaparos is not required to be repeated. _________________________________________________________ [1] Ashel Avraham Butschetch Tinyana 605 Bookmark

How many chickens is a woman to take if she is pregnant with twins?[1] It requires further analyses whether she is to suffice with three chickens as any pregnant woman or is to take five chickens.[2] Some Poskim[3] however conclude that she is to take 5 chickens.  ________________________ [1] See […]

If a woman gave birth after Kaparos but before Yom Kippur, should Kaparos be redone on the baby? This matter requires further analyses.[1] However, some Poskim[2] conclude that she is not required to repeat the Kaparos on the infant. ________________________________________ [1] See Hiskashrus 948 footnote 17 that perhaps the atonement […]

If an ultrasound revealed the gender of the fetus, how many chickens are to be used? Some Poskim[1] rule that one may follow the ultrasound and use a chicken of the projected gender. Others[2] rule that one should not rely on it. _________________________  [1] Kaneh Bosem 2:20 [2] Minchas Yitzchak […]

  Must a pregnant woman prior to 40 days of conception use 3 chickens?[1] No.  _________________________________________________ [1] Rav Wozner in Koveitz Mibeis Levi 2:17; Piskeiy Teshuvos 605:2 Bookmark

May one do Kaparos on behalf of a family member that is not present?[1] Example: One’s son is in the army and cannot be present for Kaparos. One’s wife gave birth and she and the baby cannot be present for Kaparos. Yes.[2] One is to state prior to the Kaparos […]

May one use fish for Kaparos? Some Poskim[1] rule that live fish is valid to be used for Kaparos in the event that poultry is not available. Based on Kabala, one is to only use a chicken.[2]  __________________________ [1] 3rd option in M”A 605:3 in name of Levush; M”B 605:4 […]

May one use chickens that have been sterilized?[1] One should not use sterilized chickens for Kaparos. __________________________________________________  [1] Mateh Efraim 605:4 Bookmark

Using a white chicken for Kaparos:[1] One is to choose a white chicken, if there are white chickens in front of him readily available to be chosen from.[2] If however white chickens are not readily available in front of him, one is not to specifically search out for a chicken […]

What to use for Kaparos instead of chickens such as if chickens are not available:[1] If there are no chickens available for Kaparos, then other animals [such as a goose[2]] may be used for the Kaparos. However, young doves and Turim should not be used.[3] [Others say one may even […]

The ceremony of Kaparos that is performed with the chicken:[1]   One holds the chicken and says the paragraph beginning Bnei Adam printed in the Siddur.[2] When one reaches the paragraph of “Zeh Chalifasi, Zeh Temurasi, Zeh Kaparasi[3] etc” one encircles[4] the chicken around [and above] his head three[5] times, while […]

In which hand is the chicken to be held by Kaparos? Some[1] write, the chicken is to be held in one’s right hand. Admur does not make any mention of this detail.   [1] Kitzur SHU”A 131:1 Bookmark

Should the Nusach of Kaparos be said differently by women, or children? Some[1] write Admur intentionally omitted the change of Nuschaos and therefore one should always say “Chalifasi”, whether a man or woman.  ____________________________________ [1] See Shaar Hakolel 42:2  Bookmark

Doing Kaparos on another person: By Kaparos, must each person hold the chicken and wave it over his/her own head or may he/she have someone else hold it and wave it over his/her head? It is initially preferable for the chicken to be held and waved by the person on […]

How is Kaparaos to be performed to small children who cannot do so themselves?[1] The father is to do so for them.[2] Who is to say Zeh Chalifasi when doing on behalf of another? The person who the Kaparah is being done for is to say “Zeh Chalifasi” while the […]

Must one first perform Kaparos on himself prior to performing it on others [i.e. encircling the chicken over the heads of others]?[1] It is proper for one to first perform Kaparos on himself prior to doing so on behalf of others. If there is a reason that he is not […]

Immersing in a Mikveh before Kaparos:[1] Some have the custom to immerse in a Mikveh prior to performing Kaparos. ____________________________  [1] Mateh Efraim 605:6; Shevach Hamoadim 21:8  Bookmark

Doing Semicha to the chicken by Kaparos:[1] After the ceremony one does Semicha[2] to the chicken [or other animal] and then gives it to a Shochet to be immediately slaughtered.[3] [Some[4] however learn from Admur in the Siddur that one is not required to do Semicha to the chicken or […]

Should one perform Kaparos with chickens if the chickens will not be eaten by people but used as animal fodder? It is still preferable to perform Kaparos with a chicken even in such a case.[1] Nonetheless, in the above scenario, it is best to give Pidyon Kaparos to the poor.[2] […]

Does it make a difference as to which direction one swerves the chicken around his head by Kaparos? This matter is not discussed in Poskim hence assuming that one may do so in whichever direction he chooses. Bookmark

When should the ceremony of Kaparos be done? The ceremony is to be performed on Erev Yom Kippur.[1] It is to be performed towards dawn of the day of Erev Yom Kippur, by the time of Ashmuros Haboker.[2]   Q&A May one do Kaparos before Erev Yom Kippur?[3] Kaparos may […]

May one do Kaparos before Erev Yom Kippur?[1] Kaparos may be performed 1-2 days before Yom Kippur, if doing so on Erev Yom Kippur is burdensome on the public or on the Shochtim [1] Based on M”B 605:2 Bookmark

Covering the blood of the chicken by Kaparos:[1] It is a Mitzvah for the Shochet to cover the blood of slaughtered fowl with earth or straw.[2] It is nevertheless permitted for the Shochet to honor the owner of the chicken to do so in his place.[3] Earth or straw is […]

Throwing intestines to the birds by Kaparos:[1] The intestines, liver and kidneys of the chicken of Kaparos are to be thrown in an area that is accessible to birds, such as on one’s roof or in one’s courtyard, in order for the birds feed from it.[2] ___________________________________ [1] Admur 605:6; […]

When performing Kaparos over money should it preferably be done by the time of Ashmuros Haboker, as applies when doing Kaparos over chickens? Even when doing Kaparos over money, it should be done specifically on Erev Yom Kippur as recorded in the Shulchan Aruch regarding the regular Kaparos. However, regarding […]

Must one repeat Kaparos if the Shechita of the chicken was a Niveila or Treifa [invalid]?[1] If the Shechita was invalid one must redo the Kaparos.[2] If, however, it was a Kosher slaughtering, but the chicken was found to be a Treifa, it is nevertheless valid. _________________________________________ [1] Shaar Hakolel […]

May a Kaparos organizer arrange for the chickens to be lent to the customers rather than sold to them?[1] Must one own the chicken that he performs Kaparos with, or is a borrowed chicken also valid? Traditionally, the chickens used for the custom of Kaparos are to be owned by […]

Must one own the chicken that he performs Kaparos with, or is a borrowed chicken also valid? Traditionally, the chickens used for the custom of Kaparos are to be owned by the individual and then slaughtered on his behalf.[1] Seemingly, a person does not fulfill the traditional custom by using […]

The custom of Beis Harav by Kaparos: The Rebbe’s household would perform a sign of the four death penalties on the chicken used for Kaparos. To touch it with one’s foot slightly to fulfill the penalty of Sekila. To touch its neck to perform the penalty of Chenek. To scorch […]

What is done with chicken after one finishes the Kaparos ceremony? Semicha and Shechting:[1]After the ceremony one does Semicha[2] to the chicken [or other animal] and then gives it to a Shochet to be immediately slaughtered.[3] [Some[4] however learn from Admur in the Siddur that one is not required to […]

Pidyon Kaparos Help large families from Northern Israel Pidyon Kaparos-Donating the chicken or its worth to the poor:[1] It is customary to donate the chicken to paupers. Nevertheless, it is better to redeem the chicken with money and give the money to the poor, as opposed to giving the actual […]

How many chickens should a family use for Kaparos?[1] One is to take one chicken per family member.[2] One is to take a male chicken for a male family member, and a female chicken for a female family member. This applies irrelevant of the age of the family member and […]

The background of the custom of Kaparos:[1] It is customary in these provinces [of Ashkenazi Jewry] to take and slaughter a chicken, which is called a Gever[2], for atonement on Erev Yom Kippur.[3] One takes a male chicken for each male family member and a female chicken for each female […]