Comments on: Swinging No More

By: miriam

miriam — Thu, 09 Oct 2008 13:47:51 +0000

I maintain a healthy suspicion of all religious practices that emerged in Europe under such heavy social oppression of Jews. It is really hard not to internalize power-victim roles.

I think the practice of throwing bread into the water or somewhere outside carries a similar ritual feel and in this case birds (or fish or ants) get a treat.

By: Tikkunknitter

Tikkunknitter — Mon, 24 Sep 2007 21:39:53 +0000

The question of kapporos seems another case of whether or not to follow, slavishly, the voice of the past. Tzedakah seems a rational modern solution to the profoundly disturbing features of what are (merely) tradition-al solutions to the questions raised by the holiday.

By: chillul Who?

chillul Who? — Sun, 23 Sep 2007 14:35:01 +0000

In fact, it may have been that charity-element of the kapporos ritual which allowed it entry into Jewish practice, despite being a pretty out-there and paganistic thing to do – the tradition that “tsedakah tatsil mimavet” (charity rescues the giver from death) is an old one.

By: chillul Who?

chillul Who? — Sun, 23 Sep 2007 14:33:29 +0000

Yehuda:

Traditionally, (inasmuch as a kapparos tradition can be said to exist) the chickens are slaughtered and the meat given to the poor. (Just like tsedekah money)

By: Michael Croland

Michael Croland — Fri, 21 Sep 2007 12:02:38 +0000

By the way, some huge news re kapparot from Israel this week.

Shas spiritual leader criticizes kapparot practices:
http://www.haaretz. com/hasen/ spages/904102. html

Petach Tikvah court rules kapparot ritual a violation of animal slaughter laws:
http://www.haaretz. com/hasen/ spages/904943. html

By: Yehuda David

Yehuda David — Fri, 21 Sep 2007 07:53:26 +0000

Interesting read, important information and well written. No critique of the post, but isn’t the idea of money notsomuch the same thing… When the chicken is slaughtered it ceases to be; therefore, the sins which were imparted onto the chicken cease to be. By that same rational, wouldn’t you be putting your sins in the money and then giving that to other people? Why not just give tzedakah?

By: Hillary

Hillary — Thu, 20 Sep 2007 20:52:44 +0000

Excellent post! I’ve heard of kaporot but have never known anyone who has actually done it with a chicken. I didn’t know that giving tzedakah would suffice but I’m happy to hear there is an alternative. But I have a question. How does kaporot differ from Tashlich? Isn’t Tashlich throwing away your sins in the river. Are these redundant acts or do they have different meanings?