Yom Kippur: Difference between revisions

# There is an old minhag (tradition) among Sephardim and Ashkenazim to do kapparot during aseret yimei [[teshuva]] (ten days of [[repentance]]) <ref>S"A 605:1 writes that one should prevent the minhag to do Kapparot on [[Erev Yom Kippur]]. Mishna Brurah 605:1 explains that the reason for this opinion is that it looks like Darkei Amori (superstitious pagan practice). This is the opinion of the Rashba in his Teshuvot 395 and quoted by Beit Yosef 605 "Yesh mekomot." However, the Rama 605:1 writes that it's an old minhag and one shouldn't stop from keeping the minhag. Mishna Brurah 605:2 explains that the minhag is justified because it's similar to a korban and it's as though the punishment one deserves is taking place on the chicken. Yalkut Yosef (Moadim pg 75) writes that this practice is the minhag of all of klal yisrael and it should not be stopped. Maamer Mordechai (Rav Mordechai Eliyahu, chapter 42:1) agrees. The Ben Ish Chai Parashat Vayelech:2, Kaf Hachaim 605:8, and Yechave Daat 2:71 all record this minhag as well, despite the opposition cited by the Shulchan Aruch. The Arizal quoted in Magen Avraham 605:1 was a strong supporter of the minhag.  see [http://www.koltorah.org/ravj/kapparot.htm Kol Torah by Rabbi Chaim Jachter] for a more detailed article. [http://www.torahmusings.com/2014/09/kaparot/ Rav Soloveitchik]  did not observe this practice. </ref> and preferably it should be done on [[Erev Yom Kippur]] in the morning.  <ref>Rama 605:1 writes that it is an old minhag to do Kapparot on [[Erev Yom Kippur]]. Mishna Brurah 605:2 comments that if there's a concern that having everyone do Kapparot on [[Erev Yom Kippur]] in the morning won't give the Shochet enough time to do a proper slaughtering on all the chickens one should do Kapparot a day or two earlier because the entire period of Aseret Yamei [[Teshuva]] is a time of atonement. Therefore, Nitei Gavriel 10:1 writes that it should be done during Aseret Yomei [[Teshuva]] and preferably on [[Erev Yom Kippur]] in the morning. </ref> If one didn't do it before Yom Kippur one may do it on [[Hoshana Rabba]]. <ref>Nitei Gavriel 10:7 </ref>

# One should take a male chicken for a male, female chicken for a female, and both a female and male chicken for a pregnant woman. Some take two female chickens and one male chicken for a pregnant woman. <ref>Rama 605:1 writes that one should take a male chicken for a male and a female chicken for a female. Rama 605:1 and Kitzur S"A 131:1 write that one should take a female and male chicken for a pregnant woman. Mishna Brurah 605:3 writes that some have the practice of taking two female chickens and one male chicken for a pregnant woman. Nitei Gavriel 10:2 agrees. The Magen Avraham 605:3 explains the Rama's minhag by saying that even if the mother and the fetus are considered two bodies they can have atonement with one act of kaparot and compares it to [[korbanot]]. However, the Biur HaGra 605 s.v. VeLokchin argues that we pasken Ubar Yerech Imo (a dispute in Gemara Yevamot 78a whether a fetus is considered as the same entity as the mother or not and the halacha, according to the Gra is that the fetus is part of the mother) and so it is sufficient to exempt the mother together with the fetus with one female chicken if the fetus is female.</ref>

# Some say that one should preferably use white chickens, however, many say that one shouldn't make a special effort to get a white chicken. Some say not to use a black chicken. <ref>Rama 605:1 emphasizes using a white chicken. However, the Mishna Brurah 605:4 quotes the achronim who say that one should not make a special effort to get white chickens. Nitei Gavriel 10:9 agrees and adds that one should be sure not to use a black chicken. </ref>

# When one takes the chicken and circles it around one's head one should say זה חליפתי זה תמורתי זה כפרתי. <ref>Mishna Brurah 605:3, Kaf Hachayim 605:16, Yalkut Yosef Moadim pg. 76 writes that when circling the chicken around one's head one should say זה חליפתי תמורתי כפרתי </ref> For the full hebrew text click [http://hebrewbooks.org/pdfpager.aspx?req=6756&st=&pgnum=616&hilite= here] and for for the full english text click [http://www.chabad.org/holidays/JewishNewYear/template_cdo/aid/320228/jewish/Text-of-Kapparot.htm here].

# When performing Kaparot a person should think about [[Teshuva]] ([[repentance]]) imagining that the 4 types of death sentences that are carried out on the chicken should be happening to me. <ref>Yalkut Yosef (Moadim pg 76) </ref>

# The custom is not to do semichah on the chicken. <ref> Yalkut Yosef Moadim pg. 76 </ref>  

# The minhag is to give the slaughtered chicken to a poor person or to redeem it with money and then give it to a poor person. <ref>Rama 605:1. Mishna Brurah 605:5 writes that if the poor person will be embarrassed to take the chicken because it looks like one put their sins on the chicken then one should redeem it and give the money to the poor but if the poor won't be embarrassed it's preferable to give the chicken to the poor because it requires less effort for the poor person to benefit. </ref>

# Kisui HaDam (covering the blood) should be preforming only after the shochet checks his knife to see that it was a proper slaughtering. After the check the one performing this mitzvah should make a bracha על כסוי הדם בעפר. <ref>Yalkut Yosef (Kitzur S"A 605:18) </ref>

# The dirt should be designated by verbally stating that this dirt is for covering of the blood of the chicken. <ref>Yalkut Yosef (Kitzur S"A 605:17) </ref>