Chabad House in Sderot Offers Online 'Kapara' Ritual for Donations

A Chabad House in the southern Israeli city of Sderot is offering an online service for the 'Kapara' ritual, a pre-Yom Kippur tradition. This allows individuals to donate to the ritual and have it performed on their behalf by the Chabad House, even if they cannot be physically present. The initiative aims to facilitate participation in the tradition while also supporting the activities of the Chabad center in Sderot, a city that has frequently been a target of rocket attacks from Gaza.

The Kapara ritual, traditionally performed the day before Yom Kippur, involves swinging a chicken (or sometimes money) over one's head while reciting a prayer, symbolizing the transfer of sins to the animal, which is then slaughtered and often donated to the poor. The online option provides a convenient way for people to fulfill this custom, especially those living far away or unable to attend in person.