Top Rabbi Calls Chicken Ritual Before Yom Kippur Cruel, Urges Charity Instead

The First Seferad Chief Rabbi of Israel, Yitzhak Yosef, has issued a sharp directive ahead of Yom Kippur, urging the public to forgo the traditional "Kaparot" ritual using live chickens. Instead, he recommends donating money to charity as an alternative, citing severe concerns about animal cruelty and welfare.

Rabbi Yosef's letter highlights the deplorable conditions often found at mass "Kaparot" sites across Israel. He describes fowl being kept in overcrowded, hot environments with inadequate food and water, which he states violates the Torah's prohibition against causing unnecessary suffering to animals. According to the rabbi, performing the ritual under such circumstances constitutes a transgression rather than a mitzvah (commandment).

He proposed a donation of 35 shekels per person, equivalent to the cost of a chicken, to be directed towards helping the needy. This ruling draws upon the legacy of his father, Rabbi Ovadia Yosef, who in his later years also favored charity donations over the chicken ritual.

Rabbi Yosef's call aligns with growing criticism from animal welfare organizations and local authorities against unregulated "Kaparot" practices. His directive is expected to significantly reduce the use of chickens in public spaces on the eve of Yom Kippur.