Israeli Rabbis Issue Dramatic Ruling on Charity Ahead of Yom Kippur

Two prominent Israeli rabbis, the Sephardic Chief Rabbi of Israel, Rabbi David Yosef, and Chief Rabbi of Jerusalem, Rabbi Kalman Bar, have issued a significant halachic ruling concerning the pre-Yom Kippur custom of 'Kaparot' (atonement). The ruling, released ahead of the Day of Atonement, sets the price for the ritual at approximately 30 shekels (around $8 USD) per person. The rabbis also included an unusual and powerful call for prayers for the full recovery and salvation of IDF soldiers and security forces on the front lines.

In a separate but related ruling, the Sephardic Chief Rabbi, Rabbi Yitzchak Yosef, warned against mass 'Kaparot' events, citing concerns about animal cruelty. He urged the public to prioritize performing the ritual with money instead of live chickens, stating that observing the custom in a manner that causes suffering to animals does not fulfill the ritual's intent. He also referenced the practices of his late father, Rabbi Ovadia Yosef, regarding the recommended amount for the ritual.

In other news, the organization 'Atid' has filed a dramatic petition with the Central Elections Committee, demanding the disqualification of Amos Dror, who is sixth on the Shas party's Knesset list. The petition argues that Dror continued to serve as the supervisor of the Religious Council in Haifa without observing the required legal cooling-off period. Additionally, a rabbinical court in Crown Heights, Brooklyn, issued a stern letter against a resident who refuses to grant his wife a divorce (get), instructing the community to impose strict distancing measures, including barring him from synagogues and business dealings, until the matter is resolved.