Responsum: On Kapparot

Question: In regard to our custom to slaughter chickens on the eve of Yom Kippur, we do not know the reason for this. If it serves as a substitute [for the human], what is the difference between a chicken and a domestic or wild animal?

Answer: This is definitely a challenge. One may answer in two ways. First, chickens are more frequently found in one’s home than domestic or wild animals. Furthermore, there are wealthy people in our locale who substitute rams, or in principle any animal with horns, so as to replicate the ram of Isaac our forefather. Accordingly, [the type of animal] is not a fixed matter.

In addition, we have heard from the early sages that although some substitute a domestic animal, which is expensive, a chicken [tarnegol] is preferable, because its Hebrew name is gever, as is stated:

What is meant by cockcrow [keri’at ha-gever]? Rav said: The crowing of a man [gavra]. The School of R. Shila says: The crowing of a rooster [tarnegola]. And there is a baraita in support of R. Shila: One who goes out before cockcrow [keri’at ha-gever], his blood is on his head! [b. Yoma 20b]

Now since the name for a chicken is gever, it alone should substitute for a man. It is more beneficial and preferable.

This is what needs to be done. One’s agent grabs the chicken, places his hand on its head, takes it, places it on the head of the person for whom atonement is to be made, and declares, “This is in place of that, this is switched for that, and this rests on that!” He turns it around him once again, and they recite, “Those who dwelt in darkness and the shadow of death . . . He brought them out of darkness and the shadow of death. . . . Fools through transgressive ways . . . Their souls abhorred all manner of food . . . They cried out to the Lord in their trouble . . . He sent His word, and healed them . . . Let them give thanks unto the Lord for His mercy . . . (Psalms 107:10, 13–14, 17–21) . . . And he is gracious and says ‘spare him’ (Job 33:24) . . . A life for a life (Exodus 12:23).”

He performs this rite seven times and after that places his hand on the head of the chicken and declares, “This goes to death instead of this.” And he places his hand upon the head of the individual for whom atonement is being made and declares, “May you, So-and-so son of So-and-so, enter into life and not die!” And he performs this rite three times, and the person for whom atonement is being made places his hand on the head of the chicken as one would lay one’s hand on a sacrifice, and he lays his hand on it and slaughters it forthwith, [as in,] “slaughter immediately after the laying of hands” [b. Berakhot 42a].