Once again, people are our protesting against kapparos, and it’s making the news.
While I think the motives of some (many?) of the protesters are not just about the animals, I (once again) do agree with the message somewhat. As in the past, the way the chickens are handled is appalling. I have no issue with the idea of doing kapparos with chickens, as long as they are treated properly. Leaving them out in the sun, stuffed in crates, without giving them food or water, is not the right way. It’s pure tzar baalei chaim. I truly believe the organizers of these places are doing more harm than good for themselves during the yimei hadin, by doing this mitzvah ha’bah b’aveirah. When they show such disregard for one of Hashem’s creations, why should they expect Hashem to look favorably at them?
I was made aware of another issue this year. A friend of mine went to a place where they use chickens, and told me that they do the shechitah right there. He said that the amount of chickens that are not slaughtered properly, and therefore can’t be eaten by Jews, is far more than it should be. He said almost half the chicken ended up in garbage bags because of it.
Once again, I will be doing kapparos with money. I know that when I donate money to tzedakah, it will all go to the right places – half of it won’t go into the garbage.
Can we please clean up the act of the people running these kapparos areas, and create a kiddush Hashem instead of the horrible chillul Hashem that has been going on for years?