By Rabbi Yair Hoffman for the Five Towns Jewish Times

It is a basic question that many of us should have had in regard to the minhag of kapparos. For some reason, however, it, like many other questions, just did not occur to us to ponder it. So when. Abby Katz from Lawrence, NY, a young seventh grade girl from Bnot Shulamith poses the question, it brings excitement.

In Torah Judaism, a baby is completely innocent.

Rabbi Meir Mazouz in Pninei haParsha #14 (page 192 question 6) responds to this exact question by saying that the practice – mentioned in the Ramah is based on Kabbalistic sources. The idea is that, notwithstanding the foetus’ complete innocence now, it could possibly have been a gilgul who may have sinned in a previous incarnation. The kapparah of the chicken would be effective in helping bring an atonement to this neshama.

HOW MANY CHICKENS?

The Ramah (OC 605:1) tells us that an expectant mother uses two chickens when doing kaparos. The Mogain Avrohom informs us that it should be one female chicken and one male rooster. If the child will be a male – then the male rooster will count for it. If the child will be female then the chicken will suffice for both of them. The AriZal, however, held that she should take three birds – two females and one male.

HOW FAR ALONG?

There is another question that women clearly above seventh grade ask as well. Many expectant mothers do not wish to inform others that they are expecting until three months have passed. Yet taking an extra chicken or two for Kaparos is a dead giveaway. How far along in the pregnancy must the mother begin to take additional kaparos?

Rav Daniel Osher Kleinman had posed the question to Rav Shmuel Kamenetsky. His response was unclear. He was unsure if the point was after 40 days when the feotus changes status to a full halachic foetus (See Yevamos 69b) or later on when it is identifiable that the mother is expecting (generally three months).

FAMILY IS FINANCIALLY TIGHT

It should also be known that if the family is financially tight, the Mishna Brurah (605:3) holds that one chicken may be used for the entire family, and certainly for more than one person.

MONEY VERSUS KAPAROS

Of course for those who use money instead of chickens, merely adding more money is not such a giveaway. In that case, all opinions would agree that one would only need to use money for two people and not three.
Even those whose custom it is to use chickens must be very careful not to violate the prohibition of tzaar baalei chaim. This is violated when the chickens are abused prior to the shechita.

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