Assemblyman Hikind (D-Brooklyn) called recent attacks on the community’s right to use chickens as kaporos “an attack on the First Amendment to the United States Constitution,” which prohibits interfering with the free exercise of religion.
The Assemblyman’s comments came in response to the group The Alliance to End Chickens as Kaporos, which filed an order at the Supreme Court of Kings County to enjoin Brooklyn residents from organizing, conducting or participating in the kaporos events involving chickens during the week of September 29th, 2013.
Assemblyman Hikind was contacted by a community member named on the complaint. The Assemblyman immediately sought to contact the plaintiff’s attorney, Jessica Astrof, who explained to one of his staff members that she herself was a Torah observant Jew but that she was concerned with the “ongoing and potential anti-Semitism” caused by the mistreatment of thousands of chickens shipped to Brooklyn for the annual kaporos events. The chickens, she said, are left starving for days before the kaporos and many are found dead causing a public health hazard.
“Using chickens as kaporos is a sacred and ancient tradition that observant Jews have practiced and will continue to practice,” said Assemblyman Hikind. “We have a Torah prohibition of Tza’ar Ba’alei Chayim, banning cruelty to animals, and those who use chickens as kaporos are enjoined to hold to that principle. If there’s a problem—if the animals are treated cruelly—that’s a violation of our beliefs. And they are certainly of no use if they are starved and die before they can be used and properly schechted [ritually slaughtered], then donated to tzedaka [charity]. When an unfortunate incident occurs, that is certainly no reason to attack the entire practice. The vast majority of institutions and individuals perform this minhag [custom] respectfully and with an eye toward halachah [Jewish Law], which protects everyone concerned, animals included.
“In certain European countries, there are movements to ban circumcision and ritual slaughter. Fortunately, we have the Constitution protecting the religious rights of our citizens. I hope the judge today throws out this needless attack on Orthodox Judaism and Freedom of Religion.”
Assemblyman Hikind said that one of his staff members will attend today’s hearing at 2pm at the Supreme Court of Kings County.
(YWN Desk – NYC)
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9 Responses
Thank you Mr. Hikind
This is what I like to see when I vote for someone. That the elected official go’s out there and speak’s up and actually dose something important for our Freedom of religion. I will daven that he is matzliach and he should have a zchus for a G’mar Chasima Tova.
I should also Daven, that the places that sell/do Kaporas
Should handle and do everything right.
I’m just wondering. Who invented these small chicken crates to transport the chickens? Did you ever see how they are loaded on to very big open trailers? and transported on the high way driving at least 65mph. I know for my self I don’t always like driving with my window down.
But that is not a problem? but once a year when Jewish people do Kaporas. And most of the normal places don’t keep chickens for more then a day. Or maybe over night. They send it back to the slaughter house. That suddenly becomes a big problem.
Jessica Astrof calls herself an “Animal rights attorney” and is a known waco of PETA flavor.
My foot that she is “Torah observant”.
Astrof is opposed to ALL shechita.
These chickens are treated horrible most of the time. Barely given food or water. Most of the time these chicken are eating a dead chicken in the crates they are kept for long periods of time. you can accomplish this minhag on money. Tzar to animals is a Biblical nono.
She is torah observant like I’m the pope!
You cannot be an animal rights wacko and be Torah observant.
Another reason to keep Kappores out of public eye!
Met several frum Jews that are vegan she’s one and they think they are doing gods work
I walked by Rachmastrivka’s chickens on sunday. They were in the shade, and a chossid was feeding them from a large bag of chicken feed.
This is a chicken libel.