Six Israeli cities ban live chickens for Yom Kippur kapparot, animal rights org. urges more to join
Animal rights group Let the Animals Live says Tel Mond, Yeruham, Mevaseret Zion, Yavne, Kiryat Bialik, and Rishon Lezion have joined the initiative to ban live chickens for kapparot.
Six Israeli municipal authorities have decided they will no longer permit live chickens to be utilized in the traditional Yom Kippur kapparot ceremony, following a plea from animal rights group Let the Animals Live. Cities such as Tel Mond, Yeruham, Mevaseret Zion, and Yavne have joined the effort this year, while Kiryat Bialik and Rishon Lezion reaffirmed their stance from last year.
They follow a list that includes Kfar Saba, Ra anana, Tel Aviv-Jaffa, Beersheba, Ashkelon, Ramle, and Petah Tikva, which have all banned the practice for several years.
The animal rights group has reached out to heads of local governments about the issue for the past two years. Veterinary Services regulations allow a municipal government to ban ceremonies involving live chickens within its jurisdiction. Regardless of whether the slaughter takes place at the site, organizers must receive authorization from the city's veterinary department.
Animal welfare concerns have been raised regarding the use of live chickens in kapparot for many years. In 2019, the Environmental Protection Ministry similarly advised the public to utilize alternatives, like donating money to charity instead of participating in the ceremony with a chicken. The group notes that chickens in the ceremony can experience significant stress from the moment they are transported to the site.
They are often placed in cramped cages, occasionally without access to food or water, and exposed to movement, noise, and overcrowding. During the ceremony, the chickens are lifted into the air, causing extreme fear, injuries, and broken bones. Most are ultimately sent for slaughter, though in some instances, they are butchered at the ceremony location.
Let the Animals Live CEO Yael Arkin emphasized that Yom Kippur is a time for introspection, compassion, and mercy, and there is no reason to observe the custom through a practice that causes fear and severe suffering for animals. She stated that the kapparot custom can be observed in a manner that respects tradition while also helping those in need, through donations to charitable causes.
The organization called on additional local authorities to join the campaign: "Do not grant permits for the chicken kapparot custom, and ensure that public spaces under your responsibility are not used to harm animals."
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