Seder Pidyon Kaparot — The Kaparot Redemption Ritual
Kaparot is an ancient Jewish penitential rite performed on the eve of Yom Kippur, the Day of Atonement. A chicken — or, in many communities, money — is circled over one's head while verses of scripture and a declaration of atonement are recited. The practice is rooted in Geonic-era tradition and carries the intention that one's wrongdoings be symbolically transferred, with the chicken or coins given as tzedakah to the poor. Whatever your faith or background, you are welcome to read and reflect on this powerful ritual of accountability and renewal.
The Order of the Kaparot Redemption — Rite of the Eastern Communities
For the sake of the unification of the Holy Blessed One and His Presence, to unite the Name Yud-Heh with Vav-Heh in perfect unity, in the name of all Israel.
Behold, I come to perform this atonement-act, to repair its root in the supernal place.
May it be Your will before You, Adonai my God and God of my forefathers,
that this hour, in which the thread of Your loving-kindness prevails in the world,
be a time of goodwill and compassion,
and through the power of this act of slaughter, may the five severities be sweetened — the foundation of the masculine within the holy feminine world of Ze'ir Anpin —
the aspect within which is the passageway of our souls.
And You shall arise and have compassion on Zion, for it is time to be gracious to her, for the appointed time has come.
May the Temple be rebuilt speedily in our days,
and there may we offer before You the judgment of the scapegoat,
to sweeten the force and severity of the judgments of the heavenly kingdom.
May our eyes see it and our hearts rejoice.
May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart find favor before You,
Adonai, my rock and my redeemer.
Human beings who sit in darkness and the shadow of death,
bound in affliction and iron —
He will bring them out of darkness and the shadow of death,
and their chains He will shatter.
Fools, because of their sinful ways
and their iniquities, were afflicted.
All food their soul loathed,
and they drew close to the gates of death.
They cried out to Adonai in their distress;
out of their straits He saved them.
He sent His word and healed them,
and delivered them from their destruction.
Let them give thanks to Adonai for His steadfast love,
and for His wonders to the children of humanity.
If there be for him an angel-advocate,
one among a thousand,
to declare a person's uprightness —
then He will be gracious to him and say:
Deliver him from descending into the pit;
I have found a ransom.
[One takes the money or the chicken in hand, and circles it over one's head three times, saying each time:]
This is my substitute. This is my exchange. This is my atonement.
This money shall go to charity,
and I shall enter and go to a good, long life and to peace.
[One who circles for oneself and another together says in this language three times:]
This is our substitute. This is our exchange. This is our atonement.
This rooster shall go to death (with money: this money shall go to charity),
and we shall enter and go to a good, long life and to peace.
[One who circles for a single male says in this language three times:]
This is your substitute. This is your exchange. This is your atonement.
This rooster shall go to death (with money: this money shall go to charity),
and you shall enter and go to a good, long life and to peace.
[A woman who circles for herself says this three times:]
This is my substitute. This is my exchange. This is my atonement.
This hen shall go to death (with money: this money shall go to charity),
and I shall enter and go to a good, long life and to peace.
[One who circles for a single female says in this language three times:]
This is your substitute. This is your exchange. This is your atonement.
This hen shall go to death (with money: this money shall go to charity),
and you shall enter and go to a good, long life and to peace.
[A pregnant woman who circles for herself says this three times:]
These are our substitutes. These are our exchanges. These are our atonements.
These chickens shall go to death (with money: this money shall go to charity),
and we shall enter and go to a good, long life and to peace.
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The Order of the Kaparot Redemption — Sephardic Rite
[Before reciting 'Human beings,' one says:]
Behold, I come to perform this atonement-act, to repair what I have corrupted at the supernal source.
Therefore may it be Your will before You, Adonai my God and God of my forefathers,
that this hour be a time of goodwill and compassion.
You shall arise and have compassion on Zion, for it is time to be gracious to her, for the appointed time has come.
When the Temple is rebuilt speedily in our days,
we shall perform there the rite of the scapegoat as ordained,
and the goat offerings we shall bring with goodwill,
and through the service of the Temple we shall all rejoice.
May our eyes see it and our hearts rejoice.
May the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart find favor before You,
Adonai, my rock and my redeemer.
[Before the Kaparot, one says: A life in place of a life.]
[And then one says three times:]
Human beings who sit in darkness and the shadow of death,
bound in affliction and iron —
He will bring them out of darkness and the shadow of death,
and their chains He will shatter.
Fools, because of their sinful ways
and their iniquities, were afflicted.
All food their soul loathed,
and they drew close to the gates of death.
They cried out to Adonai in their distress;
out of their straits He saved them.
He sent His word and healed them,
and delivered them from their destruction.
Let them give thanks to Adonai for His steadfast love,
and for His wonders to the children of humanity.
If there be for him an angel-advocate,
one among a thousand,
to declare a person's uprightness —
then He will be gracious to him and say:
Deliver him from descending into the pit;
I have found a ransom.
[One who circles for oneself circles the atonement-offering around one's head and says in this language three times:]
This is my substitute. This is my exchange. This is my atonement.
This rooster shall go to death (with money: this money shall go to charity).
And I shall enter and go to a good, long life and to peace.
[One who circles for oneself and another together says in this language three times:]
This is our substitute. This is our exchange. This is our atonement.
This rooster shall go to death (with money: this money shall go to charity),
and we shall enter and go to a good, long life and to peace.
[One who circles for a single male says in this language three times:]
This is your substitute. This is your exchange. This is your atonement.
This rooster shall go to death (with money: this money shall go to charity),
and you shall enter and go to a good, long life and to peace.
[A woman who circles for herself says this three times:]
This is my substitute. This is my exchange. This is my atonement.
This hen shall go to death (with money: this money shall go to charity),
and I shall enter and go to a good, long life and to peace.
[One who circles for a single female says in this language three times:]
This is your substitute. This is your exchange. This is your atonement.
This hen shall go to death (with money: this money shall go to charity),
and you shall enter and go to a good, long life and to peace.
[A pregnant woman who circles for herself says this three times:]
These are our substitutes. These are our exchanges. These are our atonements.
These chickens shall go to death (with money: this money shall go to charity),
and we shall enter and go to a good, long life and to peace.
[The custom is to redeem the Kaparot with money and give it to the poor, which is better than giving the birds themselves.
The innards are to be thrown outside in a place where birds can take them from there.]
Seder Pidyon Kaparot — Nusach Edot HaMizrach
Leshem yichud kudsha brich hu ushchinteh, leyachada shem yud-heh be-vav-heh be-yichuda shelim, beshem kol Yisrael.
Hineh anochi ba la'asot kaparah zo letaken et shorshah bemakom elyon.
Vihi ratzon milfanecha, Adonai Elohai ve'Elohei avotai,
Sheteheh sha'ah zo asher chut chasdecha gover ba'olam,
et ratzon verachamim,
Uvkoach segulat shechitat gever zeh yimitku chamesh gevurot, yesod gever be'alma nukva kadisha de-ze'ir anpin,
bechinateinu asher bo derech ma'avar nishmateinu.
Ve'atah takum terachem Tziyon ki et lechanena ki va mo'ed,
utivneh Beit HaMikdash biMhera veyameinu,
vesham na'aseh lefanecha mishpat se'ir hamishtalei'ach,
lehamtik tokefa vegvurta shel dinei malchut shamayim.
Yir'u eineinu veyishmach libeinu.
Yiheyu leratzon imrei fi vehegyon libi lefanecha,
Adonai tzuri vego'ali.
Benei adam yoshvei choshech vetzalmavet,
assirei oni uvarzel.
Yotzi'em mechoshech vetzalmavet,
umosroteihem yenatteak.
Evilim midarech pish'am,
uva'avonoteihem yit'annu.
Kol ochel tit'av nafsham,
vayagi'u ad sha'arei mavet.
Vayitz'aku el Adonai batzar lahem,
miMtzukoteihem yoshi'em.
Yishlach devaro veyirpa'em,
veyimalet mishachatotem.
Yodu l'Adonai chasdo,
venifle'otav livnei adam.
Im yesh alav mal'ach melitz,
echad mini alef,
lehagid le'adam yoshro.
Vayechunenu vayomer:
Pede'ehu miredet shachat,
matzati chofer.
[Holech hakessef o hatarnegol beyado, umsovevo me'al rosho shaloש pe'amim, uvechol pa'am omer:]
Zeh chalipati. Zeh temurati. Zeh kapparati.
Zeh hakessef yelech litzedakah,
va'ani ekanes ve'elech lechayyim tovim aruchim uleshalem.
[Mi shemesovev le'atzmo vele'acher imo yomar belashon zeh shaloש pe'amim:]
Zeh chalifateinu. Zeh temurateinu. Zeh kapparateinu.
Zeh hatarnegol yelech lamavet (uvekessef: zeh hakessef yelech litzedakah),
va'anachnu nikanes venelech lechayyim tovim aruchim uleshalem.
[Mi shemesovev lezachar echad yomar belashon hazeh shaloש pe'amim:]
Zeh chalifatecha. Zeh temuratecha. Zeh kapparatecha.
Zeh hatarnegol yelech lamavet (uvekessef: zeh hakessef yelech litzedakah),
ve'atah tikaneis vetelech lechayyim tovim aruchim uleshalem.
[Ishah shemesovevet le'atzmah tomar zeh shaloש pe'amim:]
Zot chalifati. Zot temurati. Zot kapparati.
Zot hatarnegolет telech lamavet (uvekessef: zeh hakessef yelech litzedakah),
va'ani ekanes ve'elech lechayyim tovim aruchim uleshalem.
[Mi shemesovev lenekevah achat yomar belashon hazeh shaloש pe'amim:]
Zot chalifatecha. Zot temuratecha. Zot kapparatecha.
Zot hatarnegolет telech lamavet (uvekessef: zeh hakessef yelech litzedakah),
ve'at tikanesi vetelchi lechayyim tovim aruchim uleshalem.
[Ishah me'uberet hamesovevet le'atzmah tomar zeh shaloש pe'amim:]
Eilu chalifoteinu. Eilu temuroteinu. Eilu kapparoteinu.
Eilu hatarnegolim yelchu lamavet (uvekessef: zeh hakessef yelech litzedakah),
va'anachnu nikanes venelech lechayyim tovim aruchim uleshalem.
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Seder Pidyon Kaparot — Nusach Sefarad
[Kodem amitat 'Benei adam' yomar:]
Hineh anochi ba la'asot kaparah zo letaken et asher shichatti bemakor ha'elyon.
Lachen yehi ratzon milfanecha, Adonai Elohai ve'Elohei avotai,
Sheteheh sha'ah zo et ratzon verachamim.
Atah takum terachem Tziyon ki et lechanena ki va mo'ed,
kesheyibaneh Beit HaMikdash biMhera veyameinu,
na'aseh sham se'ir hamishtalei'ach kemishpat,
vese'irei izzim na'aseh veratzon,
uva'avodat Beit HaMikdash nismach kulanu.
Yir'u eineinu veyishmach libeinu.
Yiheyu leratzon imrei fi vehegyon libi lefanecha,
Adonai tzuri vego'ali.
[Kodem kaparot yomar: Nefesh tachat nefesh.]
[Ve'achar kach yomar shaloש pe'amim:]
Benei adam yoshvei choshech vetzalmavet,
assirei oni uvarzel.
Yotzi'em mechoshech vetzalmavet,
umosroteihem yenatteak.
Evilim midarech pish'am,
uva'avonoteihem yit'annu.
Kol ochel tit'av nafsham,
vayagi'u ad sha'arei mavet.
Vayitz'aku el Adonai batzar lahem,
miMtzukoteihem yoshi'em.
Yishlach devaro veyirpa'em,
veyimalet mishachatotem.
Yodu l'Adonai chasdo,
venifle'otav livnei adam.
Im yesh alav mal'ach melitz,
echad mini alef,
lehagid le'adam yoshro.
Vayechunenu vayomer:
Pede'ehu miredet shachat,
matzati chofer.
[Mi shemesovev le'atzmo, yesovev kapparato seviv rosho ve'omer belashon hazeh shaloש pe'amim:]
Zeh chalipati. Zeh temurati. Zeh kapparati.
Zeh hatarnegol yelech lamavet (uvekessef: zeh hakessef yelech litzedakah).
Va'ani ekanes ve'elech lechayyim tovim aruchim uleshalem.
[Mi shemesovev le'atzmo vele'acher imo yomar belashon hazeh shaloש pe'amim:]
Zeh chalifateinu. Zeh temurateinu. Zeh kapparateinu.
Zeh hatarnegol yelech lamavet (uvekessef: zeh hakessef yelech litzedakah),
va'anachnu nikanes venelech lechayyim tovim aruchim uleshalem.
[Mi shemesovev lezachar echad yomar belashon hazeh shaloש pe'amim:]
Zeh chalifatecha. Zeh temuratecha. Zeh kapparatecha.
Zeh hatarnegol yelech lamavet (uvekessef: zeh hakessef yelech litzedakah),
ve'atah tikaneis vetelech lechayyim tovim aruchim uleshalem.
[Ishah shemesovevet le'atzmah tomar zeh shaloש pe'amim:]
Zot chalifati. Zot temurati. Zot kapparati.
Zot hatarnegolет telech lamavet (uvekessef: zeh hakessef yelech litzedakah),
va'ani ekanes ve'elech lechayyim tovim aruchim uleshalem.
[Mi shemesovev lenekevah achat yomar belashon hazeh shaloש pe'amim:]
Zot chalifatecha. Zot temuratecha. Zot kapparatecha.
Zot hatarnegolет telech lamavet (uvekessef: zeh hakessef yelech litzedakah),
ve'at tikanesi vetelchi lechayyim tovim aruchim uleshalem.
[Ishah me'uberet hamesovevet le'atzmah tomar zeh shaloש pe'amim:]
Eilu chalifoteinu. Eilu temuroteinu. Eilu kapparoteinu.
Eilu hatarnegolim yelchu lamavet (uvekessef: zeh hakessef yelech litzedakah),
va'anachnu nikanes venelech lechayyim tovim aruchim uleshalem.
[Nohagin lifdot hakaparot bemaмон venotnim otam le'aniyim, vezeh tov yoter milteit lahem hakaparot.
VehaBnei me'ayim yushlchu lachуtz bemakom she'ha'ofot yecholot lekacham misham.]
Common Questions
Kaparot is a ritual act of symbolic atonement performed on the eve of Yom Kippur. The Mishnah Berurah explains the intention: one contemplates that everything being done to the chicken should rightly have come upon oneself, and that through repentance, God removes the decree and it is fulfilled symbolically through the animal or money instead. It is a visceral, embodied reminder of human mortality and the need for sincere teshuvah — repentance and return.
Using money instead of a live chicken is a widely accepted alternative, especially in communities where obtaining a chicken is impractical or where concerns about animal welfare arise. The coins or bills are circled over the head just as the chicken would be, and the declaration is adjusted: 'This money shall go to charity' replaces 'This rooster shall go to death.' The money — ideally equivalent in value to the cost of a chicken — is then given to the poor, which many authorities consider the essential core of the entire rite.
Yes, and the texts here are unusually transparent about it. Rabbi Yosef Karo, the author of the Shulchan Aruch — the most authoritative code of Jewish law — ruled against the practice, expressing concern that it resembled non-Jewish superstitious customs. Rabbi Moses Isserles (the Rema), whose glosses represent Ashkenazic practice, strongly disagreed, citing Geonic and later rabbinic authorities who endorsed it and noting that it was the established custom across Ashkenazic communities. The Yalkut Yosef, representing a Sephardic perspective, reconciled Karo's ruling by suggesting it was not directed at the version of the practice where the chicken is given to the poor.
The verses come primarily from Psalm 107 and Job 33. They describe human beings sitting in darkness and the shadow of death, bound in affliction, crying out to God and being saved — a vivid poetic portrait of a soul in need of rescue. The passage from Job introduces the image of an angelic advocate pleading on one's behalf: 'I have found a ransom.' These verses frame the act of Kaparot within the broader biblical theology of divine mercy: a person in peril cries out, God responds, and redemption is found.