Six Israeli cities ban live chickens for Yom Kippur kapparot, animal rights org. urges more to join

Six Israeli local authorities have banned the use of live chickens for the kapparot ceremony ahead of Yom Kippur, following an appeal by animal rights group Let the Animals Live. Tel Mond, Yeruham, Mevaseret Zion, and Yavne joined this year; Kiryat Bialik and Rishon Lezion renewed their commitments. The organization urges more municipalities to prohibit the practice, citing animal welfare concerns.

Six Israeli local authorities have announced they will not permit the use of live chickens for the traditional kapparot ceremony ahead of Yom Kippur, following an appeal by animal rights organization Let the Animals Live. Tel Mond, Yeruham, Mevaseret Zion, and Yavne joined the initiative this year, while Kiryat Bialik and Rishon Lezion, which responded to the organization's appeal last year, renewed their commitments. They join Kfar Saba, Ra'anana, Tel Aviv-Jaffa, Beersheba, Ashkelon, Ramle, and Petah Tikva, which the organization said have prohibited the practice for several years. The campaign marks the second consecutive year Let the Animals Live has approached heads of local authorities. According to the organization, Veterinary Services procedures allow a local authority to prohibit ceremonies using live chickens within its jurisdiction. The use of live chickens in kapparot has long prompted animal welfare objections. In 2019, the Environmental Protection Ministry similarly urged the public to use alternatives, including donating money to charity. Let the Animals Live CEO Yael Arkin stated that Yom Kippur represents introspection, compassion, and mercy, and there is no justification for marking it through a custom that involves fear and severe suffering for animals. The organization stressed that kapparot can also be observed by giving money to charity.