It is a mitzvah to perform Kaparot on the eve of Yom Kippur, a virtue to remove the bad decrees, and merit to have a good and sweet year.
As it says in the text of the prayer: "This money will go to charity and I shall proceed to a good, long life and peace".
Here you can learn about the custom of Pidyon Kaparot, and even perform it through Chabad West Hampstead
It states in Halacha books to donate at least the value of a chicken, approximately £18, per household member.
A pregnant woman also gives for the unborn child.
There are different customs with regards to the proper amount of charity to be given,and therefore one should give according to the tradition in the family, and "whoever adds in charity is added to him from heaven".
Pidyon Kaparot can be performed for a man or a woman who is unable to.
In such a situation it should be said that this exchange belongs to so-and-so the son of so-and-so, referring to the name of that person.
בּנֵי אָדם יוֹשְׁבֵי חשֶׁךְ וְצַלְמָוֶת אֲסִירֵי עֳנִי וּבַרְזֶל:
יוֹצִיאֵם מֵחשֶׁךְ וְצַלְמָוֶת וּמוֹסְרוֹתֵיהֶם יְנַתֵּק:
אֱוִילִים מִדֶּרֶךְ פִּשְׁעָם וּמֵעֲוֹנֹתֵיהֶם יִתְעַנּוּ:
כָּל אֹכֶל תְּתַעֵב נַפְשָׁם וַיַּגִּיעוּ עַד שַׁעֲרֵי מָוֶת:
וַיִּזְעֲקוּ אֶל ה' בַּצַּר לָהֶם מִמְּצוּקוֹתֵיהֶם יוֹשִׁיעֵם:
יִשְׁלַח דְּבָרוֹ וְיִרְפָּאֵם וִימַלֵּט מִשְּׁחִיתוֹתָם:
יוֹדוּ לה' חַסְדּוֹ וְנִפְלְאוֹתָיו לִבְנֵי אָדָם:
אִם יֵשׁ עָלָיו מַלְאָךְ מֵלִיץ אֶחָד מִנִּי אָלֶף. לְהַגִּיד לְאָדָם יָשְׁרוֹ:
וַיְחֻנֶּנּוּ וַיֹּאמֶר פְּדָעֵהוּ מֵרֶדֶת שַׁחַת מָצָאתִי כֹפֶר:
Say the following prayer 3 times and spin the money over your head 3 times each time:
זֶה חֲלִיפָתִי. זֶה תְּמוּרָתִי. זֶה כַּפָּרָתִי.
זה הכסף ילך לצדקה וַאֲנִי אֵלֵךְ לְחַיִּים טוֹבִים אֲרוּכִים וּלְשָׁלוֹם.
The original custom was to perform the mitzvah using rooster. On the eve of Yom Kippur, one takes a rooster for a man and a hen for a woman, and for a pregnant woman one takes a rooster and a hen.
After conducting the ceremony as detailed below, the birds are given as a charity to the poor.
The most ideal time for performing the custom of Kaparot is on the eve of Yom Kippur, however, all ten days of repentance are acceptable for performing the custom.
This year תשפ"ז 2026 the eve of Yom Kippur falls on the 9th of Tishrei 20/09/2026 and it is the most ideal day to perform the custom of Kaparot.
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