KAPAROT Kaparot, meaning “atonements,” or “expiations,” is the name of a custom that originally involved taking a chicken, circling it round the head three times, and saying over it, “Let this be my exchange, let this be my substitute, let this be my atonement…” The chicken was then slaughtered, and it or an equivalent sum of money given to the poor. A chicken was used rather than any animal that might in Temple times have been offered as a sacrifice, so as not to confuse the custom with a sacrificial rite. Not mentioned in the Talmud, it is first referred to in Geonic times. Strong objections were raised against the practice by, among others, Rabbi Solomon ibn Adret, Nahmanides and Joseph Karo, who believed it was an imitation of non-Jewish customs and a superstitious practice with no basis in Judaism. Others, notably the mystics Isaac Luria and Isaiah Horowitz as well as Moses Isserles, defended it. The psychological force of Kaparot was similar to that of the scapegoat in Temple times, about which Maimonides writes: “These ceremonies are of a symbolic character, serving to impress people with a certain idea, and to induce them to repent, as if to say: we have freed ourselves of our previous deeds, have cast them behind our backs, and removed them from us as far as possible” (The Guide for the Perplexed 3:46). It is difficult to experience the absolution of sin without some physical ceremony. Therefore symbolic action has often been felt to be helpful. Nowadays most people use money instead, distributing it to charity since, “Charity delivers from death.” Maimonides states that it is the custom to increase one’s charitable giving at this time of the year (Laws of Repentance 3:4). THE FIVE AFFLICTIONS Five times in the Torah we are commanded to “afflict your souls” on Yom Kippur (Lev. 16:29, 31; 23:27, 32; Num. 29:7). The sages inferred from this that there are five forms of affliction: refraining from (1) eating and drinking, (2) washing, (3) anointing, (4) wearing leather shoes, and (5) sexual relations (Mishna Yoma 8:1). Some say the reason we do not wear leather shoes on Yom Kippur is because on this day all the world is holy, and we stand on holy ground. Therefore we are like Moses to whom God said: “Take off your sandals, for the place where you are standing is holy ground” (Ex. 3:5). APOLOGY AND FORGIVENESS The eve of Yom Kippur is a time for mending broken relationships. Yom Kippur itself atones only for sins between us and God. For sins between us and others, there is atonement only when we have been forgiven by those we have offended or harmed (Mishna, Yoma 8:9). Therefore we should make every effort to apologize to those we have wronged in word or deed, intentionally or unintentionally. If the other person is unwilling to forgive, we should ask those close to him or her to intercede on our behalf. If this too fails, we should try again a second and third time. If forgiveness is still not forthcoming, we have fulfilled our duty, and it is now the other who is at fault (Maimonides, Laws of Repentance 2:9). If others apologize to us, we should forgive. We should be hard to provoke, easy to placate. In any case, it is forbidden to take vengeance or harbor a grudge (ibid. 2:10). When others offend us, we should say so rather than storing up silent resentment (Maimonides, Laws of Ethical Character 6:6). However, if this would not make things better because the other is unwilling or unable to accept the reprimand, it is permitted to forgive silently even those who have not apologized to us (ibid. 6:9). As we behave toward others, so does God behave toward us (Mekhilta, Beshallaḥ). Those who forgive are forgiven. Those who are loved by their fellows are loved by God (Avot 3:13), while those who judge others harshly are themselves harshly judged. Therefore, as Yom Kippur draws near, when we and the Jewish people stand before God in judgment, we should make every effort to restore peace where we can, apologizing, forgiving, placating, reconciling and mending fractured relationships, for where there is peace, there the Divine Presence finds its home in our midst.