For donations Click Here

Kaporos – Male/Male & Female/Female

Question:

When using chickens, we know that a man should use a male chicken and a woman should use a female chicken. When using money, it is better for a man to use a currency with a male on it, such as Grant or Franklin, and a woman with a woman on it such as Susan B. Anthony or Sacagawea? Alternately, in Israel, for a man to use a 50 or a 200 NIS note, and a woman to use a 20 or 100 shekel note?

Answer:

An entertaining, cute question, but no there is no need to use a specifically male dollar, unless you think your aveiros are going on to Franklin’s head!

The idea of using a male for a male etc. is because the kaparos are meant to symbolize that what is happening to the chicken should really happen to the person, but the aveiros and punishment are going on the chicken instead of him.  Additionally the zechus that the value of the chicken is going to tzedakah, also serves as part of the kapara. Those who are only doing kaparos with money only have the second idea. According to this, it is obvious that there is no need to use “male” money for kaparos.

Gmar chasima tova

Leave a comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *