On Tuesday evening and into the night, the solemn ritual of Kaparot took place in the Dnipro Jewish Community, uniting community members and city guests, becoming a significant moment in the preparation for Yom Kippur.
Kaparot is an ancient tradition preserved for centuries and performed on the eve of the Day of Judgment, helping a person to reflect on their actions, feel remorse, and set their heart towards Teshuvah – sincere repentance and return to the Almighty.
According to established custom, men use a rooster and women a hen in this ritual. After circling the bird over one’s head with a blessing, the birds are given to a shochet for ritual slaughter, after which they are designated for charitable purposes to help those in need. The ritual itself symbolizes the righteous Judgment of the Almighty and reminds everyone of how human destiny might have unfolded were it not for God’s mercy and kindness, which open the path to correction and renewal for a person.
This year, Kaparot was traditionally held on the grounds adjacent to the Menorah Center. Participants included emissaries of the Lubavitcher Rebbe with their families, prominent businesspeople and philanthropists, synagogue congregants, students of Jewish educational projects with their parents, participants in informal Jewish education programs, activists of the “Menorah Community” project, and many others. Thus, the ritual became a true manifestation of community unity, gathering together at this special time.
“The ceremony was conducted at a high level, and the Kaparot in Dnipro this year not only took place in the spirit of tradition but also gathered a wide circle of participants, reminding everyone of the importance of mercy, repentance, and spiritual renewal, which become the main guiding principles on the path to Yom Kippur,” emphasized Rabbi Reuven Kaminezki. “Many people made significant efforts for this: they carefully planned the logistics and created the most comfortable conditions for all participants. The shochet, Rabbi Michoel Korogodsky, specially arrived for this important event. I want to express gratitude to the entire Dnipro Jewish Community and wish everyone ‘Gmar Chatimah Tova!'”
