During the period between Rosh HaShana and Yom Kippur, many people have the custom to perform the ritual of Kaparot. Many do so in the morning on the day before Yom Kippur, and some even wake up early to do it before dawn. This is an ancient custom, which dates back to the period of the geonim (between the end of the sixth century and the middle of the eleventh century) and even earlier, although it has changed slightly in form over time. The name of the ritual, Kaparot, has been interpreted in two ways: (1) The purpose of the action is to bring atonement [kapara] for our sins, similar to the offering of sacrifices in the Temple. (2) It serves as a “ransom” [kofer] and substitute for oneself, as one does to an animal what should have by right been done to himself.

The ancient custom is to take a chicken, a rooster for a male person and a hen for a female. A pregnant woman performs kaparot on two hens and one rooster, one hen for herself and a hen and rooster for her unborn child, whose sex is unknown.

Some first recite a few verses (primarly from Psalms 107 with an addition from Job), but others do not do so. Afterward, one rotates the animal over his head, while stating the following:

A man declares:

“This is my exchange, this is my substitute, this is my atonement. This rooster shall go to death while I go to a good, long life and peace” (there are some slight variations of the wording in some prayer books).

A woman recites the same text, in the feminine form:

This formula is recited three times, after which the chicken is given to a ritual slaughterer. The slaughtered chicken or its value is then given to the poor.

In contemporary times, many people perform this ritual with money instead of a chicken. The process is the same except that the phrase: “This rooster shall go to death” is replaced with: “This money shall go to charity” [zeh hakesef yelekh letzedaka], and the money is subsequently given to the poor.