The Anti-Defamation League (ADL) today expressed concern over a demonstration in the Crown Heights neighborhood of Brooklyn in which some protestors demonstrating against the Jewish ritual of “kapparot” used offensive and inappropriate rhetoric and reportedly resorted to violence.
Kapparot is a pre-Yom Kippur ritual performed by some Jews in which a chicken is passed over one’s head before being slaughtered in accordance with Jewish law and its monetary worth donated to charity.
At the event in Crown Heights on October 10, protests took place next to the ceremony, and while many protestors were civil, some taunts included “you are murderers,” “you are going to burn in hell,” and children were derisively told “your parents are murderers!” Some of the troubling comments also reflected stereotypes about Hassidic Jews and one sign compared the kapparot participants to Hitler. Some reports also accused protestors of physically assaulting a visibly Jewish family walking with a stroller.
“In our vibrant American democracy anyone is free to gather and express their opinion. However, some demonstrators in the protest crossed the line and violated the decency and sensitivity which binds societies together,” said Evan R. Bernstein, ADL New York Regional Director. “Comparing kapparot to the systematic murder of millions of Jews is outrageous and highly offensive, and reports that families with children were subject to strong verbal and even physical abuse is deeply troubling.”
Mr. Bernstein added, “While we understand that these acts may have been committed by a small volume of protestors, we call on the leaders of the protests to condemn these outrageous acts and inappropriate rhetoric as counter to the basic values of civility and respect.”
LIVE on #Periscope: protest https://t.co/DUYiGoDw3K
— Mordechai Lightstone (@Mottel) October 11, 2016
I was eating dinner in a fleishig restaurant on Kingston Avenue when a group of the anti-kapparos hooligans walked by and, unprovoked, started shouting at people eating in the restaurant, blocks away from the kaparos.
…are all of those people vegetarian or veagan????????
The “right” way to do kaporos is with a cellophane wrapped chicken. This way it is “inchickane”, and you can eat without further thought.
To do it with a live chicken lets you regard the chicken as an individual, and prompts you to do something good with the energy you receive from eating.
Wait, does this mean that those who do kaporos with a live chicken care more about the chicken than protesters?
how can you compare a animal killing humans to killing animals???
most of the comments are on spot. especially #1 and #2. we don’t keep our chickens the best way possible. I bet you that the Rebbe’s chicken was not from those cages where they chickens were tiny, scared and dirty. It really is not the greatest sight. However, its just funny that those protesters choose whats an easy shot. Let them go to MacDonalds who sells meat and chicken nationwide, or anyone else who is doing mass producing of poultry and meat. This is really sad. If I was there and saw those people, I’d just say “people, get yourself… Read more »
Why does this yearly ritual have to be carried out so blatantly in the public gaze? It is just asking for trouble and anti-Semitic rants.
The video didn’t catch the group marching up and down kingston avenue using four letter words. Whoever took the video should have his mouth washed out. Its disgusting how he talks. Anyways this video doesn’t support the violence you headlined, but maybe you didn’t watch it. The guy speaking (who was taking the video) is a pretty grub fellow, so he’s no proof for “violence”.
Best,
Shalom
I was actually impressed how smooth kapporos ran. And the chickens were treated just fine. These yellers need get lost
Greetings from some of our new ‘yuppie’ neighbors that are being welcomed to rent & even buy property here. The Rebbe was against selling & renting to them especially just for increased parnossa!
These protests look at things from a secular, “humanistic” view, that views animals as not much different than people.Someone should write a book, if there isn’t one, explaining the Jewish view on animals according to halacha and chassidus. If one reads the machzor, they will see about animals being slaughtered, their blood being sprinkled, and a goat tossed down a cliff. Humane laws created by people differ from Torah laws given by Hashem.
i was on Bedford Avenue at a quiet and large kaparos no demonstrations. yes it was on private property i think its time we do the same
this is really upsetting, how we let them yell at us.
im glad bigger jewish org are picking up on this.
in addition i think,
the police should be tougher on them, they just roll around in every ones way. i felt extremely upset and defensive on my own neighborhood street.
every year the group is getting bigger.
i remember when it was a small handful of people
you are right
I saw one wearing a leather jacket and they some had leather purse. So the hypocrits pick and choose. They just hate religious Jews.
This has nothing to do with the fact that we don’t hold chickens the right way or the fact that we slater animals, for if that was their point they can go to the slaughter houses farms and local grocerys and to all that aren’t vegetarian, this is disgusting to come to the most kind community’s that has a tradition to give chicken to the poor before the holidays and make us look like murderers, they are self hating Jews who can’t be proud of the things that we do! We can’t acknowledge even the true points they mention for… Read more »
There’s a halal market, 10 short blocks from the once-a-year kapparos ‘massacre’, where a systematic, daily genocide is taking place against poor chickens and other poultry.
Can’t wait to see the protesters there. Or are they afraid of exercising their first amendment rights against the religion of peace?
I went with my husband and 2 babies. What went on there was not ok. I was very scared and so were my kids. Police just stood there and demonstrators were very obnoxious and nasty. Then they make it out like we are the savages. What could be done for the future?
It’s easier to arrest them if the kapporos are held on private property, rather than on the street. Maybe next year?
Or about animals in general.
They simply use them as an excuse to express their own antisemitism and love of violence.
They believe humans are scientifically speaking, also animals.
But they never protest against bullying in public schools, which by their own definition, is animal abuse.
https://www.petakillsanimals.com/proof-peta-kills/#petakills
the guy with the white beard was walking around and
cursing saying f…. jews to all ,
from little kids to 85 year olds felt like germany ,
how is that ok ?
antisemetic nonsensical ignorant moronic dullwitted imbecilic stupid blithering foolish unintelligent idiotic goyim
We show no mercy on chickens?… Neither does anyone else in world. Go protest somewhere else.
In this case i feel Shmira or Shomrim could have had a bigger presence and protect the people trying to do kaparos (sorry but police was just standing there)… I was by Beis Rivkah not sure how it went on on president st
I was in beis Rivkah 310 Crown St parking lot when these mobs came, all i can say is i hope they care about people the same way they care about these ‘poor’ chickens
PS: I was not able to do kaparos there and did with money instead
PS2: it was disgusting how they almost broke the gate, they were shaking it with such force, this was NOT a peaceful demonstration
Just tell the idiots you’re sending the chickens to heaven
actually are minhag is to use chickens lol
They called my friends3 year old son some things I don’t even want to write.. Next year feel free to have them in mind as your kapara
These protesters come to CH because the people in BP and Williamsburgh would not tolerate them. They would let the protesters know they were not wanted.
I don’t see them protesting the grotesque slaughter done by the regular world. Ours is humane. They should applaud us and go after the cruel ones. They don’t know what goes on in the other places. But ours is out on the street in the open so they play their game on us. But they ignore the facts.
holding it by the wings is something learnt in shechitah and must be done in a specific way. Holding the chicken simply by the wings without knowing what youre doing, can cause the chicken pain and can make problems with the kashrus.
In connection with what #2 wrote…
I recall when the Rebbe used to bring his chicken to be shechted. He held it with its wings up to its body, head up, and feet down. Holding it this way causes it no discomfort. You could also see the pain on the Rebbe’s face when it was shechted.
Dovid
I was there with my wife and children on Sunday at 7:30 and the protesters were using extremely inappropriate and lewd language. It was disgusting to hear the gross comments they were screaming.
At least my children learned one thing: keep far away from such groups!
it troubles me how humans could be so stupid…..
with #3 and 4 !!!
Torah defines murder
will do
btw hitler showed a lot of mercy to animals so i dont see a connection
To #3 – how about asking if they support abortion bichlal. Do they eat meat? Wear leather shoes? Enjoy a boiled egg now & again?
I want to know why these wackos always come to CH? Go bother Willy or BP.
Watch their expression as they fumble for an answer.
Debate’s over.
I agree that the protesters crossed the line here but I personally saw chickens being held in deplorable conditions. These are not lifeless pieces of wood and there is a biblical prohibition at stake here. It’s not just antisemites being appealed by the way these creatures are treated.
Gmar chasima tova.
We have enough of our own spokespeople. We need to demand that the police find another location for these animals 1st amendment rights. There’s no way that they’d let them get this close to a Muslim religious ceremony.