Kaparot in Israel for Yom Kippur

Israelis practice Kaparot in the streets of Ashkelon, Israel on Sunday October 5, 2008. Kaparot is an ancient and mystical custom connected to the Jewish Day of Atonement, Yom Kippur. It can be performed anytime between Rosh HaShana and Yom Kippur, but most often it is performed just after dawn on the day before Yom Kippur. The original form of the kaparot ceremony involves taking a chicken (a white rooster for a male, hen for a female) and waving it over one’s head while reciting this prayer: \"This is my exchange, this is my substitute, this is my atonement. This chicken will go to its death while I will enter and proceed to a good long life, and peace.\" Then the chicken is slaughtered and it (or its cash value) is given to the poor. Photo by Rafael Ben-Ari/Chameleons Eye. *** Local Caption ***