Yom Kippur
Yom Kippur 5787 at the Chabad Houses of Dharamsala — Kol Nidrei, Neilah and the shofar in the heart of the Himalayas, kapparot redemption and the meals before and after the fast.
The holiest day of the year, far from home and together with hundreds of travelers. Two things happen here: redeeming the kapparot — charity for each soul, before the fast begins — and booking the two meals around it: the meal before the fast on erev Yom Kippur, and the break-fast at nightfall. Prayers are held in both Chabad Houses, Dharamkot and Bhagsu, and are open to everyone with no registration and no charge. Gmar chatima tova!
Kapparot redemption
Kapparot are redeemed through charity — a sum for each soul, and we do the rest. The money goes straight to meals and to helping travelers in Dharamsala, exactly in the days it is needed most.
- Choose how many souls — for yourself, your spouse, your children and anyone you want to redeem for.
- Say the "zeh chalifati" text over the money before giving it to charity.
- Another amount works too — give more or less by simply typing the sum.
- A receipt is emailed automatically; in shekels it is a §46 tax-deductible receipt.
Kapparot are customarily redeemed on erev Yom Kippur, before dawn and before the meal that precedes the fast — and may also be done in the days before, during the Ten Days of Repentance. Redemption here is open until the fast begins.
Redeem your kapparot
Choose how many souls, fill in your details and pay — all on this page.
How kapparot is done
Kapparot is done on the eve of Yom Kippur, before dawn.
Hold the money in your hand and say:
בְּנֵי אָדָם יוֹשְׁבֵי חשֶׁךְ וְצַלְמָוֶת אֲסִירֵי עֳנִי וּבַרְזֶל:
יוֹצִיאֵם מֵחשֶׁךְ וְצַלְמָוֶת וּמוֹסְרוֹתֵיהֶם יְנַתֵּק:
אֱוִילִים מִדֶּרֶךְ פִּשְׁעָם וּמֵעֲוֹנֹתֵיהֶם יִתְעַנּוּ:
כָּל אֹכֶל תְּתַעֵב נַפְשָׁם וַיַּגִּיעוּ עַד שַׁעֲרֵי מָוֶת:
וַיִּזְעֲקוּ אֶל ה' בַּצַּר לָהֶם מִמְּצוּקוֹתֵיהֶם יוֹשִׁיעֵם:
יִשְׁלַח דְּבָרוֹ וְיִרְפָּאֵם וִימַלֵּט מִשְּׁחִיתוֹתָם:
יוֹדוּ לה' חַסְדּוֹ וְנִפְלְאוֹתָיו לִבְנֵי אָדָם:
אִם יֵשׁ עָלָיו מַלְאָךְ מֵלִיץ אֶחָד מִנִּי אָלֶף. לְהַגִּיד לְאָדָם יָשְׁרוֹ:
יְחֻנֶּנּוּ וַיֹּאמֶר פְּדָעֵהוּ מֵרֶדֶת שַׁחַת מָצָאתִי כֹפֶר:
Then circle the money over your head three times, saying each time:
זֶה חֲלִיפָתִי. זֶה תְּמוּרָתִי. זֶה כַּפָּרָתִי.
זֶה הַכֶּסֶף יֵלֵךְ לִצְדָקָה,
אֲנִי אֵלֵךְ לְחַיִּים טוֹבִים אֲרוּכִים וּלְשָׁלוֹם:
Repeat twice more — three times in all.
How it sounds: Zeh chalifati. Zeh temurati. Zeh kaparati. Zeh hakesef yelech litzdakah, ani elech lechayim tovim arukim ulshalom.
What it says: This is my exchange. This is my substitute. This is my atonement. This money shall go to charity, and I shall go to a good, long and peaceful life.
Redeeming for several souls? Do the order separately for each person.
Those doing kapparot with a chicken say instead “zeh hatarnegol yelech lemitah” — this rooster shall go to its death.
What the custom is
While the Temple stood, the “scapegoat” was a central part of the Yom Kippur service: the goat chosen by lot was taken to a far place and cast down from a high cliff, as atonement for the sins of Israel. Kapparot is a remembrance of that. So that it should not look as though a sacrifice is being offered now that the Temple is destroyed, the custom is kept specifically with a chicken or a fish — which are not brought as offerings on the altar. Afterwards the chicken is slaughtered and its value given to charity, and that gift of money is what “pidyon kapparot” means. The custom may also be kept with a sum of money from the outset — which is also what is practical on the road.
Register for the festival meals
Every meal of the festival in one form — pick what you want and pay once. Up to 3 adults on one registration, plus up to 3 children under 12.
Registration opens later, G-d willing — stay tuned for updates.
To the Shabbat & holiday registration form