Episode 69: From Sinai to Bethlehem - A Paper Chicken

The Paper Chicken: A Story of Renewal (As retold by Rabbi Or Rose) A young Hasid once visited his beloved master, Rabbi Elimelkh of Lizensk, during the Ten Days of Repentance (Aseret Yemei Teshuval). The Hasid came to his rebbe with a specific request: "Great Master, as a devoted member of the holy community of Lizensk, I have been blessed to witness you pray the three daily services, recite the blessing over wine on Shabbat, and light the Hanukkah candles. In fact, I have been fortunate enough to observe you perform many of God's sacred commands. Anong the few mitzvoth I have not yet seen you perform is the ritual of Kapparol. Would it be possible for me to do so this year?" Reb Elimelekh replied, "While I am honored by your request, I must admit that my performance of this particular command is rather ordinary. Like others, I take a chicken in hand and swing it over my head. While doing so, I say the appropriate words of absolution. When I conclude the ritual, I give the animal to the hungry in our community for their final meal before Yom Kippur. If you want to see someone perform the ritual of Kapparot in a special manner, go to Moshe the innkeeper." And so, on the night before Yom Kippur, the young Hasid made his way to Moshe's inn, where he ate dinner and stayed the night. Early the next morning, Moshe and his wife awoke early to perform the mitzvah of Kapparot; the young Hasid looked on with great anticipation. The ritual began with Moshe sitting in a wooden chair before the small fireplace in his living room. After positioning himself comfortably in the chair, he asked his wife to bring him the "Two books of repentance." Moshe's wife dutifully brought her husband two tattered books from his study. Moshe opened the first book, carefully read its contents, and began to weep. The young Hasid listened intently as Moshe read a list of (rather minor) sins the innkeeper had committed against God the previous year. After completing this reading, Moshe took the book, swung it over his head, and threw it into the fire. The innkeeper took a deep breath and then opened the second book and repeated the ritual. This time, however, he read a somewhat longer list of sins that God had committed against the Jewish people the previous year. After completing his recitation, Moshe swung the book over his head and threw it into the fire. The innkeeper was then ready for Yom Kippur.