Gothamist
A non-profit newsroom, powered by WNYC.
Gothamist
Listen Live
News
Protestors Try To Stop Jews' Ritual Chicken Slaughter In Crown Heights
By
Marc Yearsley
Published Sep 11, 2013
Modified Sep 11, 2013
Share
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
Never miss a story
Email address
By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .
Gothamist
By
Marc Yearsley
Published Sep 11, 2013
Modified Sep 11, 2013
Share
FacebookTwitterRedditEmail
We rely on your support to make local news available to all
Make your contribution now and help Gothamist thrive in 2026. Donate today
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
A small but determined group of demonstrators gathered at Franklin Avenue and Kingston Avenue in Crown Heights last night to protest the ceremonial killing of chickens in the Kaporos ceremonies that take place in Orthodox Jewish communities the week before Yom Kippur.
The ritual requires that the chickens be held by their wings and swung three times in small circles over the heads of family members while a prayer is read aloud.
Kaporos is Hebrew for "atonement." The sins of the celebrant are symbolically transferred onto the chicken, and after the ceremony, the chicken is slaughtered and either eaten or donated to a food bank. The public rituals usually take place in the two days leading up to Yom Kippur.
Technically, Kaporos doesn't require chickens. "They could be swinging money or anything," Karen Davis, the founder of Alliance To End Chickens As Kaporos said. "It makes Judaism look ridiculous."
(Gothamist)
One of the biggest points of contention is the swinging of the chickens by their wings, which Rina Deych, one of the organizers of yesterday's protest, says is "excruciatingly painful. They're boiler chickens, bred to be too heavy for their wings to support. Many times the wings break and the ligaments rip."
As for how many chickens are used, Davis estimated around 5,000 in Crown Heights and as many as 50,000 to 60,000 in all of New York City.
All told, there were around 20 protestors in a sectioned off pen, parallel to but also often surrounded totally by, families performing the Kaporos.
(Gothamist)
Young children engaged most with the protestors, while the teenagers present spent their time taking photos of and with the activists. The children were the most eager to argue and defend their customs and community. Likewise, the activists seemed eager to engage and discuss the custom with them.
(Gothamist)
Still, the atmosphere was tense, riddled with belligerence and yelling. Moments of classic trolling—blowing feathers onto the protestors, taking pictures, accosting specific families as they were performing the prayer—produced angry responses.
Asked about the antagonism, Deych said, "Unfortunately I can't control everybody. Sometimes, yes, they do lash out. I don't because I think it's counterproductive." The goal, Deych explained, is "to plant seeds, to raise awareness, [and] ultimately to end the use of chickens. This is a big money-making operation and they don't want to give it up so quickly, [but] more and more Orthodox rabbis are coming out and speaking out against the use of chickens."
As the protest approached 8 p.m., however, the number of people on both sides of the fence dwindled.
Tsvi Disatnik, a member of the Orthodox community who occasionally sparred with the protesters told us, "I think America is a free country. And if America is a free country then everybody can do what they want. America respects all the religions."
One of the demonstrators holds a chicken he saved, procured for five dollars. (Gothamist)
Tagged
Crown Heights
kaporos
orthodox judaism
yom kippur
original
Marc Yearsley
Read more
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
MORE news
Man shot and killed on Midtown subway platform Saturday afternoon, NYPD says
Police said they're searching for a person of interest.
By
Ryan Kost
and
Elizabeth Kim
Published Oct 17, 2026
Modified Oct 17, 2026 at 4:10 p.m. ET
Have you seen this Yorkie? NYPD looking for adorable pup dognapped from her Queens home
Suspects were driving a Subaru Forester, police said.
By
Ryan Kost
News
Have you seen this Yorkie? NYPD looking for adorable pup dognapped from her Queens home
Suspects were driving a Subaru Forester, police said.
By
Ryan Kost
Being reigning champions is weird for Knicks fans, but we could get used to this.
By
Catalina Gonella
Tompkins Square Park is getting a makeover. Some say it's too much.
By
Willow Higgins
Deer are all over New Jersey roads looking for sex, state officials warn
By
Rosemary Misdary
Never miss a story
Catch up on the most important headlines with a roundup of essential NYC stories, delivered to your inbox daily.
Sign upEmail address
By submitting your information, you're agreeing to receive communications from New York Public Radio in accordance with our Terms .