Laws of Performing Kapparot:

A. The recommended amount for Kapparot is 50 NIS per person, reflecting the price of a chicken this year [5785 - 2024]. Some have the custom of giving 18 NIS per person, but the custom can be fulfilled with any amount.

B. If performing Kapparot for multiple people, one should give the desired amount for each individual.

C. Kapparot should be performed for every male and female, regardless of age.

D. The ideal time to perform the Kapparot ceremony is on the day before Yom Kippur. However, it can be done on any day between Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur.

E. The money from Kapparot should specifically be given to the poor and not for other charitable needs. When donating through the ‘Sheilot’ website, the funds will go directly to impoverished Torah scholars, allowing you to fulfill the custom in the most honorable way.

F. If you wish to donate the amount via credit card: take the desired amount in cash, perform the Kapparot ceremony as instructed, and then donate the equivalent sum through your credit card. You may keep the cash for personal use.

Kapparot Ceremony Procedure:

A. Prepare the amount of cash equivalent to what you wish to donate via credit card.

B. Recite the following verses three times:
“Those who sit in darkness and in the shadow of death, bound in affliction and iron… They cried unto the Lord in their trouble, and He saved them out of their distresses…” [recite the full verses in the original Hebrew]

יֹשְׁבֵי חֹשֶׁךְ וְצַלְמָוֶת אֲסִירֵי עֳנִי וּבַרְזֶל:
וַיִּזְעֲקוּ אֶל יְקֹוָק בַּצַּר לָהֶם מִמְּצֻקוֹתֵיהֶם יוֹשִׁיעֵם:
אֱוִלִים מִדֶּרֶךְ פִּשְׁעָם וּמֵעֲוֹנֹתֵיהֶם יִתְעַנּוּ:
כָּל אֹכֶל תְּתַעֵב נַפְשָׁם וַיַּגִּיעוּ עַד שַׁעֲרֵי מָוֶת:
וַיִּזְעֲקוּ אֶל יְקֹוָק בַּצַּר לָהֶם מִמְּצֻקוֹתֵיהֶם יוֹשִׁיעֵם:
יִשְׁלַח דְּבָרוֹ וְיִרְפָּאֵם וִימַלֵּט מִשְּׁחִיתוֹתָם:
יוֹדוּ לַיקֹוָק חַסְדּוֹ וְנִפְלְאוֹתָיו לִבְנֵי אָדָם:
אִם יֵשׁ עָלָיו מַלְאָךְ מֵלִיץ אֶחָד מִנִּי אָלֶף לְהַגִּיד לְאָדָם יָשְׁרוֹ:
וַיְחֻנֶּנּוּ וַיֹּאמֶר פְּדָעֵהוּ מֵרֶדֶת שָׁחַת מָצָאתִי כֹפֶר:

C. If performing Kapparot for oneself, hold the prepared money and circle it over your head while saying three times:
“This is my exchange, this is my substitute, this is my atonement. This money will go to charity, and I shall proceed to a good, long life and peace.”

זֶה חַלִיפָתִי, זֶה תְּמוּרָתִי, זֶה כַּפָּרָתִי, זֶה הַכֶּסֶף יֵלֵך לִצְדָקָה וְַאַנִי אֶכָּנֵס וְאֵלֵך לְחַיִים טוֹבִים אְַרוּכִים וּלְשָלוֹם.

D. If performing Kapparot for another person, circle the money over the head of the one for whom it is being done and recite the appropriate text:

•  For a male: “This is your exchange, this is your substitute, this is your atonement. This money will go to charity, and you shall proceed to a good, long life and peace.” (repeat three times)

זֶה חַלִיפָתְךָ, זֶה תְּמוּרָתְךָ, זֶה כַּפָּרָתְךָ, זֶה הַכֶּסֶף יֵלֵך לִצְדָקָה וְַאַתָּה תִּכָּנֵס וְתֵלֵך לְחַיִים טוֹבִים אְַרוּכִים וּלְשָלוֹם.

•  For a female: “This is your exchange, this is your substitute, this is your atonement. This money will go to charity, and you shall proceed to a good, long life and peace.” (repeat three times)

זֶה חַלִיפָתֵךְ, זֶה תְּמוּרָתֵךְ, זֶה כַּפָּרָתֵךְ, זֶה הַכֶּסֶף יֵלֵך לִצְדָקָה וְַאַת תִּכָּנְסִי וְתֵלְכִי לְחַיִים טוֹבִים אְַרוּכִים וּלְשָלוֹם.

•  For multiple people: “This is your exchange, this is your substitute, this is your atonement. This money will go to charity, and you shall all proceed to a good, long life and peace.” (repeat three times)

זֶה חַלִיפַתְכֶם, זֶה תְּמוּרַתְכֶם, זֶה כַּפָּרַתְכֶם, זֶה הַכֶּסֶף יֵלֵך לִצְדָקָה וְַאַתֶם תכָּנְסוּ וְתֵלְכוּ לְחַיִים טוֹבִים אְַרוּכִים וּלְשָלוֹם.

If the person for whom you are performing Kapparot is not present, it can still be done in their absence by mentioning their name:

• For a male who is not present: “This is the exchange for [name], this is his substitute, this is his atonement. This money will go to charity, and [name] shall proceed to a good, long life and peace.” (repeat three times)

זֶה חַלִיפָתוֹ שֶל [כאן יאמר את שם האיש שעבורו עושה את הכפרות], זֶה תְּמוּרָתוֹ, זֶה כַּפָּרָתוֹ, זֶה הַכֶּסֶף יֵלֵך לִצְדָקָה וְ [כאן יאמר את שם האיש שעבורו עושה את הכפרות] יִכָּנֵס וְיֵלֵך לְחַיִים טוֹבִים אְַרוּכִים וּלְשָלוֹם.

• For a female who is not present: “This is the exchange for [name], this is her substitute, this is her atonement. This money will go to charity, and [name] shall proceed to a good, long life and peace.” (repeat three times)

זֶה חַלִיפָתָה שֶל [כאן יאמר את שם האישה שעבורה עושה את הכפרות], זֶה תְּמוּרָתָה, זֶה כַּפָּרָתָה, זֶה הַכֶּסֶף יֵלֵך לִצְדָקָה וְ [כאן יאמר את שם האישה שעבורה עושה את הכפרות] תִּכָּנֵס וְתֵּלֵך לְחַיִים טוֹבִים אְַרוּכִים וּלְשָלוֹם.