Jezebel: Yom Kippur

Orthodox Jews Debate Chicken-Swinging Ritual

Anna North — Thu, 06 Oct 2011 17:05:00 EDT

In the Yom Kippur tradition of kaparot, some Orthodox Jews swing a live chicken above their heads, then slaughter it, often donating the meat to charity. But some now say the practice is inhumane. Rabbi Meir Hirsch says the chickens "spend all day in the sun without food or drink" before their deaths. He adds, "You cannot perform a commandment by committing a sin." Now Hirsch waves a $10 bill over his head instead. More »

Personal Fowl

Anna Holmes — Thu, 24 Sep 2009 13:10:00 EDT

[Jerusalem, September 23. Image via Getty]

Waterboarding Apologist Says Sarah Silverman Is "Not A Jew"

Jessica G. — Thu, 09 Oct 2008 14:00:00 EDT

It's Yom Kippur, the Jewish High Holiday where we're supposed to be atoning for our sins, and uber-conservative Jewish columnist Mona Charen is taking this opportunity to be completely hateful. Charen is responding to an article in the New York Times about "The Great Schlep," Sarah Silverman's viral video which tries to get young Jews to convince their Floridian grandparents to vote for Obama. I will not fight Charen over the beginning of her essay. She is offended by what she sees as Silverman's "antisemitism" (saying Jews have big noses, etc.). While I think Silverman is hilarious and satirical, Charen and others are welcome to find Sarah's humor offensive. That's opinion. What upsets me deeply, however, is that Charen distorts Silverman's words, calls her "not a Jew," and then claims that Jews like Silverman are "substituting liberal politics for religion." More »