Table Of ContentThe Laws of Yom Kippur - Texts & Writings https://www.chabad.org/library/article_cdo/aid/3385295/jewish/The-Law...
ה"ב
By Rabbi Schneur Zalman of Liadi
Shulchan Aruch: Chapter 604 - [Conduct] on Erev Yom Kippur
Shulchan Aruch: Chapter 605 - Custom of Kaparos on Erev Yom Kippur
Shulchan Aruch: Chapter 606 - Requirement to Appease One Another on Erev Yom
Kippur
Shulchan Aruch: Chapter 607 - Order of the Confessional Prayer in the Afternoon
Service of Erev Yom Kippur
Shulchan Aruch: Chapter 608 - Order of the Meal Preceding the Fast
Shulchan Aruch: Chapter 609 - Insulation of Hot [Foods or Beverages] on Erev Yom
Kippur
Shulchan Aruch: Chapter 610 - Kindling Lights on Yom Kippur
Shulchan Aruch: Chapter 611 - Restrictions Observed on the Night of Yom Kippur
Shulchan Aruch: Chapter 612 - [Prohibition] of Eating on Yom Kippur and the [Minimum]
Quantity [for which one is Liable]
Shulchan Aruch: Chapter 613 - Prohibition against Washing Oneself on Yom Kippur
Shulchan Aruch: Chapter 614 - Laws Relating to Anointing Oneself and Wearing Shoes
on Yom Kippur
Shulchan Aruch: Chapter 615 - Marital Relations on Yom Kippur
Shulchan Aruch: Chapter 616 - Age Children Should Begin to Fast
Shulchan Aruch: Chapter 617 - Pregnant and Nursing Women, and Women after Recent
Childbirth, on Yom Kippur
Shulchan Aruch: Chapter 618 - Laws Related to a Sick Person on Yom Kippur
Shulchan Aruch: Chapter 619 - Order of the Prayers on the Night of Yom Kippur
Shulchan Aruch: Chapter 620 - The Desirable Custom of Shortening the Morning Service
[on Yom Kippur]
1 of 3 12/18/2020, 3:19 PM
The Laws of Yom Kippur - Texts & Writings https://www.chabad.org/library/article_cdo/aid/3385295/jewish/The-Law...
Shulchan Aruch: Chapter 621 - Order of the Torah Reading and [the Laws Relating to] a
Circumcision on Yom Kippur
Shulchan Aruch: Chapter 622 - Order of the Afternoon Service
Shulchan Aruch: Chapter 623 - Order of the Neilah Service
Shulchan Aruch: Chapter 624 - Order [to be Followed] on the Night at the Close of Yom
Kippur
2 of 3 12/18/2020, 3:19 PM
The Laws of Yom Kippur - Texts & Writings https://www.chabad.org/library/article_cdo/aid/3385295/jewish/The-Law...
3 of 3 12/18/2020, 3:19 PM
Shulchan Aruch: Chapter 604 - [Conduct] on Erev Yom Kippur - Texts... https://www.chabad.org/library/article_cdo/aid/3385297/jewish/Shulcha...
Shulchan Aruch: Chapter 604 - [Conduct] on
Erev Yom Kippur
By Rabbi Schneur Zalman of Liadi
SECTION 604 [Conduct] on ErevYom Kippur. (1–7)
םיפִ יﬠִ סְ 'ז וֹבוּ רוּפּכִּ םוֹי ברֶﬠֶ רדֶ סֵ דרת ןמיס:
1 [It is written,]1 “And you shall afflict your souls on the ninth of the month….” But
is it on the ninth of the month that we fast?!2 In fact we fast only on the tenth! For
so it is written: “On the tenth of the month you shall afflict your souls,”3 and “from
evening to evening [shall you observe your day of rest].”4
The intent of the [first] verse is: Prepare yourself on the ninth [of the month] for the
affliction of the tenth. Eat and drink on the ninth, so that you will be able to fast on
the tenth.5
It is out of G-d’s love for the Jewish people that He commanded them to fast only
one day in the year.6 And this is for their good, to atone for their sins. [Moreover,]
He commanded them to eat and drink first, so that the fast would not harm them.7
The reason the verse refers to eating as “affliction” rather than stating explicitly that
people should eat and drink on the ninth day is to teach that one who eats and
drinks on the ninth is considered by Scripture as if he fasted on it because of G-d’s
command — that we afflict ourselves on this [day]. And [the verse refers to eating
on this day as “affliction,” because generally] the reward that one receives for eating
and drinking because of G-d’s commandment is not comparable to the reward that
one receives for fasting because of G-d’s commandment.8
Nevertheless, one who eats and drinks on the ninth [of Tishrei] receives a great
reward as if he fasted (on the ninth and the tenth),9 because of G-d’s command that
we fast (on those two days).
[The rationale for this distinction is that] since Yom Kippur itself cannot be
honored with food and drink as one honors other festivals,10 it must be honored on
the preceding day.
Accordingly, it is forbidden to fast on the ninth, even on account of a [disturbing]
dream. [Such] a fast is permitted on Shabbos and on festivals,11 but on the day
preceding Yom Kippur, when eating and drinking is considered as affliction, as
explained above, one should not fast. Instead one should eat and drink, and this
will be considered as if he fasted because of his dream.
Nevertheless, if a person desires to fast because of a dream until the meal before the
fast,12 one should not protest against this. The rationale is that the day preceding
Yom Kippur is not like Shabbos, concerning which it is said,13 “And you shall call
the Shabbos a delight.” This is why it is forbidden to fast [on Shabbos] for even one
moment for the sake of a [ritual] fast, unless the fast is undertaken because of a
1 of 4 12/20/2020, 12:45 PM
Shulchan Aruch: Chapter 604 - [Conduct] on Erev Yom Kippur - Texts... https://www.chabad.org/library/article_cdo/aid/3385297/jewish/Shulcha...
disturbing dream, as explained in sec. 288[:1, 3]. With regard to the day preceding
Yom Kippur, by contrast, “delight” is not mentioned; it is only that it is a mitzvah to
eat on that day. Thus if one ate once in the course of the day, he has fulfilled his
obligation.
ב,ירִישִׂ ﬠֲ בָּ אלָּ אֶ ןינִּﬠַ תְ מִ ןיאֵ אֹלהֲ וַ 2?ןינִּﬠַ תְ מִ הﬠָ שְׁ תִ בְּ יכִ וְ 1,א,"'וגו שׁדֶ חֹ לַ הﬠָ שְׁ תִ בְּ םכֶ יתֵ וֹשׁפְ נַ תאֶ םתֶ ינִּﬠִ וְ" א
םכֶ מְ צְ ﬠַ וּניכִ הָ ה בוּתכָּ הַ ןיַנְﬠִ אלָּ אֶ 4,"'וגו ברֶﬠֶ דﬠַ ברֶﬠֶ מֵ " ד רמַ אֱ נֶ וְ 3,"םכֶ יתֵ וֹשׁפְ נַ תאֶ וּנּﬠַ תְּ שׁדֶ חֹ לַ רוֹשׂﬠָ בֶּ " ג רמַ אֱ נֶּ שֶׁ
(cid:706)וּרבָּ שׁוֹדקָּ הַ תבַ הֲ אַ מֵ אוּהוְ 5,ז,ירִישִׂ ﬠֲ בָּ תוֹנּﬠַ תְ הִ לְ וּלכְ וּתּשֶׁ ידֵ כְּ יﬠִ ישִׁ תְּ בַּ וּתּשְׁ תִ וְ וּלכְ אֹתּשֶׁ ו,ירִישִׂ ﬠֲ הָ יוּנּﬠִ לְ יﬠִ ישִׁ תְּ בַּ
הלָּ חִ תְּ וּתּשְׁ יִוְ וּלכְ אֹיּשֶׁ םוָּצִ וְ ,םהֶ יתֵ וֹנוֹוﬠֲ רפֵּ כַ לְ םתָ בָ וֹטלְ וּ 6הנָ שָּׁ בַּ דחָ אֶ םוֹי אלָּ אֶ תוֹנּﬠַ תְ הִ לְ םוָּצִ אֹלּשֶׁ ,לאֵ רָשְׂ יִלְ אוּה
7,ח.יוּנּﬠִ הָ םהֶ לָ קיזִּיַ אֹלּשֶׁ
לכֵ וֹאהָ שֶׁ (cid:707)לְ רמַ וֹל י,יﬠִ ישִׁ תְּ בַּ וּתּשְׁ יִוְ וּלכְ אֹיּשֶׁ שׁוּרפֵ בְּ רמַ אָ אֹלוְ ט יוּנּﬠִ ןוֹשׁלְ בִּ הלָ יכִ אֲ הָ תאֶ בוּתכָּ הַ איצִ וֹהשֶּׁ המַ וּ
בי,וֹבּ תוֹנּﬠַ תְ הִ לְ הוָּצִּ שֶׁ אוּה (cid:706)וּרבָּ שׁוֹדקָּ הַ תוַצְ מִ תמַ חֲ מֵ אי וֹבּ הנֶּ ﬠַ תְ מִ היָהָ וּלּאִכְּ בוּתכָּ הַ וילָ ﬠָ הלֶ ﬠֲ מַ – יﬠִ ישִׁ תְּ בַּ התֶ וֹשׁוְ
8,אוּה (cid:706)וּרבָּ שׁוֹדקָּ הַ תוַצְ מִ תמַ חֲ מֵ הנֶּ ﬠַ תְ מִּ הַ רכַ שְׂ לִ המֶ וֹדּ אוּה (cid:706)וּרבָּ שׁוֹדקָּ הַ תוַצְ מִ תמַ חֲ מֵ התֶ וֹשׁוְ לכֵ וֹאהָ רכַ שְׂ ןיאֵ שֶׁ
שׁוֹדקָּ הַ תוַצְ מִ תמַ חֲ מֵ 9(ירִישִׂ ﬠֲ בָ וּ יﬠִ ישִׁ תְּ בַּ ) גי הנֶּ ﬠַ תְ מִ היָהָ וּלּאִכְּ דאֹ מְ הבֵּ רְהַ וֹרכָ שְׂ יﬠִ ישִׁ תְּ בַּ התֶ וֹשׁוְ לכֵ וֹאשֶׁ הזֶ לבָ אֲ
די.(םהֶ ינֵ שְׁ בִּ ) תוֹנּﬠַ תְ הִ לְ הוָּצִּ שֶׁ אוּה (cid:706)וּרבָּ
וֹדבְּ כַ לְ (cid:706)ירִצָ – 10בוֹט םוֹי ראָ שְׁ ןידִבְּ כַ מְּ שֶׁ (cid:706)רֶדֶ כְּ התֶּ שְׁ מִ בַ וּ לכָ אֲ מַ בְּ וֹדבְּ כַ לְ רשָׁ פְ אֶ יאִ וֹמצְ ﬠַ בְּ םירִוּפּכִּ הַ םוֹיּשֶׁ ןוָיכֵ דְּ
וט.וינָ פָ לְּ שֶׁ םוֹיּבַּ
םוֹיוְ תבָּ שַׁ בְּ וּלּפִ אֲ םוֹלחֲ תינִﬠֲ תַּ תוֹנּﬠַ תְ הִ לְ רתָּ מֻּ שֶׁ יפִּ לﬠַ ףאַ זי,םוֹלחֲ תינִﬠֲ תַּ וּלּפִ אֲ זט וֹבּ תוֹנּﬠַ תְ הִ לְ רוּסאָ (cid:706)כָ יפִ לְ
לכַ אֹי אלָּ אֶ טי,וֹבּ תוֹנּﬠַ תְ הִ לְ ןיאֵ – ראֵ בָּ תְ נִּשֶׁ וֹמכְּ יוּנּﬠִ כְּ תבֶ שֶׁ חְ נֶ הלָ יכִ אֲ הָ שֶׁ םירִוּפּכִּ הַ םוֹי ברֶﬠֶ בְּ םוֹקמָ לכָּ מִ 11,חי,בוֹט
כ.וֹמוֹלחֲ לﬠַ הנָּ ﬠַ תְ הִ וּלּאִכְּ וֹל בשֵׁ חָ יֵוְ ,התֶּ שְׁ יִוְ
םירִוּפּכִּ הַ םוֹי ברֶﬠֶ שֶׁ יפִ לְ אכ,וֹדיָבְּ תוֹחמְ לִ ןיאֵ – 12תקֶ סֶ פְ מַּ הַ הדָ וּעסְ דﬠַ וֹמוֹלחֲ לﬠַ תוֹנּﬠַ תְ הִ לְ הצֶ רְיִּשֶׁ ימִ ,םוֹקמָ לכָּ מִ וּ
תינִﬠֲ תַּ םשֵׁ לְ תחַ אַ הﬠָ שָׁ וּלּפִ אֲ וֹבּ תוֹנּﬠַ תְ הִ לְ רוּסאָ (cid:706)כָ יפִ לְ וּ ,"גנֶ עֹ תבָּ שַּׁ לַ תָ ארָקָ וְ" 13,בכ וֹבּ רמַ אֱ נֶּ שֶׁ תבָּ שַׁ לְ המֶ וֹדּ וֹניאֵ
לכֹ אֱ לֶ הוָצְ מִּ שֶׁ אלָּ אֶ גנֶ עֹ וֹבּ רמַ אֱ נֶ אֹלּשֶׁ םירִוּפּכִּ הַ םוֹי ברֶﬠֶ בְּ לבָ אֲ גכ,ח"פר ןמָ יסִ בְּ ראֵ בָּ תְ נִּשֶׁ וֹמכְּ םוֹלחֲ תינִﬠֲ תַּ וֹניאֵ םאִ
דכ:וֹתבָ וֹח ידֵ יְ אצָ יָ – םוֹיּבַּ תחַ אַ םﬠַ פַּ לכַ אָ םאִוְ ,וֹבּ
2 If one transgressed and erred [by] fasting that entire day, he must undertake a
fast after Yom Kippur to atone for having fasted on the day preceding Yom Kippur.
If he fasted only until the meal preceding the fast, he is not required to fast [again]
after Yom Kippur.
הנָּ ﬠַ תְ הִ שֶּׁ המַ לﬠַ רפֵּ כַ לְ 'א תינִﬠֲ תַּ וכ םירִוּפּכִּ הַ םוֹי רחַ אַ הכ תוֹנּﬠַ תְ הִ לְ (cid:706)ירִצָ – םוֹיּהַ לכָּ הנָּ ﬠַ תְ הִ וְ הﬠָ טָ וְ רבַ ﬠָ םאִוְ ב
זכ:םירִוּפּכִּ הַ םוֹי רחַ אַ תוֹנּﬠַ תְ הִ לְ (cid:706)ירִצָ וֹניאֵ – תקֶ סֶ פְ מַּ הַ הדָ וּעסְ דﬠַ אלָּ אֶ הנָּ ﬠַ תְ הִ אֹל םאִ לבָ אֲ .םירִוּפּכִּ הַ םוֹי ברֶﬠֶ בְּ
3 [For the laws regarding] one who vows to fast on this day, see sec. 570.14
14,חכ:ע"קת ןמָ יסִ בְּ ןיֵּﬠַ – וֹבּ תוֹנּﬠַ תְ הִ לְ רדַ נָ םאִ ג
4 According to the letter of the law, it is permitted to eulogize a person on the day
preceding Yom Kippur, for it is not a festival at all, and has no distinctive quality
other than the obligation to eat on that day. Nevertheless, it is customary to treat it
as a festival. On that day, [therefore,] eulogies are not delivered, except for a
departed sage [while we are] in his presence, or for [a departed sage] on the day
that news of his passing first arrives, [for then the mourning is as intense and it is]
as if one was in his presence, as explained in sec. 547.15 Similarly, the passage
known as Tziduk HaDin16 is not recited [on this day] except for a sage and in his
presence.
Likewise, [the confessional supplications known as] Tachanun are not recited on
this day, nor are [the penitential prayers called] Selichos recited at length before
2 of 4 12/20/2020, 12:45 PM
Shulchan Aruch: Chapter 604 - [Conduct] on Erev Yom Kippur - Texts... https://www.chabad.org/library/article_cdo/aid/3385297/jewish/Shulcha...
dawn as is customary on the other days.17 In some communities, however, it is
customary to recite Selichos at length, because they consider this day as a festival
only from dawn onward, not on the preceding night. Everything should follow the
[local] custom.18
טכ,וֹבּ לכֹ אֱ לֶ הוָצְ מִּ שֶׁ אלָּ אֶ הלָ ﬠֲ מַ וֹבּ ןיאֵ וְ ללָ כְּ בוֹט םוֹי וֹניאֵ שֶׁ דפֵּ סְ הֶ בְּ רתָּ מֻ םירִוּפּכִּ הַ םוֹי ברֶﬠֶ ןידִּהַ ןמִּ שֶׁ יפִּ לﬠַ ףאַ ד
אוּהשֶׁ תמֵּ שֶׁ וֹתﬠָ וּמשְׁ האָ בָּ שֶׁ םוֹיבְּ וֹא ל,וינָ פָ בְּ םכָ חָ לﬠַ אלָּ אֶ וֹבּ ןידִיפִּ סְ מַ ןיאֵ וְ ,בוֹט םוֹי וֹתוֹשﬠֲ לַ ןיגִהֲ וֹנ םוֹקמָ לכָּ מִ
דל.וינָ פָ בְּ םכָ חָ לﬠַ אלָּ אֶ 16,גל ןידִּהַ קוּדּצִ םירִמְ וֹא ןיאֵ ןכֵ וְ ,םשָׁ ןיֵּﬠַ 15,בל ז"מקת ןמָ יסִ בְּ ראֵ בָּ תְ נִּשֶׁ וֹמכְּ אל וינָ פָ בְּ וֹמכְּ
תוֹמוֹקמְ שׁיֵוְ 17.םימִ יָ ראָ שְׁ בִ כְּ תוֹחילִ סְ הבֵּ רְהַ רחַ שַּׁ הַ תוֹלﬠֲ םדֶ קֹ םירִמְ וֹא ןיאֵ םגַ וְ הל,ןוּנחֲ תַּ וֹבּ םירִמְ וֹא ןיאֵ ןכֵ וְ
לכֹּ הַ וְ זל.הלָ יְלַּ בַּ אֹל לבָ אֲ (cid:706)לָ יאֵ וְ רחַ שַּׁ הַ תוֹלﬠֲ מֵ אלָּ אֶ בוֹט םוֹי וֹתוֹא ןיבִשְׁ וֹח ןיאֵ שֶׁ יפִ לְ ול,תוֹחילִ סְ בִּ תוֹבּרְהַ לְ ןיגִהֲ וֹנ
18,חל:גהָ נְמִּ הַ יפִ לְ
5 One whose custom is not to eat meat on a weekday except on days when
Tachanun is not recited is permitted to eat meat even on the eve of the ninth of
Tishrei. Certainly, this applies during the day.
Where does this apply? In places where it is not customary to recite Selichos
extensively at night, for they consider the night, too, as part of the festival. By
contrast, in regions in which Selichos are recited extensively, and the night is not
considered as a festival, [such a person] should not eat meat that night.
[Moreover,] even in places where Selichos are not recited extensively, [such a
person] should not eat meat before the stars appear19 on the eve of [the ninth of
Tishrei] even if he recited the Evening Service before nightfall.20 The rationale is
that only actual nighttime is considered as a festival. [This is evident from the fact
that] Tachanun is recited after Shemoneh Esreh in the Afternoon Service of the
eighth of Tishrei, whereas with regard to the other days21 on which Tachanun is
not recited, it is also omitted even in the Afternoon Service of the preceding day.
This indicates that the day preceding Yom Kippur is considered as a festival only
from the appearance of the stars onward.
לילֵ בְּ וּלּפִ אֲ רשָׂ בָּ לכֹ אֱ לֶ רתָּ מֻ – ןוּנחֲ תַּ וֹבּ םירִמְ וֹא ןיאֵ שֶׁ םוֹיבְּ םאִ יכִּ לחֹ הַ תוֹמיְ לכָ בְּ רשָׂ בָּ לכֹ אֱ לֶ אֹלּשֶׁ גהֵ וֹנּשֶׁ ימִ ה
ןהֵ שֶׁ ,הלָ יְלַּ בַּ תוֹחילִ סְ הבֵּ רְהַ םירִמְ וֹא ןיאֵ שֶׁ תוֹמוֹקמְ בִּ ?םירִוּמאֲ םירִבָ דְּ המֶּ בַּ .םוֹיּבַּ ןכֵּ שֶׁ לכָ וְ ,םירִוּפּכִּ הַ םוֹי ברֶﬠֶ
לכֹ אֱ לֶ ןיאֵ – בוֹט םוֹילְ הלָ יְלַּ הַ תאֶ ןיבִשְׁ וֹח ןיאֵ שֶׁ תוֹחילִ סְ בִּ םיבִּ רְמַּ שֶׁ תוֹמוֹקמְ בִּ לבָ אֲ ,הלָ יְלַּ הַ תאֶ םגַּ בוֹט םוֹילְ ןיבִ שְׁ וֹח
טל.הלָ יְלַּ בַּ רשָׂ בָּ
לﬠַ ףאַ 19,רוּפּכִּ םוֹי ברֶﬠֶ לילֵ לשֶׁ םיבִ כָ וֹכּהַ תאצֵ םדֶ קֹ רשָׂ בָּ לכַ אֹי אֹל – תוֹחילִ סְ בִּ וֹבּ םיבִּ רְמַ ןיאֵ שֶׁ תוֹמוֹקמְ בִּ וּלּפִ אֲ וַ
רחַ אַ ןוּנחֲ תַּ םירִמְ וֹא ירֵהֲ שֶׁ מ,שׁמָּ מַ הלָ יְלַ אלָּ אֶ בוֹט םוֹילְ ןיבִ שְׁ וֹח ןיאֵ שֶׁ יפִ לְ 20,םוֹי דוֹעבְּ מִ תיבִ רְﬠַ ללֵּ פַּ תְ הִ שֶׁ יפִּ
החָ נְמִ בְּ וּלּפִ אֲ ןוּנחֲ תַּ םירִמְ וֹא ןיאֵ ןוּנחֲ תַּ םהֶ בָּ םירִמְ וֹא ןיאֵ שֶׁ 21םימִ יָ ראָ שְׁ בִ וּ אמ,ירֵשְׁ תִּ 'ח לשֶׁ החָ נְמִּ הַ תלַּ פִ תְּ
במ:(cid:706)לָ יאֵ וְ םיבִ כָ וֹכּהַ תאצֵּ מִ אלָּ אֶ בוֹט םוֹילְ ןיקִ יזִחֲ מַ ןיאֵ רוּפּכִּ םוֹי ברֶﬠֶ שֶׁ ללָ כְּ מִ ,םהֶ ינֵ פְ לִּ שֶׁ
6 The psalm LaMenatzeiach… yaancha is not recited [on the ninth of Tishrei], for it
is not “a day of distress.” 22 Nor is the psalm beginning Mizmor LeTodah23 recited
on that day, for the reason given in sec. 51[:1].24
םﬠַ טַּ מִ 23,המ,"הדָ וֹתלְ רוֹמזְמִ " וֹבּ םירִמְ וֹא ןיאֵ וְ 22,דמ.הרָצָ םוֹי וֹניאֵ שֶׁ גמ,"'וגו (cid:707)נְﬠַ יַ חַ צֵּ נַ מְ לַ " םירִמְ וֹא ןיאֵ ו
24:םשָׁ ןיֵּﬠַ ומ א"נ ןמָ יסִ בְּ ראֵ בָּ תְ נִּשֶׁ
7 On this day the prayer beginning Avinu Malkeinu is not recited in the Morning
Service nor in the Afternoon Service. The custom of some communities is to recite
Avinu Malkeinu at Shacharis on the day before Yom Kippur [in years] in which
Yom Kippur falls on Shabbos and [hence] Avinu Malkeinu is not recited, as
3 of 4 12/20/2020, 12:45 PM
Shulchan Aruch: Chapter 604 - [Conduct] on Erev Yom Kippur - Texts... https://www.chabad.org/library/article_cdo/aid/3385297/jewish/Shulcha...
explained in sec. 619[:23].25
םירִוּפּכִּ הַ םוֹי לחָ שֶׁ כְּ ןיגִהֲ וֹנ תוֹמוֹקמְ שׁיֵוְ חמ.החָ נְמִ בְּ אֹלוְ זמ תירִחֲ שַׁ תלַּ פִ תְ בִּ אֹל ,"וּנכֵּ לְ מַ וּניבִ אָ " וֹבּ םירִמְ וֹא ןיאֵ ז
םירִוּפּכִּ הַ םוֹי ברֶﬠֶ בְּ וֹתוֹא םירִמְ וֹא זאָ 25,טמ,ט"ירת ןמָ יסִ בְּ ראֵ בָּ תְ יִּשֶׁ וֹמכְּ וּנכֵּ לְ מַ וּניבִ אָ וֹבּ םירִמְ וֹא ןיאֵ שֶׁ תבָּ שַׁ בְּ
נ:תירִחֲ שַׁ
4 of 4 12/20/2020, 12:45 PM
Shulchan Aruch: Chapter 605 - Custom of Kaparos on Erev Yom Kippur ... https://www.chabad.org/library/article_cdo/aid/3385298/jewish/Shulcha...
Shulchan Aruch: Chapter 605 - Custom of
Kaparos on Erev Yom Kippur
By Rabbi Schneur Zalman of Liadi
SECTION 605 The Custom of Kaparos on ErevYom Kippur. (1–6)
םיפִ יﬠִ סְ 'ו וֹבוּ רוּפּכִּ םוֹי ברֶﬠֶ בְּ תוֹרפָּ כַּ גהַ נְמִ הרת ןמיס:
1 In these countries,1 on the day preceding Yom Kippur,2 it is customary for a male
to take a rooster and a female to take a hen, for the ceremony of kaparah
(atonement).
[While holding the chicken] one says: “This is my exchange; this is my substitute;
this is my expiation.” ([The acronym comprising the initial letters of the Hebrew
words for “exchange,” “substitute,” and “expiation”] forms the word ךתח meaning
“cut,” [recalling the phrase from the liturgy that praises] G-d “Who apportions [lit.,
‘cuts’] life for all the living.”
The chicken should be circled [over] one’s head. One should recite [the passage
beginning] Bnei Adam. This is done three times.3
One should place his hands on [the chicken] in a manner that parallels the practice
of semichah that was performed for the sacrifices.4 [The chicken] should be
slaughtered immediately thereafter, as the sacrifices were slaughtered directly after
semichah was performed. There are, however, some who refrain from placing their
hands upon [the chicken], so that it will not appear that they are consecrating an
animal as an offering and slaughtering it outside [the courtyard of the Beis
HaMikdash].5
[In truth] this is no cause for concern, because chickens are not fit to be offered on
the altar. If, however, one does not have chickens [available] and he takes a
different creature for a kaparah, he should not take turtle-doves or fledgling doves,
for they are fit to be offered on the altar. If he were to place his hands on them, it
would in fact appear that he was consecrating sacrifices and slaughtering them
outside [the courtyard of the Beis HaMikdash].
הזֶ " וילָ ﬠָ םירִמְ וֹאוְ ב,הבָ קֵ נְּלַ תלֶ גֹנְרְתַ וְ רכָ זָּ לַ א הרָפָּ כַּ לוֹגנְרְתַּ 2םירִוּפּכִּ הַ םוֹי ברֶﬠֶ בְּ חקַּ לִ 1תוֹצרָאֲ הָ וּלּאֵ בְּ ןיגִהֲ וֹנ א
ה,וֹשׁאֹר ביבִ סְ וֹריזִחֲ מַ וּ ד,יחַ לכָ לְ םייִּחַ (cid:706)תֵ וֹחהַ םשֵּׁ הַ הזֶ (ך"תח תוֹבתֵּ ישֵׁ ארָ) ג,"'וכו יתִ רָפָּ כַּ הזֶ יתִ רָוּמתְּ הזֶ יתִ פָ ילִ חֲ
3,ז.םימִ ﬠָ פְּ 'ג ןכֵּ ןישִׂ וֹעוְ ו,"'וכ םדָ אָ ינֵ בְּ " רמַ אֹיוְ
וילָ ﬠָ (cid:706)מֹ סְ לִּ מִ ןיﬠִ נָ מְ נִ שׁיֵוְ ח.הטָ יחִ שְׁ הכָ ימִ סְ לִ ףכֶ תֵ דְּ דיָּמִ וֹתוֹא ןיטִ חֲ וֹשׁוְ 4,ןבָּ רְקָ בְּ הכָ ימִ סְ תמַ גְדֻּ םהֶ ידֵ יְ וילָ ﬠָ ןיכִ מְ וֹסוְ
וֹניאֵ שֶׁ רבָ דָּ אוּה לוֹגנְרְתַּ הַ שֶׁ ןוָיכֵּ ,הזֶ לָ שׁחֹ לָ ןיאֵ וְ 5,ט.ץוּחבַּ ןטָ חֲ וֹשׁוְ םישִׁ דָ קָ שׁידִּקְ מַ כְּ האֶ רְנִ אהֵ יְ אֹלּשֶׁ ידֵ כְּ ,םהֶ ידֵ יְ
םייִוּארְ םהֵ שֶׁ הנָ וֹי ינֵ בְ וּ םירִוֹתּ חקַּ יִ אֹל – הרָפָּ כַ לְ םייִּחַ ילֵ ﬠֲ בַּ ראָ שְׁ חַ קֵ וֹלוְ םילִ וֹגנְרְתַּ וֹל ןיאֵ םאִ לבָ אֲ י.חַ בֵּ זְמִּ לַ יוּארָ
אי:ץוּחבַּ ןטָ חֲ וֹשׁוְ םישִׁ דָ קָ שׁידִּקְ מַ כְּ האֶ רְנִ אהֵ יְ םהֶ ילֵ ﬠֲ וידָ יָ (cid:706)מֹ סְ יִ םאִוְ ,חַ בֵּ זְמִּ לַ
2 White chickens should be chosen, to recall the verse,6 “[Even] if your sins are like
scarlet, they will become as white as snow.”
1 of 3 12/20/2020, 12:46 PM
Shulchan Aruch: Chapter 605 - Custom of Kaparos on Erev Yom Kippur ... https://www.chabad.org/library/article_cdo/aid/3385298/jewish/Shulcha...
When does the above apply? When white ones are at hand; then they should be
chosen over others. If they are not presently available one should not seek them
out,7 for this would resemble “the way of the Amorites,” who used to seek out white
chickens for their idolatrous sacrifice.8 And [we are commanded],9 “Do not follow
their statutes.”
םירִבָ דְּ המֶּ בַּ ."וּניבִּ לְ יַ גלֶ שֶּׁ כַּ םינִשָּׁ כַּ םכֶ יאֵ טָ חֲ וּיהְ יִ םאִ " 6,גי רמַ אֱ נֶּ שֶׁ (cid:706)רֶדֶּ לﬠַ בי,םינִבָ לְ םילִ וֹגנְרְתַ בְּ ןירִחֲ וֹבוּ ב
םהֶ ירֵחֲ אַ רזֵּ חַ יְ אֹל – וינָ פָ לְ םינִמָּ ֻזמְ םנָ יאֵ םאִ לבָ אֲ ,םירִחֵ אֲ בַּ מִ םהֶ בָּ רחַ בְ יִ זאָ וינָ פָ לְ םינִמָּ ֻזמְ םינִבָ לְּ הַ שֶׁ כְּ ?םירִוּמאֲ
8,וט,הרָזָ הדָ וֹבﬠֲ לַ ןבָ ירִקְ הַ לְ םינִבָ לְ םילִ וֹגנְרְתַּ רחַ אַ רזֵּ חַ לְ םכָּ רְדַּ שֶׁ די,ירִוֹמאֱ הָ יכֵ רְדַּ ןיﬠֵ כְּ וּהזֶּ שֶׁ םוּשּׁמִ 7,אקָ וְדַ בְּ
וּכלֵ תֵ אֹל םהֶ יתֵ וֹקּחֻ בְ וּ" 9,זט ביתִ כְ וּ":
3 Some people are accustomed to include several males [in the kaparos ceremony
performed] with one rooster and several females [in the ceremony performed] with
one hen. According to this custom, only one rooster and one hen are taken for a
pregnant woman. For if the fetus is male, a rooster was taken, and if it is female,
one hen will suffice for the fetus and the mother.
Others follow the custom of taking a kaparah for every person individually.
According to this view, three chickens should be taken for a pregnant woman, two
hens and one rooster.10
אלָּ אֶ תרֶבֶּ ﬠֻ מְ לִ ןיחִ קְ וֹל ןיאֵ (cid:706)כָ יפִ לְ זי,תחַ אַ תלֶ גֹנְרְתַ בְּ תוֹבקֵ נְ המָּ כַ וְ דחָ אֶ לוֹגנְרְתַ בְּ םירִכָ זְ המָּ כַּ רטֹ פְ לִ ןיגִהֲ וֹנ שׁיֵ ג
הּמָּ אִלְ וּ הּלָ ידַּ – הבָ קֵ נְ רבָּ ﬠֻ הָ םאִוְ ,דחָ אֶ לוֹגנְרְתַּ ןאכָּ שׁיֵ ירֵהֲ – רכָ זָ רבָּ ﬠֻ הָ םאִדְּ חי,תחַ אַ תלֶ גֹנְרְתַ וְ דחָ אֶ לוֹגנְרְתַּ
תוֹבקֵ נְ יתֵּ שְׁ – 'ג תרֶבֶּ ﬠֻ מְ לִ ןיחִ קְ וֹל (cid:706)כָ יפִ לְ ,וֹמצְ ﬠַ ינֵ פְ בִּ דחָ אֶ וְ דחָ אֶ לכָ לְ הרָפָּ כַּ חקַּ לִ כ ןיגִהֲ וֹנ שׁיֵוְ טי.תחַ אַ תלֶ גֹנְרְתַ בְּ
10:דחָ אֶ רכָ זָ וְ
4 It is customary to give the [chickens used for] kaparos to the poor. However, it is
preferable to redeem them with money and to distribute the money among the
poor, so that they will not be embarrassed by being given chickens that were used to
secure atonement.
םייִּנִﬠֲ הָ וּשׁיְּבַּ תְ יִ אֹלּשֶׁ ידֵ כְּ ,םייִּנִﬠֲ לָ ןוֹממָּ הַ קלֵּ חַ לְ וּ ןוֹממָ בְּ הרָפָּ כַּ הַ תוֹדּפְ לִ בוֹט רתֵ וֹיוְ אכ.םייִּנִﬠֲ לָ תוֹרפָּ כַּ הַ ןתֵּ לִ ןיגִהֲ וֹנוְ ד
בכ:הרָפָּ כַ לְ וּחקְ לָּ שֶׁ םילִ וֹגנְרְתַּ הַ םהֶ לָ םינִתְ וֹנּשֶּׁ המַ בְּ
5 In some communities it is customary to visit the cemetery [on the day preceding
Yom Kippur]11 and to give tzedakah generously there. This is a desirable custom.12
Since the charity donated there is intended to redeem the kaparos, it is appropriate
to give an amount equivalent to the value of the chickens that served for kaparos in
one’s home.
[At the cemetery, one] should not recite any supplications other than those
instituted by the sages of the early generations, because [the supplicatory prayers
collectively called] Tachanun are not recited on this date.13
םשָׁ םינִתְ וֹנּשֶׁ הקָ דָ צְּ הַ וְ 12,דכ.אוּה הפֶ יָ גהָ נְמִ וּ ,הקָ דָ צְ בִּ םשָׁ תוֹבּרְהַ לְ 11,גכ תוֹרבָ קְּ הַ לﬠַ (cid:706)לֵ ילֵ וּגהֲ נָּ שֶׁ תוֹמוֹקמְ שׁיֵוְ ה
דסָּ ֻימְּ שֶּׁ המַ קרַ ,הנָּ חִ תְּ םוּשׁ רמַ אֹי אֹלוְ וכ.וֹתיבֵ בְּ וֹל שׁיֵּשֶׁ תוֹרפָּ כַּ הַ (cid:706)רֶﬠֵ יפִ כְּ תתֵ לָ יוּארָ (cid:706)כָ לְ וּ הכ,תוֹרפָּ כַּ הַ ןוֹידְפִּ אוּה
13,זכ:הזֶ םוֹיבְּ ןוּנחֲ תַּ םירִמְ וֹא ןיאֵ ירֵהֲ שֶׁ ,םינִוֹמדְקַּ מִ
6 The intestines, the liver, and the kidneys of the kaparos are customarily strewn
on the roofs or in the courtyards, from which they can be taken by birds [of prey]. It
is appropriate to show mercy to creatures on this day, so that G-d will show mercy
to us.
2 of 3 12/20/2020, 12:46 PM
Shulchan Aruch: Chapter 605 - Custom of Kaparos on Erev Yom Kippur ... https://www.chabad.org/library/article_cdo/aid/3385298/jewish/Shulcha...
,םשָּׁ מִ תחַ קַ לָ םילִ וֹכיְ תוֹפוֹעהָ שֶׁ םוֹקמָ רצֵ חָ בֶּ וֹא תוֹגּגַּ הַ לﬠַ תוֹרפָּ כַּ הַ לשֶׁ טכ תוֹילָ כְּ הַ וְ דבֵ כָּ הַ וְ חכ םיִﬠַ מֵ ינֵ בְּ הַ ןיקִ רְוֹזוְ ו
ל:םיִמַ שָּׁ הַ ןמִ וּנילֵ ﬠָ וּמחֲ רַיְּשֶׁ ידֵ כְּ הזֶ םוֹיבְּ תוֹיּרִבְּ הַ לﬠַ םחֵ רַלְ יוּארָשֶׁ יפִ לְ
3 of 3 12/20/2020, 12:46 PM
