Abstract
Kaporos is a Jewish ritual of atonement in which chickens suffer and are ultimately slaughtered. In a handful of ways, Kaporos fails to comply with core religious ethics and foundational secular ethics. Multiculturalism defends cultural traditions, but what stand might multiculturalists take with regard to traditions that breach fundamental moral dictates? More specifically, when forced to decide between the protection and preservation of religious traditions and the lives and welfare of anymals, where does multiculturalism stand?
Anymal” (a contraction of “any” and “animal,” pronounced like “any” and “mal”), refers to all individuals who are of a species other than that of the speaker/author. This means that if a human being uses the term, all species except Homo sapiens are indicated. If a chimpanzee signs “anymal,” all species (including human beings) will be included except chimpanzees. Using the term “anymal” avoids the use of (a) “animal” as if human beings were not animals (b) dualistic and alienating references such as “non” and “other.
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Notes
- 1.
“The Kaparot Ceremony.” http://www.chabad.org/holidays/JewishNewYear/template_cdo/aid/989585/jewish/Kaparot.htm (Accessed 29/08/2015).
- 2.
Ibid.
- 3.
Karen Davis, “United Poultry Concerns’ Campaign to End Chicken Kaporos.” Alliance to End Chickens as Kaparos. March 19, 2013. n.p. http://www.endchickensaskaporos.com/museum.html n.p. (Accessed 29/08/2015). Also see “Crown Heights Kaporos.” http://www.kaporos.com/ (Accessed 29/08/2015).
- 4.
Scores of YouTube clips expose the suffering that is common and the bloodshed that is inherent in Kaporos. “Chickens as Kaporos” and “Bloodshed in Brooklyn—Kaporos” are a good place to start, though pretty much all of the clips of Kaporos are difficult to watch—it is a ritual of slaughter.
- 5.
Davis (2013).
- 6.
Ibid.
- 7.
Ibid.
- 8.
Ibid.
See also Richard H. Schwartz, “The Custom of Kapparot in the Jewish Tradition.” Alliance to End Chickens as Kaparos http://www.endchickensaskaporos.com/custom.html (Accessed 29/08/2015).
- 9.
Richard H. Schwartz, “The Custom of Kapparot in the Jewish Tradition.” Alliance to End Chickens as Kaparos http://www.endchickensaskaporos.com/custom.html (Accessed 29/08/2015).
Also see “The Kaparot Ceremony.” http://www.chabad.org/holidays/JewishNewYear/template_cdo/aid/989585/jewish/Kaparot.htm (Accessed 29/08/2015) and “Text of Kapparot.” http://www.chabad.org/holidays/JewishNewYear/template_cdo/aid/320228/jewish/Text-of-Kapparot.htm? (Accessed 29/08/2015).
- 10.
See “The Kaparot Ceremony.” http://www.chabad.org/holidays/JewishNewYear/template_cdo/aid/989585/jewish/Kaparot.htm (Accessed 29/08/2015).
- 11.
“Anymal” (a contraction of “any” and “animal,” pronounced just as the words “any” and “mal” are pronounced), refers to all animals, unique and diverse, marvelous and complex, colorful and common, who do not happen to be the same species as the speaker/author. Anymal is a shortened version of the concept “any animal that does not happen to be the species that I am.” This means that if a signing chimp signs “anymal,” we will be included in this term, and she will not. In this case, the speaker/author is a human being, so in this chapter “anymal” refers to any animal who is not a human being. Anymal avoids the fundamentally dualistic terms “non” and “other” and is therefore neither dualistic nor speciesist.
- 12.
Shmuly Yanklowitz, “Why this Rabbi is Swearing off Kosher Meat.” Wall Street Journal, A13. May 30, 2014b.
- 13.
The Torah is the first five books of the Tanakh: Genesis, Exodus, Leviticus, Numbers, and Deuteronomy. Talmud consists of rabbinic discussions pertaining to Jewish law, ethics, customs, and history.
- 14.
Richard H. Schwartz, “The Custom of Kapparot in the Jewish Tradition.” Alliance to End Chickens as Kaparos. http://www.endchickensaskaporos.com/custom.html (Accessed 29/08/2015).
- 15.
Davis (2013).
- 16.
“A Wing and a Prayer: The Kapparot Chicken-Swinging Ritual.” United Poultry Concerns. http://upc-online.org/kaparos/a_wing_and_a_prayer.html (Accessed 29/08/2015).
- 17.
Roberta Kalechofsky, “Hierarchy, Kinship, and Responsibility.” in Paul Waldau and Kimberley (eds.) A Communion of Subjects: Animals in Religion, Science, and Ethics (Patton. NY: Columbia U. Press, 2006), 91–99.
- 18.
Richard H. Schwartz, Judaism and Vegetarianism (NY: Lantern, 2001), 16.
- 19.
Elijah Judah Schochet, Animal Life in Jewish Tradition: Attitudes and Relationships. (NY: KTAV Publishing, 1984), 246.
- 20.
Cohn-Sherbok. “Hope for the Animal Kingdom.” in Paul Waldau and Kimberley Patton (eds.) A Communion of Subjects: Animals in Religion, Science, and Ethics (NY: Columbia U. Press, 2006), 90.
- 21.
Offset passages from the Tanakh have been translated from the Hebrew by Samantha Joo. In-text translations are from the Tanakh: The Holy Scriptures: Torah, Nevi’im, Kethuvim (Jerusalem: The Jewish Publication Society, 1985).
There is no difference in the fundamental meaning of any of these passages when compared with the same passages in the Christian Old Testament. Therefore, explorations of the Tanakh in this chapter are applicable to both Christian and Islamic traditions, but will not be repeated in subsequent chapters.
- 22.
Louis A. Berman, Vegetarianism and the Jewish Tradition (NY: KTAV Publishing House, 1982), 3.
- 23.
Rabbi Samson Rafae Hirsch, “Letter 4.” Nineteen Letters (NY: Feldheim, 1969) (Elias edition).
- 24.
Kalechofsky (2001), 95.
- 25.
- 26.
- 27.
See also Hirsch (1962), Chapter 60 and Schwartz (2001), 416.
- 28.
Cohn-Sherbok (2006), 89.
- 29.
Kalechofsky (2001), 95.
- 30.
Hirschl (1969). See also Schwartz (2001), 17.
- 31.
Schochet (1984), 297.
- 32.
“Cruel” http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/cruel (Accessed 26/01/2013.).
- 33.
See Schwartz (2001), 15.
- 34.
- 35.
Lewis G. Regenstein, Replenish the Earth. (NY: Crossroad, 1991), 21.
- 36.
Cohn-Sherbok (2006), 88.
- 37.
Schochet (1984), 159.
- 38.
Clifton J. Allen, Broadman Bible Commentary, 12 vols. (Nashville: Broadman Press, 1971), 1:132.
- 39.
Schwartz (2001), 2.
- 40.
Allen (1971), 1:132.
- 41.
Schwartz (2001), 13.
- 42.
Today, drinking milk and eating eggs also cause tremendous suffering and premature death. Those committed to living a life of peace and compassion chose to be vegan.
- 43.
Schochet (1984), 289–290.
- 44.
Ibid. 288.
- 45.
Ibid. 292.
- 46.
Schwartz (2001), 3, 175. See also Rabbi Shear Yashuv Cohen, “Rabbinic Endorsement.” Judaism and Vegetarianism. Schwartz, Richard H. (NY: Lantern, 2001).
- 47.
Cohen (2001).
- 48.
Schochet (1984), 296–297.
- 49.
Ibid. 297.
- 50.
Schwartz (2001), 25.
- 51.
Theodore Hiebert, “The Human Vocation: Origins and Transformations in Christian Traditions.” Christianity and Ecology: Seeking the Well-Being of Earth and Humans. Dieter T. Hessel and Rosemary Radford Ruether (eds.). (Cambridge: Harvard University Press, 2000), 138.
- 52.
Kalechofsky (2001), 98. See also John B. Cobb Jr. “Christianity, Economics, and Ecology”, Christianity and Ecology: Seeking the Well-Being of Earth and Humans. Dieter T. Hessel and Rosemary Radford Ruether (eds.), 506–507.
- 53.
Hiebert (2010), 138.
- 54.
Calvin DeWitt, “Behemoth and Batrachians in the Eye of God.” Christianity and Ecology: Seeking the Well-Being of Earth and Humans. Dieter T. Hessel and Rosemary Radford Ruether (eds.) (Cambridge: Harvard University Press, 2000), 354.
- 55.
Schwartz (2001), 16.
- 56.
DeWitt (2000), 306.
- 57.
Kinsley, David. Ecology and Religion: Ecological Spirituality in Cross-Cultural Perspective. Englewood Cliffs: Prentice-Hall, 1995.
- 58.
Regenstein, 33.
- 59.
Paul Waldau, The Specter of Speciesism: Buddhist and Christian Views of Animals (New York: Oxford, 2002), 18–19.
- 60.
Schochet (1984), 57.
- 61.
Schochet (1984), 146.
- 62.
DeWitt Calvin, “Three,” 353.
- 63.
Ibid.
- 64.
DeWitt (2000), 204.
- 65.
Hirschl (1969). See also Schwartz (2001), 16.
- 66.
Hiebert (2010), 140.
- 67.
- 68.
Hiebert (2010), 129.
- 69.
Schochet (1984), 135.
- 70.
Ibid. 129, 133.
- 71.
“Og, King of Bashan.” http://www.jewishencyclopedia.com/view.jsp?artid=215&letter=G (Accessed 29/08/2015).
- 72.
Rabbi Ephraim Buchwald, “Og Stands Tall on the Stage of History”, National Jewish Outreach Program, Devarim 5769–2009. http://www.njop.org/html/Devarim%205769-2009.html (Accessed 05/02/2010).
- 73.
Schochet (1984), 129, 130, 138, 139.
- 74.
Ibid. 133.
- 75.
Schwartz (2001), 95.
- 76.
Berman (1982), 8.
- 77.
Guthrie, D., and J. A. Motyer (eds.), The New Bible Commentary: Rev. Ed. (Leicester: Inter-Varsity, 1970).
- 78.
Cohen (2001).
- 79.
George Arthur Buttrick (ed. and trans.), The Interpreter’s Bible, 12 vols. (New York: Abingdon, 1956), 5:249.
- 80.
Berman (1982), 43.
- 81.
Kalechofsky (2001), 96.
- 82.
Cohn-Sherbok (2006), 88.
- 83.
Kalechofsky (2001), 97.
- 84.
“The History of the RSPCA.” Animal Legal and Historical Center: Michigan State University. Accessed Aug. 29, 2015.
- 85.
“The History of the RSPCA.” Animal Legal and Historical Center: Michigan State University. Accessed Aug. 29, 2015.
- 86.
“Gompertz, Lewis.” http://www.jewishencyclopedia.com/view.jsp?letter=G&artid=355 (Accessed 27/11/2008).
- 87.
JVNA (Jewish Vegetarians of North America). http://www.jewishveg.com/ (Accessed 29/11/2008).
- 88.
Lisa Kemmerer, Animals and World Religions (Oxford: Oxford UP, 2012), 282.
- 89.
Shmuly Yanklowitz, “A Yom Kippur of Mercy or Cruelty? Bringing an End to Kaporos!” The Jewish Week. October 2, 2014a. http://www.thejewishweek.com/features/street_torah/yom_kippur_mercy_or_cruelty (Accessed 29/08/2015).
- 90.
Ibid.
- 91.
Katherine Bindley, “Rabbi Calls for Better Treatment of Kaparot Chickens in Yom Kippur Ritual.” The Huffington Post. September 3, 2013. (Accessed 29/08/2015). http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/09/03/treatment-of-kaparot-chickens_n_3861861.html (Accessed).
- 92.
“Israel’s ultra-Orthodox Rethink Yom Kippur Animal Sacrifice.” Jewish World. Associated Press. October 7, 2011 http://www.haaretz.com/jewish-world/israel-s-ultra-orthodox-rethink-yom-kippur-animal-sacrifice-1.388636 (Accessed 29/08/2015).
- 93.
Davis quoting Mahgerefteh from “Jewish chicken killing ritual of Kapparot,” September 28, 2006.
- 94.
Davis (2013).
- 95.
Davis quoting Chedva Vanderbrook, ynetnews.com, Sept. 28, 2006.
- 96.
Peter Singer, “All Animals are Equal.” Animal Rights and Human Obligations. Tom Regan and Peter Singer (eds.). (Oxford University Pres, 1989), 8.
- 97.
James Rachels, The Elements of Moral Philosophy (NY: McGraw Hill, 2015), 25.
- 98.
Ibid. 135. See also Tom Ragan, The Case for Animal Rights. (New York: Routledge, 1984), 119.
- 99.
Davis (2013).
- 100.
Ibid.
- 101.
Ibid.
- 102.
Ibid.
- 103.
Ibid.
- 104.
Ibid.
- 105.
Ibid.
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Kemmerer, L. (2017). Kaporos: Multiculturalism, Ethics, and Anymals. In: Cordeiro-Rodrigues, L., Mitchell, L. (eds) Animals, Race, and Multiculturalism . The Palgrave Macmillan Animal Ethics Series. Palgrave Macmillan, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-66568-9_10
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