kapparah

[ Sephardic Hebrew kah-pah-rah; Ashkenazic Hebrew kah-paw-ruh ]

noun

, Hebrew.

, plural kap·pa·roth, kap·pa·rot [kah-pah-, rawt], kap·pa·ros [kah-, paw, -, r, ohs].

1. a ritual performed by some Orthodox Jews before Yom Kippur that consists of swinging a fowl around the head and reciting prayers that symbolically transfer the person's sins to the fowl.

Word History and Origins

Origin of kapparah¹

kappārāh literally, atonement

Example Sentences

The caption said the photograph depicted the practice of kapparah but offered no explanation of the practice.

From Washington Post

The custom of kapparah, dating back more than 500 years, is practiced only by ultra-Orthodox Jews.

From Washington Post