Kapporot Eastern Parkway Crown Heights Saturday, September 30, 2006 9PM - 6AM Photographed by Angelo Rivera

New York Cool photographer Angelo Rivera was in Crown Heights on the night of Yom Kippur when he got these imgages of the Jewish ritual called Kaporet. According to Jewish mysticism, Kaporet takes place at night (from 9PM to 6AM) on the eve of Yom Kippur. The area was filled with cars with out of state license plates. The participants bought a ticket and then the men picked roosters and the women picked hens from the large crates filled with chickens (expecting women pick both). They then said a prayer while holding the chicken underneath its wings and rotated it three times over their head (some put plastic bags or umbrellas over their heads to avoid a certain problem). Then the partcipants got in a line to give their chicken to a plastic-approned Rabbi who cut the chicken's wind pipe after which they (the chicken owners) covered the blood with saw dust. The Rabbi then inspects the chicken's lungs to verify that there is no blockage and that the chicken is Kosher. The Jews believe that by participating in this ceremony that they will ensure their families a Happy New Year.

For more information about Kaporet, log onto: http://www.jewishmag.com/25MAG/KAPORA/kapora.htm