I was very happy to come across this thread. As a vegetarian, I am often criticized in the Orthodox world, the standard argument being that animals were created for our use. I am not going to get into that discussion here, but whether they are here for us or not, we are in no way free to do what we like with them. If we do use them, for purposes either mundane or holy, we must set certain boundaries for ourselves and always remember that animals have nervous systems and can and do experience pain and suffering. As another member stated, this concept is found d’oraita and is known as tsa’ar ba’alei chayim.
Yom Kippur is approaching, a day when we may not wear leather shoes. This is because we must have mercy on animals if we expect Hashem to have mercy on us. It is also said that having compassion toward animals makes one better able to have compassion toward humans. These are all reasons to avoid the unnecessary cruelty that comes of using chickens rather than money for kaparot.
I was in the Old City last night for Selichot and passed by a group of people doing Kaparot on the street. The chickens were small, pitiful creatures literally piled on top of one another in a tiny enclosed crate. The one that was currently circling a woman’s head (the man at least moved it gently rather than swinging it violently, as I’ve heard happens in some places) clucked pathetically in protest.
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