A Kaparos Experience for Every Child

A private Kaparos experience was created especially for Friendship Circle families, giving children the opportunity to participate in this meaningful minhag in a setting that was calm, welcoming and designed with their needs in mind.

For many Jewish families, Kaparos is simply part of the rhythm of the days leading up to Yom Kippur. The chickens, the familiar tefillah, the excitement, the bustle – it is a minhag that generations have grown up with. But for families of children with special needs, participating in Kaparos can be anything but simple. The crowds, noise, unfamiliar environment and sensory challenges can make the experience overwhelming, and for some children, it has meant never being able to experience Kaparos with a chicken at all.

Friendship Circles annual Kaporas changed all of that.

A private Kaparos experience was created especially for Friendship Circle families, giving children the opportunity to participate in this meaningful minhag in a setting that was calm, welcoming and designed with their needs in mind.

And the moments that came out of it were incredibly special. One mother shared that this was the first time their child had ever done Kaparos with a chicken. For some families, something that had always felt too difficult suddenly became possible. Another mother messaged that “as funny as this sounds, Kaparos with you guys is the highlight of our year.”

Every detail was thoughtfully planned. The setup was clean, smooth and organized, with a child-friendly atmosphere and volunteers ready to help every family. Children who were nervous about the chickens had the option of using boxes, allowing them to participate while still feeling safe and comfortable.

The goal was never to create a different Jewish experience. It was to make sure that children with special needs could experience the same minhagim and traditions that connect every Jewish child to the community and to generations before them.

The Rebbe spoke so strongly about the importance of minhagim and about ensuring that every Jew has a place in Jewish life. This Kaparos experience brought that message to life in a beautiful way.

Thank you to all the incredibly welcoming and hard working volunteers who joined; to the team at Beis Rivkah led by Rabbi Sholom Goldstein and Benny Wolf for graciously hosting; to NCFJE for accommodating the chicken transfers and to The Boxery for supplying the boxes.

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