NOTE: I was not paid to review this book. It is an unbiased and objective review. If you have a book with Jewish or Israel related content and would like me to write a review, contact me for details of where to send me a review copy of the book.

Book Review: Zeh Kaporosi by Avrohom Reit

 Zeh Kaporosi, published by Mosaica Press, is a book about the custom of Kaparos that we do, usually, on Erev Yom Kippur.

I am amazed that a custom that has two lines written about it in Shulchan Aruch, and not overly positive lines, has such a rich history that an entire book can be written about it.

Zeh Kaporosi details the reasons for kaparos, and there are a few, the variety of customs of how kaparos was done throughout its documented history, the various meaning of what is being accomplished by kaparos, various associated customs connected to kaparos, along with a couple of chapters at the end that describe in some details the basic halachos involved in kisuy ha'dam and kashering the chickens, and a Hebrew appendix of sources dealing with the minhag of kaparos.

The book is well written, is interesting, and is even humorous at times. The book has plenty of information that I had no idea of previously, such as the custom to do kaparos with a plant, and that the minhag to use money for kaparos is basically a relatively new variation (sourced in the USA), among other aspects of the custom that he explains. The author is clearly in favor of kaparos as performed with a chicken, and he brings the sources to push that as the proper, or perhaps preferred is a better word, performance of the custom.

Zeh Kaporosi is a great book for the student of minhagim, and it is a book that pulls the reader in even if one is just looking for more information about this specific minhag that always feels a bit exotic and a throwback to the "Old World".

Now, right before the High Holidays, is definitely the perfect time to read Zeh Kaporosi.


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NOTE: I was not paid to review this book. It is an unbiased and objective review. If you have a book with Jewish or Israel related content and would like me to write a review, contact me for details of where to send me a review copy of the book.