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Before Yom Kippur, the Jewish Day of Atonement, some Jews have a custom of performing the ritual of Kapparot (atonement). The ritual involves saying prayers and waving a fowl over the head. A man uses a rooster, a woman uses a hen, a pregnant woman uses a hen and a rooster. Later, the animals are slaughtered and the chickens are given to poor people or the chickens are sold and the proceeds are given to charity. A white chicken is often used to symbolize purification from sin because a verse in Isaiah 1:8 says: "And if your sins be like scarlet, they shall become as white as snow". The custom of Kapparot is a symbolic act that is meant to help a person reflect on the consequences of sin and encourage the participant to atone for their sins and turn to God for mercy. Some Jews have a custom of using money instead of a chicken.

Before Yom Kippur, the Jewish Day of Atonement, some Jews have a custom of performing the ritual of Kapparot (atonement). The ritual involves saying prayers and waving a fowl over the head. A man uses a rooster, a woman uses a hen, a pregnant woman uses a hen and a rooster. Later, the animals are slaughtered and the chickens are given to poor people or the chickens are sold and the proceeds are given to charity. A white chicken is often used to symbolize purification from sin because a verse in Isaiah 1:8 says: "And if your sins be like scarlet, they shall become as white as snow". The custom of Kapparot is a symbolic act that is meant to help a person reflect on the consequences of sin and encourage the participant to atone for their sins and turn to God for mercy. Some Jews have a custom of using money instead of a chicken.