Laws & Customs: Yom Kippur
According to Shulchan Aruch Harav, Mishna Berurah and Nittei Gavriel
All times listed are for Jerusalem only as per www.myzmanim.com
Based on Rabbi Shmuel Lesches's Halachah Sheets
Reviewed by Reb Elimelech Rabinowicz, Rav of Tzeirei Kehal Chassidim, Shaarei Chessed
Compiled by Yossi Fraenkel in memory of his grandparents
Kapparot
Kapparot is performed any time during the Aseret Y’mei Teshuvah, as close to Erev Yom Kippur as possible.
Kapparot is traditionally performed with white chickens. [Nevertheless, one should not noticeably go out of his way to obtain specifically white chickens.]
Kapparot should not be shared unless there is no other alternative. A male uses a male chicken and a female uses a female chicken. A pregnant woman uses one male and one female chicken (according to the Ari Z”L, a pregnant woman uses one male and two female chickens).
A pregnant woman within 40 days of conception does not need to take any extra chickens for the pregnancy.
A pregnant woman does not need to take two or three at the same time and can take one after the other.
It is preferable that one be present when his chicken is slaughtered. If the chicken was not slaughtered properly or died before slaughtering, Kapparot is performed again. If it was slaughtered properly but the chicken was found to be not Kosher, Kapparot need not be repeated.
One should cover the blood, but only with the Shochet’s consent. The Brachah ends Al Kissui Dam BeAfar [דָם בֶעָפָר]. The blood should be fully covered.
One should not think that the Kapparot itself atones for one’s sins. Rather, one’s intention should be that a sinner deserves what is being done to the chicken. These thoughts arouse one to Teshuvah.
The Kapparot chickens or their value should be donated to a Tzedakah cause.
Ma’aser money may not be used for one’s own (or dependent’s) Kapparot.
One who can’t do Kapparot with a chicken may do so with a live fish or money, the money should be to the value of a chicken.
An Avel during Shiva may not go to a place where they slaughter chickens as is customary, rather someone should bring the chicken to the Shiva house and after Kapparot, they should send it to be slaughtered, or they should do it with money. If an Avel cannot do Kapparot before Yom Kippur, then they should do Kapparot on Hoshana Rabba.
Erev Yom Kippur Morning (Wednesday)
Those who have the custom to say Selichot on Erev Yom Kippur, only say Viduy once.
Some, including Chabad, have the custom to go to Mikvah three times throughout the day; once before Shacharit, once before Mincha, and once after the Seudah Hamafseket.
Some have the custom to just go once to Mikvah after Chatzot (12:28pm).
Tachnun is not said from the morning of Erev Yom Kippur until after Rosh Chodesh Cheshvan.
Shacharit is not davened at length.
Mizmor Letodah is generally not recited during Shacharit, however some people do say it.
Although Avinu Malkeinu is not recited during Shacharit and Mincha in Ashkenazik communities, Sephardim do have the custom to say it.
Yom Kippur does not atone for wrongs committed against others unless their forgiveness is obtained. Therefore, Erev Yom Kippur is an appropriate time for one to resolutely forgive all who wronged him in the past.
Some have the custom that the Gabbai of the Shul give out something sweet and some have the custom that their Rabbi does, Chabad have the custom that one should ask another person for lekach and eat it.
Some have the custom to go to graves of Tzadikim and many go a day or two before.
Many have the custom to go to the Kotel to ask from Hashem to have mercy on them and their families.
It is a Mitzvah to eat and drink on Erev Yom Kippur. Ideally, one eats an amount equivalent to two days. [Needless to say, it is forbidden to fast.] This applies even to one exempt from fasting on Yom Kippur.
A Brit should be conducted earlier in the morning, so that the Seudah will not interfere with the two meals that are eaten later in the day.
For both meals, it is customary to set the table and serve a meal on par with Shabbat and Chag. The meals begin with round Challot (dipped in honey), but there is no need for Lechem Mishneh.
The first meal takes place sometime before Mincha. One only eats foods that are easily digested, such as chicken and fish, as opposed to meat. Garlic, eggs and sesame seeds are not eaten.
It is customary to eat Kreplach today.
Mikvah and Mincha
Malkut is administered with a leather belt, however, some use a gartel. The one receiving Malkut leans in a kneeling position facing the north. Thirty-nine lashes are administered lightly, one on the right shoulder, one on the left shoulder, and one a bit lower between the shoulders, after which the sequence is repeated. Both the one giving and receiving Malkut say Vehu Rachum three times, one word per lash.
According to Chabad, Malkut is performed before Mikvah and Mincha. According to others Malkut is performed after Mincha.
Some have the custom to drop many coins into Tzedakah boxes as we make our way to Mincha. The Baal Shem Tov says that the clanging coins scatters the Kelippot.
Some have the custom to dress ready for Chag before davening Mincha.
Mincha is davened at length and with feelings of Teshuvah. It is scheduled early enough to leave sufficient time for the Seudah Hamafseket.
The full Viduy is recited right after the first Yihyu L’ratzon at the end of the Amidah.
Viduy is not recited in the Chazzan’s repetition of Mincha.
