09/28/2026
One of the things I think about often at City Goat Farm is how our residents came to be here. Their stories are all different, but most have one thing in common: at some point, someone cared enough about that individual animal to help get them somewhere safe.
Today, we welcomed seven young hens rescued from the use of live chickens in Kapporos, a tradition observed by some Orthodox Jewish communities before Yom Kippur. Kapporos can be practiced in different ways, but when chickens are used, they are customarily swung or passed over a person’s head before being slaughtered. Kaporos Compassion Project and its partners rescued 360 birds this year, giving them the chance to find homes instead.
Sitting with these young hens tonight brought me back to a question I find myself asking again and again:
Why are we so horrified when we witness animal suffering in front of us, yet so comfortable with suffering that happens out of sight?
Often, suffering is far away from us, in places we don't see, involving animals we'll never meet. When something is common enough, familiar enough, or simply hidden from view, it can become much easier not to think about. We get used to things. We stop seeing them.
Tradition makes that especially complicated, whether we’re talking about Kapporos or something as familiar to many of us as eating turkey on Thanksgiving.
As a Jewish person, I don’t believe compassion and tradition are at odds. And I don’t believe something should be beyond questioning simply because it has been practiced for generations. I believe we can honor our faith, our cultures, and our communities while still asking whether the ways we practice our traditions reflect our values.
I try to ask myself whether the choices I make and the traditions I participate in reflect the compassion I believe in. I think that’s a question worth asking even when the answer is uncomfortable. Especially when the suffering has become ordinary.
For these seven hens, the questions can wait. Tonight, they're safe.
