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It is the day AFTER Yom Kippur, the day of Atonement....and the horror for animals continues unabated. Not one life saved through prayer, not one animal spared suffering through fasting, not a single creature better off today than the day before.  So if you observed this holy day in one way or another, please try to recall the words you spoke as you read aloud or in silent meditation...words that asked for forgiveness, for atonement.  It is not unique to Judaism to fast, to pray, to ask for forgiveness.  Such rituals exist in every major religion but have not resulted in the betterment of the lives of animals, because the basic beliefs that animals may be used for our purposes, whatever they may be (food, clothing, sport, entertainment, research etc.) is still the fundamental core around which our society functions. The cruel ritual depicted in the pictures below, is no different from the abuse and horrors animals face every day in gassing shelters, on factory farms, in slaughterhouses.  If you are still eating their flesh, or wearing products made from their suffering, you do not have the right to ask for forgiveness.

To my family, friends, and colleagues,

Lest we forget...

A “day of atonement” is a lie.
Fasting is a false ritual.

Live each day
With eyes wide open
And generous heart
Indulge in kindness for all...
Who are not exactly like you.

So that every day we atone.
Un-blind. Un-deaf. Awake.

We are one heart. At once, alive.

From unity, comes grace.

Brenda Shoss, Kinship Circle




“Entitlement is not atonement.” Indeed.
Thank you Ruth for this spot-on essay...and providing my contemplation for Yom Kippur!

Since mention is made of Yom Kippur by mainstream media, it is appropriate to shed some light on the meaning of this holiday in context with its implications for animal abuse:

"It is the essential characteristic of a wise person that he/she does not kill any living being.
One should know that non-killing and equality of all living beings are the main principles of religion"
Jain sutra
 
ENTITLEMENT IS NOT ATONEMENT
Yom Kipur, one of the most sacred holidays of the Jewish faith, is intended as a time to reflect on one's sins with the ultimate aim of atonement and forgiveness. Part of the ritual includes a one day fast, which ends at sun down.  Oddly enough a menu of food sold by Whole Foods indicates some items one may indulge in after breaking the fast: after atoning for one's sins. While there are vegetarian options available the standard meat items: Roasted Garlic-Herb Chicken, Herb roasted turkey breast, Traditional red wine Beef Brisket. citrus-pomegranate glazed salmon, smoked salmon platter, poached salmon platter and a deli salad platter are abundant reminders that this tradition allows for the slaughter of animals. Clearly, it is not a sin to consume the flesh of another living being.
  
The question is then whether atonement or redemption, with implied concern about the effect on the human spirit as well as on the victims, is possible within the frame work of such violence...While the effect on the victims is clear: pain, terror and loss of life, the toll taken on those indulging in the violence is also profound. First there is the suffering of those whose empathy extends to the victims and must participate in cruelty despite compassionate inclinations. Then there is the destruction of the spiritual well-being of those who do the killing, those who allow others to kill for them, then indulge in the cruelly procured flesh and those who support the concept that cruelty is righteous, when justified by human need:

"Proverbs 12:10 states, "The righteous person regards the life of his or her animal."
"In Judaism, one who is unnecessarily cruel to animals cannot be regarded as a righteous individual." Prof Richard Schwartz

The corollary: One who is of necessity cruel to animals can be regarded as a righteous individual.

Implied in this justification for such wanton cruelty is the belief that human lives are more valuable than those of animals. Teachings which condone inflicting terror, pain, suffering and death on lesser beings have failed to grasp a fundamental law of compassion. Once compassion is destroyed in the human spirit, the violence is not easily contained, instead every manner of cruelty towards the creatures as well as towards fellow humans becomes easier to justify.
 
"Cruelty to animals is not something that should be taken lightly. It is an important indicator of how the person is going to behave towards humans as well." Maneka Gandhi (People for Animals, India)
 
There is responsibility implicit in religious doctrine which leads to violence and suffering. Responsibility cannot be shrugged off, alleviated or relieved by cruel rituals and additional violence. The responsibility is not addressed, but ignored, as every effort is made to insure the preservation of doctrine that endorses violence to animals. It is not possible to atone for one's sins in the midst of so much righteously sanctified violence towards living beings. There is no atonement in self-indulgence rooted in the abuse and torture of a living being.
 
kaporas or shaken chicken syndrome:
It is not inconsistent, though it is irrational that a cruel practice known as kaporas is part of the Yom Kippur ritual for some Jewish denominations. During this ritual half dead and dead chickens are swung over the head by their necks as an offering of atonement to God. As many as 50,000 mangled chicken corpses are found in NYC parks where the ritual is carried out.  
 
 
is this atonement?

The harm done to the chickens is obvious. Their broken bodies are a testament to the violence. The harm done, particularly to children who are forced to observe this ritual is more subtle, but equally damaging,  The young child in the picture below is reaching out to gently touch the chicken. What is the trauma to this child who must then hear the terrorized chicken, clucking in pain and then see it die in agony? Surely this child has been hardened and to the suffering of others and is now more acclimated to violence. He will not reach out again:

 
as a child reaches out, note the pain in the chicken's face...

The violation of animals is not considered a sin by the semitic religions, therefore not worthy of atonement.There is no concern for the violence inflicted on the chickens in the kaporas ritual. Rather, after prayers of atonement are recited, the cycle of violence begins anew with a sumptuous meal derived from slaughter. Those who indulge in violence to animals do not appreciate the profound implications of atonement for once's complicity in cruelty. The belief in human entitlement to exploit, and consume animals falls short of a meaningful understanding of atonement.
 
Atonement
The failure of the semitic religions to create harmony and cooperation with nature is made more palpable when one considers that there is a tradition which does honor and respect man's position in an equal relationship to nature and all the creatures. This view understands the wisdom and compassion of respect for all beings: that animals as well as humans cherish their lives, that there is no hierarchy wherein humans are above the other creatures, where cooperation with other living beings, not domination over, is essential to maintaining the intricate web of life.

"It is the essential characteristic of a wise person that he/she does not kill any living being.
One should know that non-killing and equality of all living beings are the main principles of religion" Jain sutra

In the Jain religious tradition meat is prohibited. Great care is taken to avoid harming any living being, as any violence to animals is always gratuitous and even if accidental, calls for atonement.  During the Jain period of atonement, one asks for forgiveness, not from God for one's transgressions, but from living beings one may have harmed either intentionally or unintentionally. The following words are taken from a Jain prayer of atonement:

"Whoever may have been beaten or struck by me while traveling;
Whoever I may have covered by dust;
Whoever I may have rubbed up against;
Whoever may have been forced to collide with one another;
Whoever may have pain caused by my touching or tilting them;
Whoever may have been tormented by being turned entirely upside down;
To whomever I may have inflicted pain;
Whoever I may have frightened;
Whoever I may have shifted from one place to another;
Whoever I may have separated from life and made lifeless;

May all that be forgiven and may all the suffering I caused, knowingly or unknowingly, cease.

May the ignorance in me that caused pain in other living beings come to an end, and may they all forgive me."
Jain prayer of atonement"

Those participating in kaporas would do well to note these lines of the jain prayer: 'Whoever may have been tormented by being turned entirely upside down; To whomever I may have inflicted pain; Whoever I may have frightened; Whoever I may have separated from life and made lifeless;" and put an end to such ignorance..

Respect for the intricate web of life comprised of ALL living beings: plants, animals, humans and nature is the hallmark of a religion that understands atonement.

Ruth Eisenbud
 
Additional examples:
an ode to atonement
"While walking I may have given pain to or crushed living beings such as:
 Live animate seeds
Live plants
Living veings in the dew
Living ant hills
Living moss
Living beings in the water
Living beings in the earth
Living webs of spiders
I may have harassed or may have crushed all of these.
 
Whatever living beings may have had pain or torment cause by me:

Living beings with only one sense, the sense of touch, as in the elements of earth, water, fire, air and in  plants;
Living beings with only two senses, the sense of touch and taste, as in worms and shell creatures;
Living beings with three senses, the sense of touch, taste and smell, as in ants;
Living beings with four senses, the sense of touch, taste, smell, and sight, as in bees, wasps and other flying insects;
Living beings with all five senses, the sense of touch, taste, smell, sight and hearing, as in beings of the water (fish), beings of the land (mammals, animals and human), and beings of the sky (birds).

Whoever may have been beaten or struck by me while traveling;
Whoever I may have covered by dust;
Whoever I may hyave rubbed up against;
Whoever may have been forced to collide with one another;
Whoever may have pain caused by my touching or tilting them;
Whoever may have been tormented by being turned entirely upside down;
To whomever I may have inflicted pain;
Whoever I may have frightened;
Whoever I may have shifted from one place to another;
Whoever I may have separated from life and made lifeless;

May all that be forgiven and may all the suffering I caused, knowingly or unknowingly, cease.

May the ignorance in me that caused pain in other living beings come to an end, and may they all forgive me.

After requesting forgiveness from all living beings of the universe, the next step is to do introspection..." Jain prayer of atonement

SOURCE OF KAPORAS PHOTOS:
Unknown Fact About Kapparos
http://www.collive.com/show_news.rtx?id=16623

Kapparos is an obscure Orthodox ritual practiced by a minute faction.
No civilized Jew partakes in such cruelty and ignorance.
Brenda Shoss