Andi Arnovitz (b.1959)
Kapparot, 2014
Mahogany, sterling silver, cotton, film, threads and feathers
Museum Collection
During the Temple period it was customary on Yom Kippur to send to the desert a sacrificial goat (sa’ir l’azazel) who carried the people’s sins and atoned for them. In our times there are those who perform the kapparot rite with live chickens. Arnovitz’s work substitutes the chicken with a new functional ritual object covered with hundreds of modern day transgressions for which one should seek forgiveness before the Day of Judgement.
Must Know
The ritual of “Kapparot” is done just before Yom Kippur, a chicken or rooster is bought and then swung over the head of the supplicant,
transferring his sins to the animal, asking for forgiveness.The animal is then slaughtered and eaten.
Another option is to choose the symbolic gesture of placing money ear-marked for charity in an envelope and circling that about one’s head three times,
reciting the prayer for allowing the charity money to displace and atone for one’s sins.
Andy Arnovitz presents in her work a creative solution bridging between the ancient ritual and a symbolic ceremony which enables an aesthetic act of repentence and penitence that preserves traditional elements.
The terrified hen is replaced by a fan of feathers and thus we get to atone for our sins and save the soul of one hen from unnecessary slaughter.
Andi’s work is an imaginary Judaica piece that reacts to the issue of animal rights as well as relegating the enormous sins (killing, stealing, false witness) to the normative person (not voting, being racist, not exercising).
This piece can be used in place of a live chicken for pre-Yom Kippur atonement rituals (“kapparot”) and includes a full list of “sins” committed by the modern person.
More Info
Andi’s work connects the “Kapparot” ritual still done today, with the “scapegoat” ritual, done during the Temple period also on Yom Kippur.
Both rituals were meant to atone for the sins of the people.
