By Elad Cypis Meir
Yom Kippur eve, 2013
People are running around in the streets, trying to wrap up their preparations for the beginning of the fast. Most accumulate in central city positions, waiting for their doomsday weapon– the Kapparot rooster. Swinging over one’s head, reading the verses, shelling out a few shekels and that’s it. Now the chicken will redeem the buyer from his sins by being slaughtered.
At fate’s will there were a few leftover chickens. I requested to adopt two. I would have liked to adopt more, but this wasn’t within my reach. I was granted my request and received two roosters named “Forgiveness” and “Absolution.” Within an hour I already improvised a fenced area in our yard, and they rested there; young, white and somewhat tattered. A day or two later they already enjoyed a tree-house with a ladder and a shaded area. It was quite exciting.
“Absolution” passed away several weeks later. “Forgiveness “remained on her own, and her name, which lost its meaning per se, was changed to “Atonement as a reminder of the fate she averted. Two weeks later we brought Charley to keep her company, and together they grew and strengthened up.
Today “Atonement” is a plump chicken, white as snow and sweet as honey.
When I enter the coop she runs after me, expecting her daily meal. She clings gently and fondly to me, her eyes gleaming with the burning colors of red, orange and yellow. Sometimes I enjoy just sitting in the coop, watching them both, gathering them towards me and patting them gently, finding myself immersed in their sorrowed eyes.
They say that every man is a world of its own; still, in these moments I understand that every living creature is a world of its own, and great happiness lies when both our worlds combine.
