A growing number of Israeli municipalities have moved to ban the use of live chickens in the Kapparot ritual, a traditional ceremony performed by some observant Jews ahead of Yom Kippur. According to reports, 13 cities—including Tel Mond, Yeruham, Mevaseret Zion, and Yavne—have joined larger urban centers like Tel Aviv and Beersheba in prohibiting the practice. The ritual involves swinging a live chicken over one's head as a symbolic act of atonement, after which the bird is typically slaughtered and donated to the poor.

The shift away from live animals is being driven by animal welfare concerns and the promotion of alternative methods. Many practitioners are now opting to perform the ritual using money, which is then donated to charity, a practice that is considered an acceptable substitute by many religious authorities. While the ritual remains a significant tradition for some, the municipal bans reflect a broader trend of prioritizing animal welfare regulations in public spaces. The Times of Israel notes that these prohibitions are being tracked and publicized by non-governmental organizations advocating for the end of animal use in the ceremony. There is no indication of a national mandate, meaning the practice remains legal in municipalities that have not enacted local ordinances against it.