PHOTOS: Ultra-Orthodox Jewish Kaparot ritual of swinging chickens over the head

An Ultra-Orthodox Jewish man swings a chicken over his head as part of the Kaparot ritual in the Ultra-Orthodox city of Bnei Brak near Tel Aviv, Israel,Wednesday, Sept. 11, 2013. Observers believe the ritual transfers one's sins from the past year into the chicken, and is performed before the Day of Atonement, Yom Kippur, the holiest day in the Jewish year which starts at sundown Friday. (AP Photo/Ariel Schalit) ( Mideast Israel Kaparot )

An Ultra-orthodox Jewish woman swings a chicken above her child's head during the Kaparot ceremony in the central Israeli city of Bnei Brak near Tel Aviv, on September 11, 2013. T AFP PHOTO/JACK GUEZ/AFP/Getty Images ( 522788809 )

Ultra-Orthodox Jews hold chickens as part of the Kaparot ritual in the ultra-Orthodox city of Bnei Brak near Tel Aviv, Israel, Wednesday, Sept. 11, 2013. (AP Photo/Oded Balilty) ( Mideast Israel Kaparot )

A Jewish girl reacts as she receives a chicken that she will swing over her head during the Kaparot ceremony on September 11, 2013 in Jerusalem. T AFP PHOTO/MARCO LONGARI/AFP/Getty Images ( 522795661 )

A Jewish girl reacts as she drops a chicken that she was meant to swing over her head during the Kaparot ceremony on September 11, 2013 in Jerusalem. AFP PHOTO/MARCO LONGARI/AFP/Getty Images ( 522795974 )

An Ultra-Orthodox Jewish woman holds a chicken just before she swings it over her head as part of the Kaparot ritual in the Ultra-Orthodox city of Bnei Brak near Tel Aviv, Israel, Wednesday, Sept. 11, 2013. (AP Photo/Ariel Schalit) ( Mideast Israel Kaparot )

An ultra-Orthodox Jewish man holds two chickens, later to be slaughtered as part of the Kaparot ritual in the ultra-Orthodox city of Bnei Brak near Tel Aviv, Israel, Wednesday, Sept. 11, 2013. (AP Photo/Oded Balilty) ( Mideast Israel Kaparot )

An ultra-Orthodox Jewish man swings a chicken over his wife head as part of the Kaparot ritual in the ultra-Orthodox city of Bnei Brak near Tel Aviv, Israel, Wednesday, Sept. 11, 2013. (AP Photo/Oded Balilty) ( Mideast Israel Kaparot )

Reflected in water, an ultra-Orthodox Jewish woman swings a chicken over her child's head, as part of the Kaparot ritual, in which it is believed that one transfers one's sins from the past year into the chicken, in the Ultra-Orthodox city of Bnei Brak near Tel Aviv, Israel,Wednesday, Sept. 11, 2013. (AP Photo/Ariel Schalit) ( Mideast Israel Kaparot )

An ultra-Orthodox Jewish man swings a chicken over his head as part of the Kaparot ritual in the ultra-Orthodox city of Bnei Brak near Tel Aviv, Israel, Wednesday, Sept. 11, 2013. (AP Photo/Oded Balilty) ( Mideast Israel Kaparot )

An ultra-Orthodox Jewish man holds a chicken as part of the Kaparot ritual in the ultra-Orthodox city of Bnei Brak near Tel Aviv, Israel, Wednesday, Sept. 11, 2013. (AP Photo/Oded Balilty) ( Mideast Israel Kaparot )

An Ultra-orthodox Jewish man swings a chicken above his head during the Kaparot ceremony in the central Israeli city of Bnei Brak near Tel Aviv, on September 11, 2013. AFP PHOTO/JACK GUEZ/AFP/Getty Images ( 522788835 )

An Ultra-Orthodox Jewish man swings a chicken over his son's head, as part of the Kaparot ritual, in the Ultra-Orthodox city of Bnei Brak near Tel Aviv, Israel, Wednesday, Sept. 11, 2013. (AP Photo/Ariel Schalit) ( APTOPIX Mideast Israel Kaparot )

An ultra-Orthodox Jewish man checks the health of a chicken, later to be slaughtered as part of the Kaparot ritual in the ultra-Orthodox city of Bnei Brak near Tel Aviv, Israel, Wednesday, Sept. 11, 2013. (AP Photo/Oded Balilty) ( Mideast Israel Kaparot )

An Ultra-Orthodox Jewish boy holds a chicken while a female relative recites a prayer during the Kaparot ceremony on September 11, 2013 in Jerusalem . AFP PHOTO/MARCO LONGARI/AFP/Getty Images ( 522795099 )

An ultra-Orthodox Jewish man holds a chicken, later to be slaughtered as part of the Kaparot ritual, in which it is believed that one transfers one's sins from the past year into the chicken, in Jerusalem's religious Mea Shearim neighborhood, Wednesday, Sept. 11, 2013. (AP Photo/(Bernat Armangue) ( Mideast Israel Kaparot )

Ultra-Orthodox Jewish children gather near a chicken slaughterhouse, were people practice the Kaparot ritual, in which it is believed that one transfers one's sins from the past year into the chicken, in Jerusalem's religious Mea Shearim neighborhood, Wednesday, Sept. 11, 2013. (AP Photo/Bernat Armangue) ( APTOPIX Mideast Israel Kaparot )

An Ultra-orthodox Jewish woman swings a chicken above her head during the Kaparot ceremony in the central Israeli city of Bnei Brak near Tel Aviv, on September 11, 2013. AFP PHOTO/JACK GUEZ/AFP/Getty Images ( 522788831 )

An Ultra-orthodox Jewish man swings a chicken above his head during the Kaparot ceremony in the central Israeli city of Bnei Brak near Tel Aviv, on September 11, 2013. AFP PHOTO/JACK GUEZJACK GUEZ/AFP/Getty Images ( 522788846 )

An Ultra-orthodox Jewish man swings a chicken above his head during the Kaparot ceremony in the central Israeli city of Bnei Brak near Tel Aviv, on September 11, 2013. AFP PHOTO/JACK GUEZ/AFP/Getty Images ( 522788861 )

An Ultra-Orthodox Jewish woman swings a chicken while a boy holds a prayer during the Kaparot ceremony on September 11, 2013 in Jerusalem. AFP PHOTO/MARCO LONGARI/AFP/Getty Images ( 522795171 )

An Ultra-Orthodox Jewish man swings a chicken over the heads of members of his family during the Kaparot ceremony in the central Israeli city of Bnei Brak near Tel Aviv, on September 11, 2013. AFP PHOTO/JACK GUEZ/AFP/Getty Images ( 522788802 )

An Ultra-Orthodox Jewish woman swings a chicken during the Kaparot ceremony in the central Israeli city of Bnei Brak near Tel Aviv, on September 11, 2013. AFP PHOTO/JACK GUEZ/AFP/Getty Images ( 522788793 )