Sharon Eilon Photography

Eid Al-Kaparot: A Story of Judaismand Islam, From a Different POV

"Eid Al-Kaparot" is adocumentary photography project that explores the shared rituals of two majorreligious traditions: the Muslim "Eid Al-Adha" and the Jewish"Kaparot." Through a series of diptychs, each combining onephotograph from the Muslim ritual and one from the Jewish ritual, the projectaims to highlight the surprising similarities between these practices.

Both religions trace their origins toAbraham’s sons—Isaac, the father of the Jews, and Ishmael, the father of theMuslims—linking their rituals through shared ancestry, which offers a powerfulconnection also reflected in their religious practices. In both traditions,sacrifice and atonement play central roles: the Jewish Kaparot involves thesymbolic transfer of sins to a chicken, which is then slaughtered, while EidAl-Adha commemorates Abraham’s willingness to sacrifice his son as an act ofdevotion to God by slaughtering an animal, usually a sheep. In both cases, thesacrifice is followed by acts of charity, with the meat of the animals beingdonated to those in need.

These rituals persist despite moderncritiques and are a testament to the resilience of faith - something deeplyhuman that transcends time and individual differences. Although both ritualsinvolve an inherent element of violence, they are not seen as violent by thosewho practice them. Instead, they are viewed through a lens of history, ritual,community, and charity. The visual reality of the sacrifice - its rawness andintensity - coupled with the broader narrative of faith and redemption, createsa layered, universal story.

In a world often divided by religious and culturaldifferences, this project seeks to remind us of the shared history and faiththat unite these communities. By focusing on the common threads in theserituals, "Eid Al-Kaparot" aims to foster understanding and empathy,offering a powerful reminder of our shared heritage and past, as well as thepotential for a shared future.