[Avodah] Kaparos

[Zev Sero]

On the reason for using davka a rooster, see Maharal, Netivot Olam,
Netiv Ahavat Hashem ch 1:
http://hebrewbooks.org/pdfpager.aspx?req=34216&pgnum=201

  The rooster represents the human soul [...] it was not for nothing
  that they established the custom of slaughtering a rooster on Erev
  Yom Kippur, that it be a substitute for ones soul.

-- 
Zev Sero                      The trouble with socialism is that you
zev at sero.name                 eventually run out of other people’s money
                                                     - Margaret Thatcher