Most fashion trends don't last beyond a season, but here's one ancient trend that's still en vogue: shunning leather for Yom Kippur. Of course, on the Jewish Day of Atonement, it would be tough to expiate while wrapped in the skin of an animal who had his or her throat cut and was possibly skinned and dismembered while still conscious. But PETA's shocking undercover video shows why wearing leather is never kosher.

We can all be benevolent to bovines every day of the year with drop-dead-gorgeous faux-leather clothes and accessories that no one had to drop dead for.

Written by Michelle Sherrow

Everyone knows that you're not supposed to wear white after Labor Day, but did you know that it's taboo to wear leather on Yom Kippur, the Jewish Day of Atonement, which will be observed on September 18 this year? Stepping out in the skin of a dead, dismembered animal is a big blunder if you're seeking mercy, compassion, and forgiveness. Check out PETA's new "Yom Kippur Fashion Faux Pas" video to learn more:

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I'm no theologian, but I think it's safe to say that no matter your religious beliefs, being kind to animals will never be a faux pas.

Written by Heather Moore

With Yom Kippur just around the corner, we'd like to urge all our Jewish readers to speak out against the killing of chickens for kapporos.

Kapporos is a sacrificial ritual that takes place on the eve of Yom Kippur. This ritual is sometimes performed by swinging a live chicken around the head three times and then slaughtering the terrified, abused bird. In Brooklyn alone, 50,000 chickens are killed every year during kapporos ceremonies.

Rabbi Joseph Karo, who composed the Shulchan Aruch (an important codification of Jewish law), wrote that killing an animal for kapporos is "a foolish custom."

Using money instead of live chickens to perform the kapporos ritual is an acceptable substitute for outdated chicken sacrifices, which all compassionate Jews should condemn.

After all, you can't expect forgiveness and mercy when you have blood on your hands.

Written by Shawna Flavell