The Shechitah Knife - Revision history

MordechaiD: /* Checking a Shechitah Knife */ nee

2023-12-03T05:51:53Z

Checking a Shechitah Knife: nee

← Older revision		Revision as of 05:51, 3 December 2023
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	==Checking a Shechitah Knife==		==Checking a Shechitah Knife==
			===The Need to Check===
			# Shechting with a knife that has a nick renders the animal a Nevelah Min HaTorah, as it tears the simanim. Therefore, the Shochet must check his knife before slaughter. A knife cannot be presumed to be free of nicks.<ref>Simla Chadasha 18:1</ref>
			# One cannot shecht first and check later for three reasons: he may ultimately forget to check, the recitation of the beracha will be potentially in vain, and one may be mutilating an animal for no reason, which is prohibited.<ref>Simla Chadasha 18:1</ref>
			# Taking extra care to guard the knife from nicks is not satisfactory justification to assume it is nick free and not check prior to the next shechitah, due to the fragility of the blade edge. One may only be lenient in extreme circumstances.<ref>Simla Chadasha 18:1</ref>
			# Nevertheless, if one did shecht with a random knife and, upon checking afterwards, it was found to be fine, the meat is kosher.<ref>Simla Chadasha 18:1</ref>

	==Guides==		==Guides==

MordechaiD: /* What Materials Can Be Used for Shechitah */

2023-12-03T05:28:46Z

What Materials Can Be Used for Shechitah

← Older revision		Revision as of 05:28, 3 December 2023
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	# One shouldn't use a scythe or even a double edged knife if one side of it is a scythe. Bediavad if he did it and knows he used the kosher side, it's ok, and if he smoothened out the scythe side then he can use it lechatechilah.<ref>Simla Chadasha 6:2</ref>		# One shouldn't use a scythe or even a double edged knife if one side of it is a scythe. Bediavad if he did it and knows he used the kosher side, it's ok, and if he smoothened out the scythe side then he can use it lechatechilah.<ref>Simla Chadasha 6:2</ref>
	=== Invalidating Factors===		=== Invalidating Factors===
	# A knife cannot have any nicks in it or be used previously with non-Kosher food or for idolatry. It must not be glowing hot or attached. ''See [[Knives That Cannot Be Used for Shechitah]] for details.''		# A knife cannot have any nicks in it or be used previously with non-Kosher food or for idolatry. It must not be glowing hot or attached to something else. ''See [[Knives That Cannot Be Used for Shechitah]] for details.''

	~~===Detached From Its Source===~~
	~~# Anything sharp attached to the ground or a body may not be used for shechitah until it is detached.<ref>Simla Chadasha 6:5</ref>~~
	# If it was detached and then reattached, one still should not use it regardless of whether he plans to leave it there (which would render the meat prohibited due to the Gemara's uncertainty) or not (which would be invalid on a rabbinic level). If one's intention is unformulated, we can determine based on context.<ref>Simla Chadasha 6:5</ref>
	# An animal's jaw with sharp teeth may not be used, as the gaps between teeth are the same as nicks in a knife, but a singly tooth attached to a jaw is fine. Even a single nail on a severed foot would be ok. Some argue that if it's still attached to a whole limb, such as a whole jaw or whole animal foot, that would be considered "attached" to its source of growth.<ref>Simla Chadasha 6:6</ref>

	==Crafting a Shechitah Knife==		==Crafting a Shechitah Knife==

MordechaiD: /* What Materials Can Be Used for Shechitah */

2023-08-15T21:18:47Z

What Materials Can Be Used for Shechitah

← Older revision		Revision as of 21:18, 15 August 2023
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	# Technically, anything that is detached from the ground and sharp can be used for kosher slaughter, as long as it's free of imperfections. A reed membrane would be good if it doesn't have any splinters that would come out. Practically, however, this is exclusively done with a knife.<ref>Simla Chadasha 6:1</ref>		# Technically, anything that is detached from the ground and sharp can be used for kosher slaughter, as long as it's free of imperfections. A reed membrane would be good if it doesn't have any splinters that would come out. Practically, however, this is exclusively done with a knife.<ref>Simla Chadasha 6:1</ref>
	# One shouldn't use a scythe or even a double edged knife if one side of it is a scythe. Bediavad if he did it and knows he used the kosher side, it's ok, and if he smoothened out the scythe side then he can use it lechatechilah.<ref>Simla Chadasha 6:2</ref>		# One shouldn't use a scythe or even a double edged knife if one side of it is a scythe. Bediavad if he did it and knows he used the kosher side, it's ok, and if he smoothened out the scythe side then he can use it lechatechilah.<ref>Simla Chadasha 6:2</ref>
			=== Invalidating Factors===
			# A knife cannot have any nicks in it or be used previously with non-Kosher food or for idolatry. It must not be glowing hot or attached. ''See [[Knives That Cannot Be Used for Shechitah]] for details.''

	===Detached From Its Source===		===Detached From Its Source===
	# Anything sharp attached to the ground or a body may not be used for shechitah until it is detached.<ref>Simla Chadasha 6:5</ref>		# Anything sharp attached to the ground or a body may not be used for shechitah until it is detached.<ref>Simla Chadasha 6:5</ref>
	# If it was detached and then reattached, one still should not use it regardless of whether he plans to leave it there (which would render the meat prohibited due to the Gemara's uncertainty) or not (which would be invalid on a rabbinic level). If one's intention is unformulated, we can determine based on context.<ref>Simla Chadasha 6:5</ref>		# If it was detached and then reattached, one still should not use it regardless of whether he plans to leave it there (which would render the meat prohibited due to the Gemara's uncertainty) or not (which would be invalid on a rabbinic level). If one's intention is unformulated, we can determine based on context.<ref>Simla Chadasha 6:5</ref>
	# An animal's jaw with sharp teeth may not be used, as the gaps between teeth are the same as nicks in a knife, but a singly tooth attached to a jaw is fine. Even a single nail on a severed foot would be ok. Some argue that if it's still attached to a whole limb, such as a whole jaw or whole animal foot, that would be considered "attached" to its source of growth.<ref>Simla Chadasha 6:6</ref>		# An animal's jaw with sharp teeth may not be used, as the gaps between teeth are the same as nicks in a knife, but a singly tooth attached to a jaw is fine. Even a single nail on a severed foot would be ok. Some argue that if it's still attached to a whole limb, such as a whole jaw or whole animal foot, that would be considered "attached" to its source of growth.<ref>Simla Chadasha 6:6</ref>
	~~===Other Invalidating Factors===~~
	~~''See [[Knives That Cannot Be Used for Shechitah]] for details.~~
	==Crafting a Shechitah Knife==		==Crafting a Shechitah Knife==
	Modern day shechitah knives are commonly rectangularly shaped to facilitate shechitah without issues of chaladah and derasa and made with easy to sharpen steel that maintains its edge to minimize pegimot.		Modern day shechitah knives are commonly rectangularly shaped to facilitate shechitah without issues of chaladah and derasa and made with easy to sharpen steel that maintains its edge to minimize pegimot.

MordechaiD: break knife invalidations into separate page

2023-08-07T04:19:53Z

break knife invalidations into separate page

@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
-==What Can Be Used for Shechitah==
+==What Materials Can Be Used for Shechitah==
 # Technically, anything that is detached from the ground and sharp can be used for kosher slaughter, as long as it's free of imperfections. A reed membrane would be good if it doesn't have any splinters that would come out. Practically, however, this is exclusively done with a knife.<ref>Simla Chadasha 6:1</ref>
 # One shouldn't use a scythe or even a double edged knife if one side of it is a scythe. Bediavad if he did it and knows he used the kosher side, it's ok, and if he smoothened out the scythe side then he can use it lechatechilah.<ref>Simla Chadasha 6:2</ref>
@@ Line 5: / Line 5: @@
 # Anything sharp attached to the ground or a body may not be used for shechitah until it is detached.<ref>Simla Chadasha 6:5</ref>
 # If it was detached and then reattached, one still should not use it regardless of whether he plans to leave it there (which would render the meat prohibited due to the Gemara's uncertainty) or not (which would be invalid on a rabbinic level). If one's intention is unformulated, we can determine based on context.<ref>Simla Chadasha 6:5</ref>
 # An animal's jaw with sharp teeth may not be used, as the gaps between teeth are the same as nicks in a knife, but a singly tooth attached to a jaw is fine. Even a single nail on a severed foot would be ok. Some argue that if it's still attached to a whole limb, such as a whole jaw or whole animal foot, that would be considered "attached" to its source of growth.<ref>Simla Chadasha 6:6</ref>
-===Pegimot===
+===Other Invalidating Factors===
-# A knife with a pegima (nick) may not be used. Bediavad, if one used it and claims he didn't use that part of the blade, the meat is kosher, but if he didn't realize it was there until afterwards, he has no claim.<ref>Simla Chadasha 6:3</ref>
+''See [[Knives That Cannot Be Used for Shechitah]] for details.
 ==Crafting a Shechitah Knife==
 Modern day shechitah knives are commonly rectangularly shaped to facilitate shechitah without issues of chaladah and derasa and made with easy to sharpen steel that maintains its edge to minimize pegimot.
@@ Line 46: / Line 23: @@
 ==Checking a Shechitah Knife==
 ==Guides==

MordechaiD: /* Non-Kosher Knives */ more on ben yomo

2023-08-07T04:14:54Z

Non-Kosher Knives: more on ben yomo

← Older revision		Revision as of 04:14, 7 August 2023
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	''See [[Koshering a Kitchen]] for more details.''		''See [[Koshering a Kitchen]] for more details.''
	# Due to the temperature of the animal neck and potentially also to the pressure of the knife, one may not use a non-Jew's knife before kashering it or sanding down a layer from both sides of the knife. Hagala is sufficient unless there are holes in the blade, which would then require libun.<ref>Simla Chadasha 10:4</ref>		# Due to the temperature of the animal neck and potentially also to the pressure of the knife, one may not use a non-Jew's knife before kashering it or sanding down a layer from both sides of the knife. Hagala is sufficient unless there are holes in the blade, which would then require libun.<ref>Simla Chadasha 10:4</ref>
	~~====''Eino Ben Yomo''====~~
	# If the animal was shechted with non-kosher knife that was not used for non-kosher food in the past twenty-four hours (''eino ben yomo''); although the knife should have ideally been kashered, the meat is kosher. The same is true if one is unsure if it was used in the past twenty-four hours. If there is any visible non-kosher substance on the blade, as knives are often not perfectly clean, then the rules of an actual ben yomo must be followed as below. Even if one thinks it was clean, there's room to be strict as below, unless one made sure to do a thorough job or it is a pressing situation.<ref>Simla Chadasha 10:7</ref>
	====''Ben Yomo''====		====''Ben Yomo''====
	# If it was definitely used for non-kosher in the past twenty-four hours (''ben yomo'') but not kashered, a layer must be sliced off (''kelipah'') from the neck, due to the potential for non-kosher substances on the blade to rub off and be absorbed in the neck and because generally these things are not absorbed deeper than a kelipah.<ref>Simla Chadasha 10:5-7</ref>		# If it was definitely used for non-kosher in the past twenty-four hours (''ben yomo'') but not kashered, a layer must be sliced off (''kelipah'') from the neck, due to the potential for non-kosher substances on the blade to rub off and be absorbed in the neck and because generally these things are not absorbed deeper than a kelipah.<ref>Simla Chadasha 10:5-7</ref>
	# Whereas if the blade was properly cleaned of surface substances with neitzah, one would think this halacha does not apply, some argue that even if so, there's still a concern for absorption of flavor facilitated by the heat of the animal neck and the pressure of the blade. Moreover, there may still be hard to see non-kosher substances still present on the blade.<ref>Simla Chadasha 10:5</ref>		# Whereas if the blade was properly cleaned of surface substances with neitzah, one would think this halacha does not apply, some argue that even if so, there's still a concern for absorption of flavor facilitated by the heat of the animal neck and the pressure of the blade. Moreover, there may still be hard to see non-kosher substances still present on the blade.<ref>Simla Chadasha 10:5</ref>
	# Without kelipah, cooking the meat would require measuring if the kelipah is less than one sixtieth of the rest of the meat and then kelipah.<ref>Simla Chadasha 10:6</ref>		# Without kelipah, cooking the meat would require measuring if the kelipah is less than one sixtieth of the rest of the meat and then kelipah.<ref>Simla Chadasha 10:6</ref>
			# In circumstances where kelipah is required, one may not shecht with intention to afterwards do kelipah; if the kelipah would just be a stringency, then it is ok.<ref>Simla Chadasha 10:8</ref>
			# Washing the knife is insufficient to remove the adhering non-kosher substances.<ref>Simla Chadasha 10:9</ref>
			====''Eino Ben Yomo''====
			# If the animal was shechted with non-kosher knife that was not used for non-kosher food in the past twenty-four hours (''eino ben yomo''); although the knife should have ideally been kashered, the meat is kosher. The same is true if one is unsure if it was used in the past twenty-four hours. If there is any visible non-kosher substance on the blade, as knives are often not perfectly clean, then the rules of an actual ''ben yomo'' must be followed. Even if one thinks it was clean, there's room to be strict, unless one made sure to do a thorough job or it is a pressing situation.<ref>Simla Chadasha 10:7</ref>
			# Regardless, one is not allowed to use an eino ben yomo lechatechilah unless he kashers it first. Bediavad with neitzah ten times (and no less) the meat is permissible, but, ultimately, in all circumstance, a scrupulous person should strive to do kelipah regardless.<ref>Simla Chadasha 10:7</ref>

	===Knives Used for Idolatry===		===Knives Used for Idolatry===

MordechaiD: /* Non-Kosher Knives */ restructure

2023-08-07T00:50:38Z

Non-Kosher Knives: restructure

← Older revision		Revision as of 00:50, 7 August 2023
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	''See [[Koshering a Kitchen]] for more details.''		''See [[Koshering a Kitchen]] for more details.''
	# Due to the temperature of the animal neck and potentially also to the pressure of the knife, one may not use a non-Jew's knife before kashering it or sanding down a layer from both sides of the knife. Hagala is sufficient unless there are holes in the blade, which would then require libun.<ref>Simla Chadasha 10:4</ref>		# Due to the temperature of the animal neck and potentially also to the pressure of the knife, one may not use a non-Jew's knife before kashering it or sanding down a layer from both sides of the knife. Hagala is sufficient unless there are holes in the blade, which would then require libun.<ref>Simla Chadasha 10:4</ref>
	# If the animal was shechted with non-kosher knife that was not used for non-kosher food in the past twenty-four hours (eino ben yomo); although, the knife should have ideally been kashered, the meat is kosher. The same is true if one is unsure if it was used in the past twenty-four hours. If there is any visible non-kosher substance on the blade, as knives are often not perfectly clean, then the rules of an actual ben yomo must be followed as below. Even if one thinks it was clean, there's room to be strict as below, unless one made sure to do a thorough job or it is a pressing situation.<ref>Simla Chadasha 10:7</ref>		====''Eino Ben Yomo''====
	# If it was definitely used for non-kosher in the past twenty-four hours (ben yomo) but not kashered, a layer must be sliced off (kelipah) from the neck, due to the potential for non-kosher substances on the blade to rub off and be absorbed in the neck and generally these things are not absorbed deeper than a kelipah. ~~Some argue that even~~ if the ~~knife~~ was cleaned of surface substances ~~properly~~ with neitzah, there's still a concern for absorption of flavor facilitated by the heat of the animal neck and the pressure of the blade ~~as well as~~ non-kosher substances ~~that are hard to see but~~ still present on the blade. Without kelipah, cooking the meat would require measuring if the kelipah is less than one sixtieth of the rest of the meat and then kelipah.<ref>Simla Chadasha 10:~~5-7~~</ref>		# If the animal was shechted with non-kosher knife that was not used for non-kosher food in the past twenty-four hours (''eino ben yomo''); although the knife should have ideally been kashered, the meat is kosher. The same is true if one is unsure if it was used in the past twenty-four hours. If there is any visible non-kosher substance on the blade, as knives are often not perfectly clean, then the rules of an actual ben yomo must be followed as below. Even if one thinks it was clean, there's room to be strict as below, unless one made sure to do a thorough job or it is a pressing situation.<ref>Simla Chadasha 10:7</ref>
			====''Ben Yomo''====
			# If it was definitely used for non-kosher in the past twenty-four hours (''ben yomo'') but not kashered, a layer must be sliced off (''kelipah'') from the neck, due to the potential for non-kosher substances on the blade to rub off and be absorbed in the neck and because generally these things are not absorbed deeper than a kelipah.<ref>Simla Chadasha 10:5-7</ref>
			# Whereas if the blade was properly cleaned of surface substances with neitzah, one would think this halacha does not apply, some argue that even if so, there's still a concern for absorption of flavor facilitated by the heat of the animal neck and the pressure of the blade. Moreover, there may still be hard to see non-kosher substances still present on the blade.<ref>Simla Chadasha 10:5</ref>
			# Without kelipah, cooking the meat would require measuring if the kelipah is less than one sixtieth of the rest of the meat and then kelipah.<ref>Simla Chadasha 10:6</ref>

	===Knives Used for Idolatry===		===Knives Used for Idolatry===

MordechaiD: /* Non-Kosher Knives */

2023-07-23T16:13:15Z

Non-Kosher Knives

← Older revision		Revision as of 16:13, 23 July 2023
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	# A knife that is heated till it glows (incandescent) may not be used, as the heat from the sides of the blade burns the simanim before the blade finishes severing them, resulting in a piercing instead of a shechitah. The meat would be prohibited on a Torah level. Some are lenient bediavad if the shochet was aware and maneuvered the knife in a way that avoids the sides touching the simanim, but the halacha follows the strict view. Some say the minimum temperature of the metal is Yad Soledet Bo.<ref>Simla Chadasha 9:1</ref>		# A knife that is heated till it glows (incandescent) may not be used, as the heat from the sides of the blade burns the simanim before the blade finishes severing them, resulting in a piercing instead of a shechitah. The meat would be prohibited on a Torah level. Some are lenient bediavad if the shochet was aware and maneuvered the knife in a way that avoids the sides touching the simanim, but the halacha follows the strict view. Some say the minimum temperature of the metal is Yad Soledet Bo.<ref>Simla Chadasha 9:1</ref>
	===Non-Kosher Knives===		===Non-Kosher Knives===
	''See [Koshering a Kitchen] for more details.''		''See [[Koshering a Kitchen]] for more details.''
	# Due to the temperature of the animal neck and potentially also to the pressure of the knife, one may not use a non-Jew's knife before kashering it or sanding down a layer from both sides of the knife. Hagala is sufficient unless there are holes in the blade, which would then require libun.<ref>Simla Chadasha 10:4</ref>		# Due to the temperature of the animal neck and potentially also to the pressure of the knife, one may not use a non-Jew's knife before kashering it or sanding down a layer from both sides of the knife. Hagala is sufficient unless there are holes in the blade, which would then require libun.<ref>Simla Chadasha 10:4</ref>
	# If the animal was shechted with non-kosher knife that was not used for non-kosher food in the past twenty-four hours (eino ben yomo); although, the knife should have ideally been kashered, the meat is kosher. The same is true if one is unsure if it was used in the past twenty-four hours. If there is any visible non-kosher substance on the blade, as knives are often not perfectly clean, then the rules of an actual ben yomo must be followed as below. Even if one thinks it was clean, there's room to be strict as below, unless one made sure to do a thorough job or it is a pressing situation.<ref>Simla Chadasha 10:7</ref>		# If the animal was shechted with non-kosher knife that was not used for non-kosher food in the past twenty-four hours (eino ben yomo); although, the knife should have ideally been kashered, the meat is kosher. The same is true if one is unsure if it was used in the past twenty-four hours. If there is any visible non-kosher substance on the blade, as knives are often not perfectly clean, then the rules of an actual ben yomo must be followed as below. Even if one thinks it was clean, there's room to be strict as below, unless one made sure to do a thorough job or it is a pressing situation.<ref>Simla Chadasha 10:7</ref>

MordechaiD: /* Non-Kosher Knives */

2023-07-23T16:13:03Z

Non-Kosher Knives

← Older revision		Revision as of 16:13, 23 July 2023
Line 14:		Line 14:
	# A knife that is heated till it glows (incandescent) may not be used, as the heat from the sides of the blade burns the simanim before the blade finishes severing them, resulting in a piercing instead of a shechitah. The meat would be prohibited on a Torah level. Some are lenient bediavad if the shochet was aware and maneuvered the knife in a way that avoids the sides touching the simanim, but the halacha follows the strict view. Some say the minimum temperature of the metal is Yad Soledet Bo.<ref>Simla Chadasha 9:1</ref>		# A knife that is heated till it glows (incandescent) may not be used, as the heat from the sides of the blade burns the simanim before the blade finishes severing them, resulting in a piercing instead of a shechitah. The meat would be prohibited on a Torah level. Some are lenient bediavad if the shochet was aware and maneuvered the knife in a way that avoids the sides touching the simanim, but the halacha follows the strict view. Some say the minimum temperature of the metal is Yad Soledet Bo.<ref>Simla Chadasha 9:1</ref>
	===Non-Kosher Knives===		===Non-Kosher Knives===
			''See [Koshering a Kitchen] for more details.''
			# Due to the temperature of the animal neck and potentially also to the pressure of the knife, one may not use a non-Jew's knife before kashering it or sanding down a layer from both sides of the knife. Hagala is sufficient unless there are holes in the blade, which would then require libun.<ref>Simla Chadasha 10:4</ref>
			# If the animal was shechted with non-kosher knife that was not used for non-kosher food in the past twenty-four hours (eino ben yomo); although, the knife should have ideally been kashered, the meat is kosher. The same is true if one is unsure if it was used in the past twenty-four hours. If there is any visible non-kosher substance on the blade, as knives are often not perfectly clean, then the rules of an actual ben yomo must be followed as below. Even if one thinks it was clean, there's room to be strict as below, unless one made sure to do a thorough job or it is a pressing situation.<ref>Simla Chadasha 10:7</ref>
			# If it was definitely used for non-kosher in the past twenty-four hours (ben yomo) but not kashered, a layer must be sliced off (kelipah) from the neck, due to the potential for non-kosher substances on the blade to rub off and be absorbed in the neck and generally these things are not absorbed deeper than a kelipah. Some argue that even if the knife was cleaned of surface substances properly with neitzah, there's still a concern for absorption of flavor facilitated by the heat of the animal neck and the pressure of the blade as well as non-kosher substances that are hard to see but still present on the blade. Without kelipah, cooking the meat would require measuring if the kelipah is less than one sixtieth of the rest of the meat and then kelipah.<ref>Simla Chadasha 10:5-7</ref>

	===Knives Used for Idolatry===		===Knives Used for Idolatry===
	# One may not benefit from tools used to worship an idol, therefore, the knife used to slaughter animals for idolatrous sacrifices is prohibited from benefit. That said, killing a healthy animal is arguably more detrimental than it is beneficial, as the animal is no longer alive to grow or work. A dead animal is only good for its meat and entails a necessary loss. Similar arguments could be made for birds. As such, shechting a healthy animal or bird with a knife used for idolatrous activities is permissible, because causing a loss is not considered benefit. However, a sick animal may not be shechted with that knife, as that would be considered an improvement. Some argue the same is true for a very violent or high maintenance animal that comes at a loss to its owner or if the price of meat is higher than the price of the animal it comes from.<ref>Simla Chadasha 10:1</ref>		# One may not benefit from tools used to worship an idol, therefore, the knife used to slaughter animals for idolatrous sacrifices is prohibited from benefit. That said, killing a healthy animal is arguably more detrimental than it is beneficial, as the animal is no longer alive to grow or work. A dead animal is only good for its meat and entails a necessary loss. Similar arguments could be made for birds. As such, shechting a healthy animal or bird with a knife used for idolatrous activities is permissible, because causing a loss is not considered benefit. However, a sick animal may not be shechted with that knife, as that would be considered an improvement. Some argue the same is true for a very violent or high maintenance animal that comes at a loss to its owner or if the price of meat is higher than the price of the animal it comes from.<ref>Simla Chadasha 10:1</ref>

MordechaiD: /* Glowing Hot Knife */

2023-07-20T19:43:08Z

Glowing Hot Knife

← Older revision		Revision as of 19:43, 20 July 2023
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	===Glowing Hot Knife===		===Glowing Hot Knife===
	# A knife that is heated till it glows (incandescent) may not be used, as the heat from the sides of the blade burns the simanim before the blade finishes severing them, resulting in a piercing instead of a shechitah. The meat would be prohibited on a Torah level. Some are lenient bediavad if the shochet was aware and maneuvered the knife in a way that avoids the sides touching the simanim, but the halacha follows the strict view. Some say the minimum temperature of the metal is Yad Soledet Bo.<ref>Simla Chadasha 9:1</ref>		# A knife that is heated till it glows (incandescent) may not be used, as the heat from the sides of the blade burns the simanim before the blade finishes severing them, resulting in a piercing instead of a shechitah. The meat would be prohibited on a Torah level. Some are lenient bediavad if the shochet was aware and maneuvered the knife in a way that avoids the sides touching the simanim, but the halacha follows the strict view. Some say the minimum temperature of the metal is Yad Soledet Bo.<ref>Simla Chadasha 9:1</ref>
			===Non-Kosher Knives===
			===Knives Used for Idolatry===
			# One may not benefit from tools used to worship an idol, therefore, the knife used to slaughter animals for idolatrous sacrifices is prohibited from benefit. That said, killing a healthy animal is arguably more detrimental than it is beneficial, as the animal is no longer alive to grow or work. A dead animal is only good for its meat and entails a necessary loss. Similar arguments could be made for birds. As such, shechting a healthy animal or bird with a knife used for idolatrous activities is permissible, because causing a loss is not considered benefit. However, a sick animal may not be shechted with that knife, as that would be considered an improvement. Some argue the same is true for a very violent or high maintenance animal that comes at a loss to its owner or if the price of meat is higher than the price of the animal it comes from.<ref>Simla Chadasha 10:1</ref>
			# If the knife was used to cut wood which was then used for idolatry, then it's permissible. It's only considered a knife of Meshamshei Avodah Zarah when the idol is finished with the knife or sacrifices are slaughtered with it.<ref>Simla Chadasha 10:2</ref>
			# A sick animal slaughtered with a knife of Meshamshei Avodah Zarah is entirely prohibited from benefit until one throws away enough meat the value of which is equal to the cost of shechting with it. If there aren't any more knives avaialble, then the cost of shechting must go up.<ref>Simla Chadasha 10:3</ref>

	==Crafting a Shechitah Knife==		==Crafting a Shechitah Knife==
	Modern day shechitah knives are commonly rectangularly shaped to facilitate shechitah without issues of chaladah and derasa and made with easy to sharpen steel that maintains its edge to minimize pegimot.		Modern day shechitah knives are commonly rectangularly shaped to facilitate shechitah without issues of chaladah and derasa and made with easy to sharpen steel that maintains its edge to minimize pegimot.

MordechaiD: /* Crafting a Shechitah Knife */

2023-07-19T21:39:09Z

Crafting a Shechitah Knife

← Older revision		Revision as of 21:39, 19 July 2023
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	# One should use a knife that ends in a right angle, not a sharp point, in order to avoid chaladah. In pressing circumstances, can can cover the tip with something light and then shecht (a hard tip cover could lead to derasa).<ref>Simla Chadasha 6:4</ref>		# One should use a knife that ends in a right angle, not a sharp point, in order to avoid chaladah. In pressing circumstances, can can cover the tip with something light and then shecht (a hard tip cover could lead to derasa).<ref>Simla Chadasha 6:4</ref>
	# Some say the top of the knife should also be void of pegimot,<ref>Simla Chadasha 6:4</ref> in case one ends up cutting with the top, while others note how the rectangular knives we use today avoid this issue.<ref>Mateh Asher 6:5</ref>		# Some say the top of the knife should also be void of pegimot,<ref>Simla Chadasha 6:4</ref> in case one ends up cutting with the top, while others note how the rectangular knives we use today avoid this issue.<ref>Mateh Asher 6:5</ref>
	~~[[File:Chalefimsizes1 lys 5000x.jpg\|alt=Examples of the different size shechitah knives for gasot, dakot, and ofot.~~
	# The ideal shechitah knife is twice as long as the neck of the target category;<ref>See Simla Chadasha 8:2 and [The Shechitah Process] for more details.</ref> therefore, bird (ofos) knives are usually about five inches long, sheep (dakos) knives are usually nine inches long, and cattle (gasos) knives are usually about sixteen inches long.<ref>See [https://www.yutorah.org/lectures/lecture.cfm/1062724 IBC Experiential Halacha: Chicken Shechita]</ref>		# The ideal shechitah knife is twice as long as the neck of the target category;<ref>See Simla Chadasha 8:2 and [The Shechitah Process] for more details.</ref> therefore, bird (ofos) knives are usually about five inches long, sheep (dakos) knives are usually nine inches long, and cattle (gasos) knives are usually about sixteen inches long.<ref>See [https://www.yutorah.org/lectures/lecture.cfm/1062724 IBC Experiential Halacha: Chicken Shechita]</ref>
	# The instrument used to shecht should preferably be as smooth as possible on both sides. Therefore, although engravings in the blade far from the edge do not render the shechitah invalid, but one should ideally use a knife free of any engravings. Anything sticking out of the side would be a problem even bediavad despite being far from the edge.<ref>Simla Chadasha 9:2</ref>		# The instrument used to shecht should preferably be as smooth as possible on both sides. Therefore, although engravings in the blade far from the edge do not render the shechitah invalid, but one should ideally use a knife free of any engravings. Anything sticking out of the side would be a problem even bediavad despite being far from the edge.<ref>Simla Chadasha 9:2</ref>

			[[File:Chalefimsizes1 lys 5000x.jpg\|alt=Examples of the different size shechitah knives for gasot, dakot, and ofot.
	Stainless Steel Chalefim in Select Sizes, image courtesy of Laevi Sussman, JewishKnives.com\|thumb\|[https://jewishknives.com/collections/chalefim/products/stainless-steel-chalefim-in-select-sizes Stainless Steel Chalefim in Select Sizes], image courtesy of Laevi Sussman, [http://JewishKnives.com JewishKnives.com]]]		Stainless Steel Chalefim in Select Sizes, image courtesy of Laevi Sussman, JewishKnives.com\|thumb\|[https://jewishknives.com/collections/chalefim/products/stainless-steel-chalefim-in-select-sizes Stainless Steel Chalefim in Select Sizes], image courtesy of Laevi Sussman, [http://JewishKnives.com JewishKnives.com]]]