Who Can Be a Shochet

Overview

Can anyone perform shechita?

Excerpted from A Guide to Shechita 2009 by Shechita UK.

Only a Jew specially trained for shechita - a shochet - can perform shechita. He is required to study for a number of years and is examined, in theory and practice, in the laws of shechita, animal anatomy and pathology. He serves an apprenticeship with an experienced shochet before becoming fully qualified. The position of shochet, as a Godfearing person of integrity, is a respected one in the Jewish community.

Qualifications of a Shochet

Before attempting the act of Shechitah, one must become fluent in the relevant laws (Shulchan Aruch, Yoreh Deah 1-28) and then practice in front of an expert until he desensitizes himself. If he faints, he may ruin the shechitah and not even realize. Once he can successfully shecht three times in a row in front of an expert, he may then shecht on his own.

The Shechitah of an Untested Stranger

1. The basic axiom is that most people involved in shechitah are competent ("רוב מצויין אצל שחיטה מומחין הן"); however, one could argue that we only rely on that as a last resort. Therefore, if one is approached by a stranger who wants to slaughter an animal for him, according to the letter of the law, one may permit him to slaughter first and assess his knowledge of Shechitah afterwards, as we are not concerned that he will shecht and take off before we can investigate. If the shochet is still here or can be recalled for us to investigate his knowledge, then he must be. Even so, he doesn't need to be asked if he faints. Regardless, one should check the simanim.
2. Even if he does flee and cannot be recalled, we can still be lenient and assume the shechitah was kosher. Nevertheless, this leniency only applies after the animal has been slaughtered. If, however, we know we won't be able to investigate, such as if he says he can't stay or there is no one of those present who is knowledgeable enough to assess the shochet, we should not allow him to shecht, except for pressing circumstances.

The Need for Proper Certification

1. Unfortunately, abuse of this leniency by people who will just eat anything by relying on it lead to people shechting without proper training, because they assumed nobody would check them. To avoid this, the practice developed to ban anybody from shechting or inspecting terefot privately without rabbinic assessment and approval, regardless of however much book knowledge he has.

How to Assess a Shochet Candidate

1. The qualities to look for in a candidate to become a shochet are:
   1. Proper conduct
   2. Fear of Heaven
   3. Some independent Torah learning skills
   4. Knowledge of the five halachot Shechitah (Yoreh Deah 23-24), the halachot of how to check a knife, and the rest of the common halachot, as well as some that are uncommon.
   5. Skill in checking a knife with strong haptic perception and presence of mind. If the touch receptors on his fingers are not strong enough or if he cannot focus, that would be problematic.
   6. Then he should shecht three birds successfully in front of the rabbi to demonstrate he knows what he's doing and does not faint. The custom is to do three chickens, two hens and one rooster, because roosters are harder to control.
   7. After that, he can have permission to shecht.
2. This permission come from a great rabbinic authority who can administer a challenging examination, not an expert shochet. In places where this permission is written in a certificate, inability to produce that certificate when requested to is a red flag.