Shechitah (Kosher Slaughter)
From Halachipedia
The Basics
The Torah prohibits the consumption of meat and fowl without prior ritual slaughter, known as Shechitah. There is one positive commandment to perform Shechitah, "VeZavachta... Ka'asher Tziviticha" (Devarim 12:21) and four negative prohibitions involved - Ever Min HaChai, Nevelah, Terefah, and Dam.
| Hebrew Term | English Term | Requires Shechitah | Requires Kisui HaDam | Details | Examples |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Behemot Gassot | Large Mammals | Yes | No | Majority of two simanim | Cows |
| Behemot Dakkot | Small Mammals | Yes | No | Majority of two simanim | Goats |
| Chayot | Wild Animals | Yes | Yes | Majority of two simanim | Deer |
| Ofot | Birds | Yes | Yes | Majority of one siman | Chicken |
| Chagavim | Locusts | No | No | ||
| Dagim | Fish | No | No | Just kill first | Salmon |
Who Can Be a Shochet
For more details, see Who Can Be a Shochet In order to be a shochet, one must be an adult, God-fearing, Jewish male knowledgeable of the laws of Shechitah, skilled in the act of Shechitah, and certified with a "Kabbalah" from a Halachic authority. In addition to the actual slaughter, there are a number of other or differentiated roles one can play:
- Shochet Ofot - certified for slaughtering fowl
- Shochet Behemot Dakkot - certified for small mammals
- Shochet Behemot Gassot - certified for large animals
- Bodek Simanim - one who checks the neck to ensure the Shechitah was done properly
- Bodek Sakinim - one who checks the Shochet's knife to make sure it's sharp and smooth before allowing him to shecht again
- Bodek - one who checks the inner organs to determine whether or not the animal is a terefah
- Menaker - one who removes the forbidden fats from the animal ("trabering").
The Knife
How to Shecht
Before
During
After
Related Works
- Tevuot Shor, a commentary on Shulchan Aruch Hilchot Shechitah by Rabbi Alexander Sender Shor.
- Simla Chadasha, a classic handbook for Shochetim, Rabbi Shor's condensed version of his Tevuot Shor. Translated into English by Rabbi Chaim Loike.
- Beis Dovid
- Esek Hashechita by Rabbi Dovid Shaffier. See SeforimChatter Review here.
