1,988
edits
Who Can Be a Shochet: Difference between revisions
From Halachipedia
→Those Invalid to Shecht: all the pesulim
MordechaiD (talk | contribs) (move around) |
MordechaiD (talk | contribs) (→Those Invalid to Shecht: all the pesulim) |
||
| Line 52: | Line 52: | ||
==Those Invalid to Shecht== | ==Those Invalid to Shecht== | ||
Technically, the knowledge of the laws and skill in the act of Shechitah are requisite qualification to shecht under expert supervision/become certified. Nevertheless, for one reason or another, many parties are disqualified from shechting altogether or under ideal circumstances. | |||
===The Elderly=== | |||
# An elderly person may not shecht if his hands are too heavy for him.<ref>Simla Chadasha 1:36</ref> | |||
===Women=== | |||
# Although women are technically permitted to shecht, the custom is that they do not at all despite their skill, as they are more likely to recoil from the bloody and gory experience and risk making a mistake. Therefore, one may not authorize a woman to be a shochet, but if she shechts under close supervision or on her own and confidently claims she did everything correctly, it would be kosher. If she did it on her own and is not present to vouch for herself, we must assume it is not kosher, as she deviated from common practice (and we therefore will not rely on the Rov). If the local custom is to allow them to shecht, then this does not apply, but she still should not be appointed to be the communal shochet, due to the greater chance of making a mistake at high volumes of kill.<ref>Simla Chadasha 1:13</ref> | # Although women are technically permitted to shecht, the custom is that they do not at all despite their skill, as they are more likely to recoil from the bloody and gory experience and risk making a mistake. Therefore, one may not authorize a woman to be a shochet, but if she shechts under close supervision or on her own and confidently claims she did everything correctly, it would be kosher. If she did it on her own and is not present to vouch for herself, we must assume it is not kosher, as she deviated from common practice (and we therefore will not rely on the Rov). If the local custom is to allow them to shecht, then this does not apply, but she still should not be appointed to be the communal shochet, due to the greater chance of making a mistake at high volumes of kill.<ref>Simla Chadasha 1:13</ref> | ||
===Children=== | |||
# Ideally, children should not shecht at all unless there is a shortage of qualified shochtim. Even so, a child may not shecht without the skill and knowledge of shechitah and expert supervision. If he has the skill and supervision but lacks the knowledge, bediavad the meat is kosher. If he has the skill and knowledge but not the supervision, then the mean is not kosher, as he has is still immature and no credibility. With respect to girls specifically, we follow the same rules as defined by women's permission to shecht.<ref>Simla Chadasha 1:30</ref> | |||
# We are lenient to allow a child who is of some cognitive maturity to take birds to the shochet and bring them back, even though he has no halachic credibility.<ref>Simla Chadasha 1:35</ref> | |||
===The Blind=== | |||
# A man who is blind in both eyes may not shecht lechatechilah even if he's an expert, because he may do a poor job.<ref>Simla Chadasha 1:35</ref> | |||
# Bediavad, we can be lenient if the we checked and the simanim were severed properly; at the risk of major financial loss, the blind man may do the checking himself and determines that he severed the majority. This leniency is only available if he is full cognitive and God-fearing.<ref>Simla Chadasha 1:37</ref> | |||
In pressing circumstances, he can shecht lechatechilah with supervision.<ref>Simla Chadasha 1:35</ref> | |||
===Deaf and/or Mute === | |||
# A Cheresh (deaf-mute) or Shoteh may not shecht; Bediavad, if they shechted properly and with expert supervision, the meat would be permitted.<ref>Simla Chadasha 1:28. See 1:28-29 regarding how to define these terms.</ref> | |||
# Due to his inability to hear his own beracha, a deaf person should not shecht. Bediavad, it's kosher even privately, assuming he is cognitively competent and preferably with our knowledge that he is an expert shochet.<ref>Simla Chadasha 1:32-33</ref> | |||
# Due to his inability to recite the beracha, a mute person may shecht only if someone else recites a Beracha on the shechitah of a different animal and has him in mind, assuming he is cognitively competent and preferably with our knowledge that he is an expert shochet.<ref>Simla Chadasha 1:32-34</ref> | |||
===For the Dogs=== | |||
# A deaf-mute, shoteh, or child should not shecht on his own even with the skill, knowledge, expert supervision, and with intention of throwing to the dogs. Certainly without supervision, the meat would be prohibited; with supervision, one can be lenient for a skilled and learned child.<ref>Simla Chadasha 1:31</ref> | |||
===Intoxication=== | |||
# One who completely loses all control of his faculties due to inebriation (Shichruto Shel Lot) has the status of a Shoteh.<ref>Simla Chadasha 1:36</ref> | |||
# A drunk may not shecht lechatechilah, as his hands are too heavy for him, which could lead to a derasa proble,. In pressing circumstances and under supervision, there's room to be lenient. Even bediavad if he shechted privately it would be ok, as long as it was clear to us that he hadn't reached Shichruto Shel Lot.<ref>Simla Chadasha 1:36</ref> | |||
# If this is a regular occurrence, he should be fired until he improves and accepts upon himself bans and self inflictions should he become intoxicated again.<ref>Simla Chadasha 1:36</ref> | |||
===Unclothed=== | |||
# A Beracha my not be recited by one whose genitals are uncovered, nor may it be recited for him by someone else, either. The same is true if there is no separation between his heart and his genitals. Bediavad, the shechita would be kosher, as the Beracha does not inhibit the Mitzvah's performance.<ref>Simla Chadasha 1:38</ref> | |||
# It is also improper to recite a Beracha shirtless.<ref>Simla Chadasha 1:38</ref> | |||
===Slaves=== | |||
# A well known and upstanding Eved Kenaani who had milah and tevilah for Avdut may serve as a Shochet, but a random one may not.<ref>Simla Chadasha 1:14</ref> | # A well known and upstanding Eved Kenaani who had milah and tevilah for Avdut may serve as a Shochet, but a random one may not.<ref>Simla Chadasha 1:14</ref> | ||
==Sources== | ==Sources== | ||
<references/> | <references/> | ||
[[Category:Shechitah (Kosher Slaughter)]] | [[Category:Shechitah (Kosher Slaughter)]] | ||
