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. If he knows those, he most likely knows the rest, as well. If he claims to be unsure of a certain law, there's reason to overlook that, but given the many resources available to the learner, best is to disqualify him until he is fluent without issue.It goes without saying that he says the opposite of the Halacha, that this is true.
   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.

Proper Conduct of a Shochet

1. A shochet or bodek should never become intoxicated.
2. To avoid forgetting, he must review the laws of shechitah constantly, preferably once every three days. This is usually written in his kabbalah certification.
3. A shochet who does not conduct himself in a manner befitting someone of such serious responsibility is essentially feeding Nevelot and Terefot to the Jewish people, will receive a fairly excruciating punishment in the next world, and will not be afforded the opportunity to repent.
4. The local rabbinic authorities should regularly check that the already certified shochetim are continuing to conduct themselves properly and review the laws and are using kosher knives. If they find that not to be the case, the certification should be removed.
5. Rabbis should not cut corners or overlook law of qualifications when assessing candidates, as it leads to lowering the standards and thresholds of proper shechitah and then eventually people eating improperly slaughtered meat. It is too easy for the hasty and unlearned to overlook a serious issue in the knife even if they say they "checked" it. It therefore behooves the consumer to ensure that he only eats meat that either he himself knows the shochet is up to par, or he knows the local rabbinate oversees things properly, or he at least checked the knife prior to this animals shechitah and he investigated the shochet's stature with community members..