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Does a Shochet need to have his knife checked by a Rabbi? If not, why not?
Mishneh Torah, Talmud Torah, 6:14 lists 24 reasons for excommunication. # 20 is:
טַבָּח שֶׁלֹּא בָּדַק סַכִּינוֹ לִפְנֵי חָכָם
A Shochet who does not have his knife checked by a wise man.
(generally translated as a Rabbi)
I know I heard somewhere recently that nowadays most Shochetim check their own knives. Is that true? If so, what is the basis for it?
1 answer
The reason is explained in Shulchan Aruch Yoreh Deah 18:17 (based on Tur). A brief explanation is that nowadays a Shochet is only allowed to serve after passing a highly rigorous examination of both knowledge and character, and can therefore be trusted to perform their own inspection.
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