Editing Shochet (Ritual Slaughterer) (section)

== Heart of the Community ==
[[The Rebbe Rayatz|The Frierdiker Rebbe]] said that the Rav is the head of the community, and the Shochet is the heart of the community.

"A Shochet," said the Frierdiker Rebbe, "is not just a 'skatoboyetz' (slaughterer), a person who holds a knife and kills animals... A Shochet is the 'heart' of the community, and must be the life-force of the community, organizing set times for Torah study and the like. Additionally, he engages in the craft of ritual slaughter, but this is not his primary work."

The Rebbe added: Regarding the craft of slaughter itself, which "requires checking of the meat and examining for treifah," "checking with the tip of the tongue<ref>Chulin 17, 2. And see Reshimos in booklet 9 (Yalkut), p. 6.</ref>" - this can be interpreted in terms of divine service: the Shochet must examine himself to ensure he doesn't have sharp "fingernails"... He must also examine his speech, the content of his words and their style, ensuring they are appropriate. Without this, he is merely a "skatoboyetz," a man with a knife who kills animals, and then the animal protests against him: "Why are you taking my life? How are you better than me?!"