Editing Lubavitch Shechita (section)

== Yiras Shamayim of the Shochtim and Bodkim ==
Throughout the generations, our Rebbeim were particular that the shochet should specifically be someone with great yiras shamayim, even more than a rav, and should be a chossid who learns chassidus and engages in avodas hatefillah.

This was actually already ruled as halacha in Shulchan Aruch that one should appoint a shochet who is distinguished in his yiras shamayim, far beyond the general presumption of kashrus that exists for every Jew (which is certainly sufficient for shechita for personal use). This is because checking the knife, which is a halachic ruling in itself, was given to the shochet and he must be worthy to rule on this matter, which requires special concentration (especially in the challenging conditions of time and place during shechita). There must also be extra care that the shechita is performed without concern of the five things that invalidate it (shehiya, derasa, chalada, hagrama and ikkur) and some of these things require extra attention, are easy to stumble in unknowingly, and only the shochet himself (and Hashem who sees into the heart) knows if his work was done properly.