Editing Lubavitch Shechita (section)

== The Shochet ==


The shochet must be especially yirei shamayim (even more than a rav), for several reasons:

# He is primarily responsible for checking the knife, which must be done carefully and with a settled mind (even under difficult conditions of time and place), and for this tremendous yiras shamayim is needed.
# Only a person with true yiras shamayim will understand the great responsibility resting upon him and the fine line separating merit of the many from its opposite G-d forbid, and therefore only such a person can be relied upon to never compromise on even the smallest detail, even in matters that seem "minor."

===== Accepted Customs Among Anash Shochtim =====
Regarding requiring the shochet to maintain Chabad customs there isn't one unified approach, but from the instructions of our Rebbeim we can say that the shochet must learn chassidus every day, and also engage in avodas hatefillah according to his level, and in communal matters. Chabad rabbanim in each location were particular about certain practices, some of which aren't necessarily relevant to every time and place. Among them:

* Generally - daily conduct serving as a living example of a G-d fearing and chassidic young man, with all that implies
* Set times for Torah study, with emphasis on daily set times studying Chabad chassidus
* Daily mikvah immersion, and on shechita days - before each action related to the shechita process (setting up the knife, checking it, and the shechita itself)
* Educating children only in Chabad institutions (even if there are other institutions with a higher spiritual level)
* Not engaging in any other economic field for livelihood (apart from fields that are "holy vessels" like rabbi, teacher, shliach, etc.)
* Not employing a shochet who didn't appear for Tehillim recitation on Shabbos Mevorchim before Shacharis prayer.