Shechita
Shechita
Shechita (pronunciation: /ʃɛˈxita/; Hebrew: שחיטה) is the Jewish ritual method of slaughtering certain mammals and birds for food. The most important requirement of shechita is that an animal must be slaughtered by a Shochet, a trained Jewish individual, and that the slaughtering process must be done in a specific manner to be considered kosher.
Etymology
The term "Shechita" comes from the Hebrew root Shin-Chet-Tet (שחט), which means to slaughter or kill. The term is used in the Torah (Leviticus 1:5) to refer to the process of ritual slaughter.
Process
The process of Shechita involves the severing of the trachea, esophagus, carotid arteries, jugular veins, and vagus nerve in a swift and precise action using a special knife, or Chalaf. The Shochet must also check the knife for any irregularities before and after the slaughter.
Related Terms
- Kosher: Food that complies with a strict set of dietary rules in Judaism.
- Shochet: A Jew who is trained and licensed to slaughter animals and birds according to Jewish law.
- Chalaf: The knife used for Shechita, which must be extremely sharp and free of nicks and irregularities.
- Treif: Food that is not kosher, often because the animal was not slaughtered according to the laws of Shechita.
See Also
External links
- Medical encyclopedia article on Shechita
- Wikipedia's article - Shechita
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