intended to increase the knowledge, interest, and anticipation of the reader, thereby hastening the realization of our hopes and prayers for the rebuilding of Jerusalem and the Beit HaMikdash. Shechita - the
Slaughter of Sacrificial Animals Immensely ancient, the laws of Shechita - kosher ritual slaughter - were strictly observed in the Beit HaMikdash. These laws were (and are) considered Halachot LeMoshe MiSinai, laws orally revealed to Moses on Mt. Sinai. This is intimated in the Biblical verse; '…you may slaughter from your cattle and from your flocks…as I have commanded you.' (Devarim 12:21). Since nowhere in the written Torah are there Halachot explaining how animals are to be slaughtered, this Pasuk is considered one of the classic proofs of the existence of a Torah She'be'al Peh, an authentic Oral Tradition coeval with the written Torah. The Gemara in Chulin 28a reads, "The Pasuk 'And you shall slaughter… as I have commanded you' teaches us that Moses was instructed concerning the gullet (esophagus, Veshet) and the windpipe (trachea, Kaneh); that the greater part of one of these organs must be cut in the case of a bird, and that the greater part of both of these organs must be cut in the case of cattle." The Ramban comments, "…originally G-d commanded us that all meat eaten were to be offered as Shelamim, but when He permitted Chulin - non-sacrificial eating - He said, 'you may slaughter from your cattle and from your flocks… as I have commanded you'. Slaughter them in the same way as you did when all animals slaughtered were offered as Korbanot" (Devarim 12:21). Though Shechita was not considered an Avoda, the Shocheit in the Mikdash, whether Kohein or non-Kohein, had to have Kavana (special intent) when slaughtering a sacrificial animal (Menachot 110a). (Birds which were to be sacrificed were killed by another method called Melika. Melika was only applicable for Korbanot and not for Chulin; a bird killed by Melika today would not be Kosher.) Private Korbanot did not have to be slaughtered by a Kohein. In fact ideally, private Korbanot were slaughtered by the Ba'al HaKorban (the person bringing the sacrifice) himself. In addition, "We learned in Zevachim 31b that women were permitted to slaughter their own sacrificial animals" (Tosafot). If the Ba'al HaKorban needed assistance, expert Shochtim were on hand to help. Leviyim fulfilled this important function in the great Passovers celebrated by Kings Hezekiah and Josiah in the days of Bayit Rishon (II Divrei HaYamim 30:17 and 35:6). The slaughter of animals was entrusted by the Halacha only to those who were well-versed in the laws of Shechita, skilled in their work, and were Shomrei Mitzvot. The Shocheit could not be a deaf-mute, imbecile, someone who was intoxicated, or a minor. But if an expert supervised them and validated their Shechita, it was valid (Chulin 1:1). However, Korbanot Tzibur - the communal sacrifices - were always slaughtered by Kohanim. The Temidin - the two daily obligatory Olot - were slaughtered by Kohanim chosen in the second of the four priestly "lotteries" which the Mikdash authorities arranged to determine which Kohein performed which particular Avoda (Yoma 2:3). Each of the 24 Mishmarot - "companies" of Kohanim had its own set of slaughter-knives which were stored in the Beit HaChalifot, chambers located at the north and south ends of the Ulam - the entrance hall of the Bayit. The knives had to be extremely sharp, smooth, and without notches. The many sub-Halachot of the laws of Shechita were condensed by the Sages into five major classifications. If the Shocheit made any of the following errors, the Shechita was invalidated (Chulin 9b). • SHEHIYA (delay or pause). There should be no delay or pause in the act of slaughtering. The knife had to be kept in continuous motion forward and backward until the windpipe and gullet were completely cut through. (Shehiya is discussed at length in Chulin 32a. Rambam discusses Shehiya in even greater detail in the beginning of the third chapter of Hilchot Shechita.) • DERASA (pressing the knife). The knife had to be gently drawn horizontally across the neck of the sacrificial animal; the Shocheit could not press down. Derasa is discussed at length in Chulin 30b. See Rambam, Hilchot Shechita 3: 11 • CHALADA (passing the knife under cover). The knife had to be drawn over the throat and every part of the knife had to be visible at all times. (For example, if the wool of a sheep concealed the knife from view, the Shechita would be invalidated.). Note Chulin 32a, Rambam, Hilchot Shechita 3:9,10 • HAGRAMA (cutting in a slanting direction). The knife could only be drawn across the area between the large ring in the windpipe to the upper lobe of the lungs when they are inflated. Slaughtering above or below these limits is called Hagrama and invalidates the slaughter. Note Chulin 18a, Rambam Hil. Shechita 3:12 • IKUR (uprooting or tearing loose). If either the windpipe or the gullet was removed or torn from its regular position during Shechita, the slaughter was invalid. The knife had to have a perfect edge. Ikur is discussed in detail in Chulin 32a and 85a. See Rambam, Hilchot Shechita 3:14 After every animal was slaughtered, the Shocheit had to re-examine his knife to ascertain that no Pegimot (flaws, nicks) had developed. If he found a disqualifying notch, the Shechita was invalidated. Similarly the Shocheit was obligated to examine the throat of the slaughtered animal and insure that the windpipe and gullet were indeed cut according to Halacha (Chulin 9a). In addition the innards and especially the lungs of the animal had to be thoroughly checked for disqualifying blemishes. If the animal was killed without Shechita or the slaughter was defective or if it died, it was considered Neveila ("carrion") and was not permitted to be eaten or offered as a Korban. In the Mikdash, a private individual slaughtering his Korban recited the Beracha, …Asher Kideshanu Bemitzvotav Vetzivanu Al Hashechita ….who sanctified us with His commandments and commanded us (the laws of) Shechita. (Rambam, Hil. Shechita 1:2). A Kohein slaughtering the Tamid would insert "the priestly addition" into the Beracha, "Asher Kideshanu Bekedushato Shel Aharon and then conclude the Beracha, Vetzivanu Al Hashechita. The Sifri notes, Ma Kodashim Beshechita, Af Chulin Beshechita". The Halachot for the slaughter of Korbanot in the Mikdash and that of non-consecrated meat for private consumption were identical. Catriel's book in progress: The Temple of Jerusalem, A Pilgrims Prospective; A Guided Tour through the Temple and the Divine Service [The
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