ShulchanAruch

ThelawsofKosherSlaughter
YorehDeah(Hewillinstructknowledge)
Siman127
(TranslatedbyRAsherMezaof
TorahJudaism.org)

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Chapter1
Whoisacceptabletobea(ritual)slaughterer?

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Seif1
Allmayslaughter,attheoutset,evenwomen.
Slavesandvirtuallyanyoneeventhoughyoudonot
knowthemwhodoesnotfaintbecauseof
slaughtering.(isfitforslaughtering.)

Eventhoughyoudonotknowwhereorwhetherhe
learnedthelawsofslaughtering.
Itispermittedfromtheoutsettoacceptwhathe
slaughtersandpermittedtoeatitaswell.
Thisisbecausemostarefamiliarwithhis
slaughteringandhisexpertiseisknownaswell.
Whatarewesaying?
(Wearesaying)thatifthatpersonisnotinfrontof
usitispermittedtoeatwhatheslaughtersbecause
werelyonwhatisgenerallyknown.
Howeverifheisbeforeusweneedtocheckifheis
anexpertinthelawsofslaughtering,howeverwedo
notneedtoaskifhefaints.

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Seif2
Hedoesnotneedtoknowallofthedifferentdetails
ofthelaws,butratherifhesays"concerningthis
matterIwasindoubtandIasked(acompetent
rabbi)",suchanindividualiscalled"knowledgeable",
untilhecallsthatwhichisforbidden"permitted"
(thenhedemonstrateshisignoranceand
incompetence).

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Seif3
Whoeverdoesn'tknowthelawsofSlaughter,evenif
heslaughtersinthepresenceofothers4or5times
inthecorrectmanner,andifheslaughteredalone,
whatheslaughteredisunacceptable.Evenifheis
asked:Didyouslaughterinsuchandsuchmanner
andfromhisresponseweseethattheslaughterwas
donecorrectly.Wedontrelyonhiswords.
EvenifhesaysIamsurethatIperformedagood
slaughter.
Ifsomeoneknowsthathedoesn'tknowthelawsof
slaughtering,hecannotslaughteralone,
Ifsomeonestandsoverhimtoseehimfromthe
beginningoftheslaughteringtilltheend.(Itwouldbe
allowed).

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Seif4
Ifalostkidorfowloronethatisstolenisfound
slaughteredproperlyinaplacethatispredominately
jewish,(andthemajorityofthethievesinthecityare
jewish)
Itispermitted.
Evenifitissoughtandfoundamongeitherthe
marketplaceorinthetrashheapofahomebutifwe
finditinthetrashheapofthemarketplaceitisnot
permitted.

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Seif5
Adeafpersonwhocannothearandcannotspeakor
animbecile,inotherwordssomeonewhocannotgo
outsidealoneatnightorwhohasrippedgarmentsor
whofrequentscemeteriesorlosesthingsthatare
giventohimevenoneofthesethingsorconducts
himselfinasillymannerorachildthatdoesn'thave
atrainedhandtoslaughterweshouldnotallowthem
toslaughterfromtheoutsetevenifthereissomeone
standingoverthemhelpingthem.Butifthey
slaughter(afterthefact)theirslaughteriskosherif
thereisatrainedindividualstandingoverthem.
Howeverweshouldnotallowthemtoslaughterfrom
theoutsetwithoutatrainedindividualstandingover
them.Evenifhewantstofeedthedogs.
Howeverifthechildhasatrainedhandandatrained
individualisstandingoverhimhecanslaughterfrom

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theoutsetandeveryoneisallowedtoeatwhathe
slaughters.

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Seif6
Adeafpersonwhospeaksbutdoesn'theardoesnot
slaughter(fromtheoutset)becauseheisnotableto
heartheblessing.
Ifhedoesslaughterevenforhimselfitisfitfor
consumption.

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Seif7
(Ifthedeafperson)hearsbutdoesnotspeak:ifheis
anexpert,heisallowedtoslaughterevenfromthe
outsetifsomeoneelsesaystheblessing.

Seif8
AdrunkwhohasreachedthedrunkennessofLot
accordingtoJewishlawhasthestatusofonewhois
crazy.Andifhehasnotreachedthedrunkennessof
Lothemayslaughterfromtheoutset.

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Seif9
Ablindpersonisnotallowedtoslaughterfromthe
outsetunlessotherswatchhim.Ifheslaughters
whatheslaughteredisacceptable.

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Seif10
Anakedpersonisnotallowedtoslaughterfromthe
outsetduetonotbeingabletosaytheblessing.

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Seif11
Ifacommunityinstitutedapronouncementthatonly
aspecificbutcherwouldbeallowedtoslaughter,and

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anotherbutchergoesaheadandslaughters,
(regardingwhatheslaughtered)Therearethose
whosaythatwhatheslaughteredisforbidden.

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Seif12
IfsomeoneslaughtersananimalforanonJewin
thepresenceofwitnesses,andaJewcomesto
purchaseitfromhim,andhesays"donotbuyit,
becauseitwasn'tslaughteredinakoshermanner",
wedonotbelievehim,[andthebuyerisallowedto
purchaseit(*basedonthetestimonyofthe
witnesseswhosawitwasslaughteredinakosher
manner)].However,fortheshochethimself,itis
forbiddenforhimtoeatit,sincehedeclaredittobe

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aforbiddenitemforhimself(i.e.byhisstatement
thatitwasn'tkosher).

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Seif13

Ifabutchermadeasignontheheadofa(kosher)
slaughteredsheep,inorderthatitshouldappearto
betreifah,andalsohesaiditistreifah,but
subsequentlyhesaiditwaskosher,andheonlysaid
thatitwasn'tkosherearlierinorderthathecould
takeitforhimselfthereforeitshouldremain
(unpurchased)sohecouldtakethemeatfromit,
sincehegaveareasonforhiswords,heisbelieved
(thatitisindeedkosherandonlyappears

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nonkosherbasedonapostslaughterbutchering
technique).

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Seif14
Concerningaslaughtererthatonewitness(alone)
testifiedthatheperformedanimproperslaughter,
andhe(theshochet)deniesthis,wesaythat"one
witnesswhoiscontradictedbydenialisnothing",
andeventhewitnesshimselfisallowedtoeatfrom
thisshochetinthefuture.However,inanyevent,all
ofthisdependsonthestatureofthemanin
question.(boththewitnessandtheshochet?)

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Chapter2
Iftheslaughterperformedbyagentileoranapostateisacceptable.

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Aslaughteringperformedbyagentilehasthestatus
ofanevilah*,eveniftheslaughtererwasachildand
evenifthegentiledidnotworshipidolsandevenif
Jewsweresupervisinghim(whileheslaughtered).

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Ifawantonsinnerwhoeatsanevilah*and
deliberately(slaughters),ifaJewfirstchecksthe
knifethatheisgiven,onlythenareweallowedto
eatfromwhatheslaughteredevenifheslaughters
alone(only)ifheknowsthelawsofslaughter.
Howeveriftheknifeisnotcheckedfromthethe
beginning,itisforbiddentoeatwhatheslaughtered
untilwechecktheknifeattheend.
Andifitsnotgiventohiminthebeginninginorder
toslaughter,evenifatrustworthypersonstoodover
himtoassist,withoutcheckingtheknifefromthe
beginning,wedontrelythattheknifewasfitto
slaughter.
(evenifyouplantocheckitattheend)

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Awantonsinner*whointendstoslaughter,evenif
heswearsthatheslaughteredwithagoodknifehe
isnotbelieved.

*carcassofakosheranimalnotkilledinaccordance
withJewishlawandthereforeforbiddenfor
consumption.

**amumarleteiavondoesnotmeananapostate,
itmeansawantonsinnerwhosinsoutoflustor
desire,notoutofheresy.

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Seif4

Ifawantonsinnerslaughtersalone,andhehaswith
himaproperknifeandaknifethatisnotproper.

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Andthensaysthatheslaughteredwiththecorrect
knife,wetrustthem.
Andevenifwefindmeatinhishand,ifthereare
expertsinthecity,weaccepthisslaughter(ifthe
expertssay)anexpertslaughteredthis.

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Seif5
An(true)apostate*,evenagainstoneJewishlaw,or
ifheisaJewwhoworshipsforeigngodsorwho
publiclydesecratesthesabbath,oranapostate
againstalloftorahapartfromthesetwotheyhave
thestatusofnonJews
*(Cutheanwasaddedbythecensors).

*aMumarLehachisissomeonewhosins(inheresy)
outofangertoGd.

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Seif6

Seif6
Anapostatewhocontinuescommittingthesame
transgression,wedontneedtocheckhisknife,
accordingtotheRambamitneedstobechecked,
specificallyifheisanapostatebecauseofa
transgression,howeverifheisaninvalidated
witnessbyatransgressionthatmakeupthetorahs
listoftransgressions,youdontneedtocheckthe
knife,evenaccordingtotheRambam.

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Seif7
Ifheisanapostatebecauseofhisforeskin,his
statusislikeonewhotransgressesaspecificlaw.
Andifhewasn'tcircumcisedduetoafearofdeath
duringthecircumcision,Indeedheisliketherestof
thekosherJews.

*amumarle'aveirahisworsethanpasulle'edut.

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Seif8
ASamaritannowadayshasthestatusofanIdol
Worshiper.

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Seif9
SaduceesandBaiythiates(followersofBaiytus)
whattheyslaughterisforbidden,howeverifthey
slaughterandanexpertstoodoverthemguiding
themandtheyalsocheckedtheknife.(itisallowed).

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Seif10
Ifaninvalidatedpersonstartstoslaughterandwhen
hefinishesheisnolongerinvalidated,orifsomeone
beginstoslaughterasakosherJewandbytheend
oftheslaughterhasbecomeandinvalidatedperson.
Whatdowetellthem?(Wesay)

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Fromthebeginningyouwereinvalidatedwith
respecttoanissue,thismakeswhatyou
slaughteredanevilah,forexampleifthegulletand
themajorityofthetrachea(werecutwhenhefound
outitisnotallowed),howeveriffromthebeginning
someoneisinvalidatedandhalfoftheTrachea(is
alreadycut)andhefinishedasakosherjew,itis
permissible.

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Seif11
IfakosherJewandaninvalidatedslaughterer
simultaneouslyslaughter,itisnotallowedtobe
consumed.
Wedontneedtosayanythingifhis(TheKosher
Jews)handisontheknife.

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Siman3
Ritualslaughterdoesnotneedintention

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Seif1
Theslaughterofnonconsecrated(animals)doesnot
requireintention.
Evenifonedidntintendtocut,orifonethrewthe
knifeandinsertedititselfinawall,and(inthat
manner)slaughtered(properly)accordingto
Halacha.

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Ifoneseesthattheknifeisnotdulledbetweenthe
required(integral)pointsorundertheskin.
Andifonefindsthatafeatherorahairiscutbyit,
forsureit'snotdulled.
Evenifhedropstheknifefromhishandorhisfoot
withintention,andslaughters,itispermissible.
Howeverifitfallsonitsown,itsforbidden,Because
werequirehumanpower..(toperformitproperly).
Andiftherewasaknifeplacedonyourlaporyour
handanditfellfromyourhandorlapbymistake,
becauseitfellliterallyonitsown,itisforbidden.

Siman4
Theonewhoslaughterinthenameofidolatryorfor
someotherpurpose,whatistheruling?

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Seif1
AslaughterdoneinthenameofIdolatry,evenifhe
doesn'thavetheintentiontoperformtheactof
slaughterandtheactofworship,howeverhehas
theintentiontoslaughterittothrowthebloodorto
burnthefattoworshipidols,indeedthisisa
sacrificestodeadthingsandit'sforbiddentoderive
benefitfromit.

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Seif2

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Aslaughterwithoutintentions,afterwards,Hehasa
desiredintenttothrowitsbloodortoburnthefatfor
idolatry,itisaquestioniftheseareasacrificesto
deadthings.(andwesaywearestrictinadoubtina
Biblicalmatter,thereforeitisforbidden)

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Seif3
AJewslaughtersananimalbelongingtoaGentile,
evenifhehastheintentionfortheSamaritanto
worshipidols,itiskosher.AndifaJewintentionally

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threwittoasamaritantoworshipidols,itis
forbidden.

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Seif4
IfaJewslaughtersananimalbelongingtohisfriend
(fellowJew)forthesakeofworshipingIdols,itisnot
forbidden,becausecertainlyhisintentionsareonly
tocausehimdistress(andnottoactuallyworship
idols).However,ifhehasashareinit,somesay
thatalsohisfriend'sshareisalsoforbidden,while
otherssaythatthisisalsodirectedtoonlycause
distresstohiscolleague,andthenitisnotforbidden.

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Seif5
Onewhoslaughtersforthesakeofhillsor
mountains,orforthesakeofthesunorthemoon,
starsorconstellations,oceansorrivers,itdoesnot
havethestatusofanitemwhichwasofferedasan
idolatroussacrifice,thereforeitisnotprohibitedto
derivebenefitfromthismeat,howevertheslaughter
isinvalidated,eventhoughhedidnotintendto
worshipbuttohealorsomeotherpracticederived
fromthemeaninglesssuperstitionstheSamaritans
speakabout.

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Seif6
Ifsomeoneslaughteredasasacrificefortheangel
ordeityofamountain,orforagodorspiritof
anything,whethertheslaughterisasacrificeforthe
sakeoftheArchangelMichaelorasacrificeforthe
guardianangelofthesmallestworminthesea,itis
consideredtobeasacrificetodeadfalsegodsandit
isforbiddentoderivebenefitfromit.

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Seif7

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IftheIshmaelitesdonotallowJewstoslaughter
unlesstheyturntheirfacetoAlKibla,(meaningthey
turntheirfacetowardtheeast,toMecca)in
accordancewiththeircustom,thisisnotsimilarto
onewhoslaughtersforthesakeofamountain[thus
wouldnotbeprohibited].
Inanyevent,however,itispropertodoawaywith
thiscustomandtocastigatethosewhodoso,
(inasmuchaswearecarefultoavoidthis).

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Chapter5

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Onewhoslaughtersforthesake
ofholiness,lawsrelevantto
them.

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Seif1

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Aslaughterforthesakeofholysacrifices,offering
asasacrificethatisofferedasadonationortofulfill
avow,eveniftheanimalhasadeformity(andwould
notbeavalidsacrifice),theslaughterisinvalid(and
notkosherevenasanonsacrificialmeat),because
itislikeslaughteringasacrificeoutsideofthe
Temple.However,aslaughterperformedforthe
sakeofaholysacrificewhichisnotoneofthem
whichareofferedasadonationoravow,the
slaughterisacceptedaskosher.
Howisthisso?Justlikeaslaughterdoneforthe
sakeofaBurntOffering,athanksgivingoffering,or
Passoverofferingitisinvalidated(astheseare
offeredasdonationsortofulfillvows).(Whywould
thePassoverbeinthiscategory?Isn'titan
obligation?)BecauseonPassoverwereabletoset
asideallthetimewhatwedesire,whichissimilarto
awillfulvow.Aslaughterforthesakeofasin

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offering,oraguiltoffering,orafirstborn,oryour
tithe,orcompensationexchangedforanother
sacrifice,thentheslaughterisacceptableaskosher
(asanonsacrifice).
However,ifapersonknowshecommittedasin
whichwouldobligatehimtoofferasacrificeinthe
Temple,andhedeclaresthisslaughtertobeforthe
sakeofhissinofferingorhisguiltoffering,the
slaughterisinvalid(notkosher).

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Seif2
Ifsomeoneslaughtererschickensandgeeseand
thelike(withintentionforsacrificing),sincethese
speciesarenotfitforsacrificingtheyarepermissible
forconsumption.

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Thisisalsothecaseifoneslaughterssmallpigeons
orgrowndoves,(sinceonlygrownpigeonsand
smalldovesweresacrificed).

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Seif3
Iftwopeopleslaughterthesameanimaltogether,
whetherbothgrabthesameknifeintheirhands,
oreachoneslaughterswithadifferentknife
simultaneously,ifoneofthemhasintentionforthe

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sakeofainvalidatedthingtheir(Slaughter)is
invalidated.Alsoiftheyslaughterthesameanimal
oneaftertheother,andonehasinmindforthesake
ofaninvalidatedthing,(theslaughter)isinvalidated.
Thisonlyreferstoacasewheretheyshared
ownershipoftheanimal,howeveriftheydidnot
shareownership,andtheonewiththeimproper
intentisnottheowner,itisnotinvalidated,because
itisimpossibleforaJewtocausehisfellowJew's
propertytobecomeforbiddentohim,andthiscould
onlybefortheintentofcausinghimpain,thereforeit
isinactive.

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Siman6
Withwhatmayyouslaughter

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Seif1
Onemayslaughterwithanythingthatisdetached
fromtheground,whetherslaughteringwithaknifeor
arockorathinreedofalake,oranyofthesethat
cancut.(onemayslaughter).
(Theseobjects)musthaveasharpedge,andcannot
haveaflaw.
Regardingaknifethathasonesidethatisbentand
onesidethatisgood,onemustnotslaughterwith
thegoodsidefromtheoutset,thiswasaparameter
thatwastakensoasnottoenabletheslaughtererto
cometousethebadside.
Ifhedoesslaughter,becauseitwasthegoodside
thatwasusedtoslaughter,itispermissible.

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Seif2
Ifoneslaughterswithsomethingconnectedtothe
ground,orabody,likeafingernailandatooth
connectedtoananimal,theslaughterisinvalidated.
Orsomethingdetachedfromthegroundbutthatwill
endupconnectedtotheground,wedon'tslaughter,
ifoneslaughtersitispermitted,andevenifitis
nullified,aslongasitisnotrootedagainafteritis
nullified.

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Seif3

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Ifonecutswithajawofananimalthathassharp
teethandslaughterswithit,hisslaughteris
invalidated.(becauseitislikeasickle).
Howeverwithonetooththatisaffixedtothejaw,if
oneslaughters(beforethefact)itispermissible.

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Seif4
Ifsomeoneinsertsaknifeintoawall,andpassesit
acrosstheneck(ofananimal)untilitisslaughtered,
itispermissible,providedthattheanimal'sneckis
belowandtheknifeabove,iftheneckoftheanimal

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willbeabovetheknife,itispossiblethattheanimal
willdescendwiththeweightofitsbody[ontheknife]
andcut[itsthroat]without[itbeingbroughtbackand
forth].Thisisnotconsideredasbeingslaughtered
ritually,EvenifhesaysIamsurethatit(theanimal)
didnttrample(itneck)overit(theknife),the
slaughterisinvalidated,therefore,ifitwasafowl,
whetheritsneckisabovetheknifethatisimplanted
orbelowit,theslaughterisacceptable.

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Siman7

Ifonesetsaknifeonawheel:Isitpermittedto
slaughterwithit?

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Seif1
Apersonmaysetaknifeonawheelofstoneor
woodthatrotatesbyone'shandorfoot,andproceed
(withthecontraption)totheneckoftheanimalor
fowluntilitisslaughteredbyturningthewheel.(and
itisacceptable).
Andifwaterrotatesthewheelandheplacesthe
neckof[theanimal]oppositeitwhileitwasturning
causingittobeslaughtered,itisunacceptable.

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Anexemptionismadeifapersoncausedthewater
toflowuntiltheyturnedthewheelandcauseditto
slaughterbyturningit,[ifsotheslaughter]is
acceptableafterthefactbecausetheactcameasa
resultofman'sactions.However(aslaughteringthat
results)fromasecondrotationisunacceptable
becausetheforcedidnotcomefromman'spower,
butfromthepoweroftheflowingwater.

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Siman8
Thelengthoftheknifeforritualslaughter

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Seif1
Howlongmustaknifebetoslaughter?Anysize
longasit'snottoothinthatitendsuppiercingand
notslicing
liketheheadofasmallbladeorthelike.Anda
needle,evenifitiwidelikethosewhomakesholes
likethosewhoworkwithleatherwedecidewiththe
thread.Youcan'tslaughterwithsuchaneedle,since
itisimpossibletodetermineitssize.
Aslaughtererwithasmallknifeneedstobecareful
andmeasurehisunderstandingtomakesurehewill
notcometotramplehoweveranextremelysmall
(knife)wemaynotbeallowedtoslaughterwith.

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Siman9
Onewhoslaughterswithaknifethatiswhitewithheat

Seif1
Ifoneslaughterswithaknifethatiswhite(hot)the
slaughterisinvalidated,althoughsomeopinions
holdtheslaughtermaybekosher.

Siman10
Otherlawsofknives

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Seif1
Anewknifebelongingtoonewhoworshipsidols,or
anoldknifethathasnoquestionofbeingunderthe
impurityofidolatry(ornonkosheruse),
itispermittedtoslaughterahealthyanimalwithit
becausebydoingsoititwillcauseafinancialloss.
Howeveritisforbiddentoslaughterananimalthat
willdieanywayduetoillness,becausethisisa
positivefinancialgain(sinceotherwise,theanimal
wouldbelost).Theknife(oneacquired)belongedto
anidolaterthatwassharpenedonakoshergrinding
wheel,oriftherewasn'tadefectonitonemuststab
itinthehardgroundtentimes,thenonecan
slaughterpermissibly.Ifsomeoneslaughterswitha
nonkosherknife,onemustwashtheareaofthe
neckwheretheslaughteringcut,andifonecuts
awaythemeatfromthearea,itispraiseworthy.

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Seif2
Aknifethatslaughtersinakoshermanner,even
thoughitisdirtywithbloodispermissibleto
slaughteragainwithit.Howeveritisforbiddentocut
somethinghotwithit.
Anditispermissibletocutsomethingcoldwithitif
yourinsedoffthebloodfirst.

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Seif3
Aknifethatslaughteredatrefa,itisforbiddento
slaughterwithituntilitiswashedwithcoldoritis
wipedwithsomethinghard.Themoderncustomisto
wipetheknifethoroughlyontheanimal'shair
betweeneachslaughtering,andthisispropertodo,
andifsomeoneslaughterswithoutwashingit,we
washofftheareaoftheneckwheretheslaughter
cut.Ifonefindsthatheisregularlyslaughtering
manytrefot,weneedtosticktheknifeinhard
groundtentimes.

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Siman11
When(whattime)canoneslaughter.Thelawsofonewhoslaughtersintowater

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Seif1
Onecanslaughteratanytime,whetherinthedayor
atnightwhatdowemeanbythis?Itcouldbedone
anytimewithatorch,howeverwhenthereisn'ta
torchatallorinadarkplace,wedon'tslaughter
andifoneslaughterswhatwasslaughteredis
permissible.

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AslaughterperformonShabbatorYomKippur,
evenifitwasdoneintentionally,onShabbatone
forfeitshislife(ifheslaughters),andonYomKippur
hereceiveslashes.
Howeverwhatheslaughterwillbepermissible.

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Seif3
Wedontslaughterintotheoceanorrivers,lest
peoplesay,thatoneslaughteredforthedeityofthe
sea,wealsodontslaughterintovesselslestpeople
saythatoneslaughteredtocollectbloodtothrowit
atidolsandifthereisavesselofwater,sothatthe
blood(thatgetsmixed)isnotfitforthrowing,ifthe
vesselsareclearwedontslaughterintoit,lest
peoplesaythatoneisofferingasacrificetoan
imagereflectedbythewaterandif(thewater)is
murkyit'spermittedandifthereareashes(ordirt)
inthevessel,itispermittedtoslaughterinit.

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Seif4
Ifithappenstobethatthereisnofreespaceto
slaughterinonaboat,youmayslaughteronthe
backofavessel,andthebloodoftheslaughterwill
thentrickledowntothewaterOrstretchyourarm
outsideoftheboat,andslaughterofftheside(ofthe
boat),thenthebloodwillflowintothewater,without
worry.

Onemaynotslaughterintoabasin(intheground)

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Seif1
Wedontslaughterintoabasin,eveninahouse
andifyouwilldontwantdirtyyourhousewithblood,
makeaplacewithaslopetothebasinandslaughter
there,andthenthebloodoftheslaughterwillflowin
thebasinandinamarketthisisnotdone.

Seif2
Therearethosewhosaythatifyouslaughterina
basininthemarket,itisforbiddentoeatwhathe
(theperson)slaughtersuntilafterwardswecheckif
heisaheretic(ornot).Therearethosewhosaythat

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itispermittedafterthefactwithoutchecking(the
characterof)theslaughterer.

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Livingcreaturesthatdonotrequireritualslaughter

Seif1
Adomesticatedlandanimalorannondomesticated
landanimalorfowlrequireritualslaughter,fishand
grasshoppersdonotrequireritualslaughter.

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Seif2
OnewhoslaughtersananimalandfindsitKosher,
thenfoundinsideafetusof8(months),whether
aliveordead,orafetusof9(months)dead,itmay
beeatenanddoesnotrequireslaughter.Andifhe
findsinsideafetusof9(months)thatisaalive:ifit
stoodontheground,itrequiresslaughter,butother
treifotdonotprohibitit.Ifitdidnotplaceitshooves
onthegrounditdoesnotrequireslaughter.Andifits
hoovesarefusedeventhoughitstoodonthe
ground,itdoesnotrequireslaughter.Andsomeare
indoubt.

,





,

'
,

.,
'
'

Seif3

53
Ifwhilekillingthemother,heripsherapart,andif
whileslaughteringyoumakehertobecomea
neveilahoratrefa,ifthefetusisaliveandisinthe
9thmonthyoumayslaughteritselftomakeitkosher.
Ifitisadeadfetusof9monthsorevenaliveof8
months,thenitisprohibited(sincethemotherwas
notkosher).

'

,
,

,



,
.

Seif4
Ifaliving9monthfetuswasfoundinthewombofa
kosherslaughteredanimal,andthefetusgrewup
andmatedwitharegularlybornanimalandbegota
child,thechildcannotbemadekosherbyshechitah
(?).Ifthefetusgrewupandmatedwithafemale

54
animalwhowassimilarlyafetusfromakosher
slaughter,thentheirchildren,andgrandchildren,for
allgenerations,arealsohalachicallyconsideredto
belikeafetustakenfromakosherslaughter,just
liketheirparents.AlthoughtheTorahdoesnot
requiretheseanimaltobeslaughteredbyshechitah
andarekosherwithoutshechitah,theRabbisstill
requirethemtohaveshechitahasarabbinicallaw.
However,theyarenotrenderednonkosherifthey
haveatreifah.

'',

Seif5
Ifafterslaughteringananimalwefind(afetus)that
resemblesafowl,althoughitresemblesakosher

55
fowl,itisforbiddentoeatenWhenafetusisfound
inananimalitisnotallowedunlessithashooves.

.,

Seif6
Ifafterslaughteringananimalwefind(afetus)that
hastwobacksandtwospinesitisnotpermitted.

Thelawregardingafetusinthebellyofthemother

,
,

' ,

56

,'

,'
.

Seif1
Ananimal(thatweareslaughtering)thathappensto
beintheprocessofgivingbirth,(and)ifthethehead
(ofthefetus)protrudesthenreturns,itislikeitis
born(andasifitexiteditsmother)andisnotkosher
toeatbyvirtueofthemother'sslaughter.
Therefore,ifitin8thmonthofpregnancywhether
aliveordead,orin9thmonthitisforbiddenifitisin
9thmonthandalive,itiskosherbyitsown
slaughter.

,

,




'

,


.

Seif2

57
Ifthefetussticksoutalimbandthenretractsit
(beforetheslaughterisperformed)thelimbthat
cameoutisforbidden.
Howeverwhatremainedinternal,fromthatplaceto
cut,itisallowedwhatreturnsitslaughtered,once
thepartthatmadeitswayoutsideofthecavityiscut
off,thefetusispermitted.
Buttheareathatmadeitswayoutsideaswellasthe
partthatonecutisforbidden.
Howevertherestofitisallowedevensmall
amounts.

,

. ,

. ,

Seif3
Ifthemajorityofthelimbcomesout,itisasifitwas
born.Andifhalfofthewholelimb,fromthemajority
fromthesmalllimb,itislikeitisborn.

58

, '

,


,

.

,

Seif4
Ifonelimbthatcomesoutandwentbackinandthen
anotherlimbextendsoutcompletelyandthen
majorityofitgoesbackin,itisallowedandifthe
wholelimbiscutandthelimbinanhourreturns
itself,alsoasmallportionremainsinside.(itis
allowed)

,
,

,'









Seif5
Wheneverananimalthrustitslimbandthen
returneditandthatlimbbecomesforbidden,and

59
afterwardsitsmotherwasslaughtered,Ifitisfemale,
weareforbiddentodrinkitsmilkbecausethemilk
comesfromalloftheanimal'slimbsandithasalimb
whichisforbidden.
Hence,itiscomparabletomilkfromatrefeanimal
thatbecomesmixedwithmilkfromakosheranimal.

,




,

,









,

Seif6
Ifapersoninsertshishandinsideofananimal,cuts
offthespleen,andoroneofthekidneysorthelike,
butleaves(thecutorgan)insidetheanimal,and
thenslaughtersit,thepiecescutoffareforbiddenas
EverminHaChaialthoughtheyremainedwithinthe
animal'swomb.Althoughifhecutawayasectionof
thefetuswithinthewomb,butdidnotremoveit,and

60
thenslaughtered(itsmother),thepiecesorlimbsof
thefetusarepermittedbecausetheydidnotemerge
(outofthemother).

,
Siman15
Onemaynotslaughterananimaluntilitiseightdaysold.

Seif1
Achickanytimethatitdoesnothatch(fromitsshell)
isforbidden,afterithatches(fromitsshell)itis
allowedtobetaken(andslaughtered).

61

'
,

,



,

,


',
,

Seif2
Whenananimalisborn,ifyouknowitwasborn
afterafulltermpregnancy,whichwouldbe9
monthsforlargecattleand5monthsforsmall
animals(suchassheepandgoats),itispermittedto
slaughteritimmediatelyonthedayitisborn,since
wearenotworriedthatitslimbswereruinedfrom
thedifficultyofchildbirth.However,ifitisunknown
whetheritwasfromafulltermpregnancy,itis
forbiddenuntiltheeighthnight,inasmuchasitis
possiblyconsideredtobeamiscarriageuntilthe
eighthday.

62

'

Seif3
WedonttrustthewordofanIdolateronwhethera
smallgoatiswithoutdefectoris8daysold.(thus
makingitfitforslaughter).

''

Siman16
Thelawregarding(theslaughtering)ofananimalanditsoffspring(onthesameday)

,
(,


)

Seif1
Itisforbiddentoslaughterananimalandits
offspringonthesameday,itdoesnotmatterifyou

63
firstslaughterthemotherandafterwardthesonor
daughter,orifyoufirstslaughterthesonordaughter
andafterwardthemother(itisforbiddeneitherway
nomatterwhatorder).

''
''

,
,

Seif2
Theprohibition(toslaughter)themotherandits
offspringcertainlyappliestofemales,because
whenitcomestoamotherwearealwayscertain
thatitisheroffspring.Andifit'scertainthatitis
knownthatitsthefather,wedontslaughterthemon
thesameday,andifit's(thefather)slaughtered
(Theslaughterer)heisnotlashed,becausethereis

64
aquestioniftheprohibitionappliestofathersas
well,oronlytomothers.

,'

Seif3
Ifoneviolatesthisprohibitionandslaughtersamotherand
itsoffspringonthesameday,itisallowedtoeatofit,
Therearethosewhodonotallowit.(toeatthesecond
oneslaughteredonthesameday).

,.

,




,'

,
'
'

65

'
'

'

,'



,'.

Seif4
WhentheTorahsays"Oneday"regardingamother
anditsoffspring(ifoneslaughters)ononetheday,
thedayfollowsthenight,thereforewewaitto
slaughterthesecondoneonthenightthatfollows.
Whatdowemean?ifyouslaughterthefirstoneat
thebeginningofTuesdaynight,wedontstartwith
thesecondoneuntilthebeginningofWednesday
nightandifyouslaughteredthefirstoneattheend
oftheWednesdaybutbeforeduskthenslaughter
thesecondoneinthebeginningofWednesday
nightAndifyouslaughterthefirstoneatduskofthe
Wednesdaynight,dontslaughterthesecondone
untilthenightoftheThursdaynight,andifyou
slaughteredonThursdayduringdayyouwon't
receivelashes(althoughitisidealnottodoso).

66

.





,

Seif5
Ifthechildisfollowingafemaleanimalinawaythat
demonstratesthatitistiedtoheremotionally,we
canassumesheishisorhermother.

'

,
:
,

,
,

67

,








,

.

,

,'

,

,

Seif6
Someonewhobuysananimaldoesnotneedto
worrythatitsmotherorchildwasslaughteredthat
sameday,howeverifthemotherorchildwas
slaughteredthatsameday,orifthemotherorchild
wassoldtosomeoneelsetobeslaughteredthat
day,thesellerisobligatedtoletthebuyerknow.
Furthermore,ifitisoneofthefourtimesoftheyear
wheneveryJewwhopurchasesananimalcanbe
assumedtoslaughteritimmediatelynamely:Erev
Pesach,ErevShavuos,ErevRoshHashanah,and

68
HoshanaRabbah,thesellerisobligatedtoinform
thebuyerifhesoldthemotherorchildofthatanimal
onthesameday.Ifthesellerdidnotsayanything,
thebuyermayslaughtertheanimalwithoutworry,
whetherhepurchasedtheanimalfromaJeworfrom
agentile.Ifheslaughteredtheanimalandwas
subsequentlyinformedthatitsmotherordaughter
wasslaughteredonthesameday,itisamistaken
transaction.Thisappliesonlyifbothweresoldon
thesameday,howeverifthemotherordaughter
weresoldonthepreviousday,thereisno
requirementtoinformthepurchaser.

Ifoneanimalwassoldtoagroomandthesecond
(eithermotherorchildofthefirstanimal)wassoldto
hisbride,eveniftheyweresoldondifferentdays,
thesellerneedstoinformthebuyerofthestatusof
theanimals,becausewecanassumethatboth
animalswillbeslaughteredonthesameday.
Iftwopeoplepurchasedamotherandchildonthe
sameday,thefirstpurchasershouldslaughterthe

69
animalandnotthesecondpurchaser.Whendoes
thisapply?Whentheywerebothpurchasedfrom
thesameperson,becauseassoonasthefirstone
wassold,theremaininganimalwasnotpermittedto
beslaughtered,becausethefirstbuyerpurchased
theanimalinordertoslaughteritimmediately.
However,iftheywerepurchasedfromtwodifferent
sellers,eachpurchaserisequal,andwhoever
slaughterstheiranimalfirstisperforminghisdue
diligence.

:


,






(,

)
.

Seif7
Itisnotforbiddentoslaughteramotherandher
offspringonlyifitsakosherdomesticatedanimal,as
itissaid:(inVayikra22:28)Donotslaughteranoxor
asheepanditsoffspringononeday."Howeveritis

70
prohibitedtoslaughteritifitwereahybridwitha
sheeporagoat"orwithawildanimalsuchasa
mountaingoatoradeer,etc.

,



.,

Seif8
Theoffspringofa(male)deeranda(female)goat
andoneslaughtersthegoatanditsoffspringoneis
liableforlashes(fromtheTorah)itisforbiddento
slaughtermotherandsoninthecasewherethe
offspringcomesfromamalegoatandafemale
deer,butonedoesnotreceivelashesinthatcase.
Ifthefemaleoffspringofadoedeerwithamalegoat
(i.e.thechildofthepreviouscasebecomesa

71
mother)oneisliableforlashesshouldheslaughter
thefemaleoffspringofthisdeeranditsoffspringon
thesameday.

:

,

,

,

,


.

Seif9
Itisnotforbiddentoslaughteramotherandher
offspringtogetheriftheyarenotrituallyslaughtered
as[Leviticus22:28]states:"Donotslaughter[anox
orasheep]3anditsoffspringononeday.Howeverif
onedecapitatesthefirstoneorifitbecomesa
nevelahinhishanditisallowedallowedtoritually
slaughterthesecondone.Ifadeafperson,oran
imbecileorachildslaughterthefirstanimalaloneit

72
isallowedtoslaughterthesecondone,because
whattheseslaughterisnotconsideredslaughtered.

,

,

Seif10
Itisallowedtoslaughterapregnantanimal,forthe
fetushasthestatusofitmother'sthigh.Andifthe
fetusisaliveaftertheslaughterofitsmother,andit
stoodontheground,wedontslaughteritonthe
sameday,howeverifyoudoslaughterityoudonot
receivelashes.

,
,

.,

73

Seif11
Anidolaterthatsellstwoanimalsandwhothen
says,Ihavebeentoldthatthesearemotherand
child,wedonotbelievewhattheysayafterthesale
isfinalizedandtheanimalsareoutofhis
possession,andifthegentileis(knowntobe)
trustworthythenitisforbidden(toslaughteronthe
sameday).

,
,
,

,



,
.

Seif12
Ananimalthatisslaughteredwhetheritisamother
oritsoffspringonthatdayandtheygetmixed
togetherandtheotheroneneedstobeslaughtered
thesameday,whatdowedo?

74
Weslaughteronebyoneuntiltwoareleftwhich
cannotbeslaughteredthesamedaybecause
whateverisremovedfromagroupispartofthe
majoritywhichthesetwoarenotslaughteredonthe
sameday.

Siman17
Thelawregardingonewhoslaughtersananimalthatisindangerofdying.

,
,

,
,

75

,
,

,



,


,
,
.

, ,

,

,

.
,

Seif1
Whenoneslaughtersahealthyanimalandafter
slaughteringitdoesnotmakeconvulsive
movements,itispermitted.
Howeverregardingananimalthatisdangerouslyill,
i.e.,onewhichcannotmaintainitselfwhenothers
causeittostanditup,evenifiteatsthefoodof
healthyanimals.Ifsuchananimalisslaughtered
anddoesnotmakeanyconvulsivemovementsat
all,itisanevelahandoneisliableforlashes[for

76
partaking]ofit.Ifitmakesconvulsivemovements,it
ispermitted.Theconvulsivemovementsmustbe
madeattheendoftheslaughter.Iftheyaremadeat
thebeginning,theyareofnoconsequence.Whatis
meantbyconvulsivemovements?Forasmall
domesticatedanimalandforbothasmallanda
largewildbeast,theintentisthatitextendedits
forelegandreturnedit,extendeditshindlegeven
thoughitdidnotreturnit,ormerelybentitshindleg.
Thisisconsideredaconvulsivemovementand[the
animal]ispermitted.If,however,itmerelyextended
itsforeleganddidnotreturnit,itisforbidden.This
movementismerelyaresultoftheexpirationofthe
soul.Ifiteitherextendeditsforelegoritshindleg
withoutbendingitorbentitsforelegorhindleg
withoutextendingit,itisconsideredasaconvulsive
movementanditispermitted.
If,however,itneitherextendedorbentitsforelegor
itshindlegatall,itisconsideredasanevelah.
Withregardtoafowl,evenifitonlyblinkeditseyelid
orswatteditstail,itisconsideredaconvulsive
movement.

77

Seif2
Whenoneslaughtersananimalthatisdangerously
illatnightanddoesnotknowwhetherornotitmade
convulsivemovements,itisforbidden,becauseof
thepossibilitythatitisforbiddenasnevelah.

.



Seif3
Ourgreatsageswouldnotpartakewouldnoteatof
ananimalwhichpeoplewerehurryingtoslaughter
beforeitdied,evenifitmadeconvulsivemovements

78
afterbeingslaughtered.Thisisanissuethatdoes
notinvolveaprohibitedact.Nevertheless,ifone
desirestoacceptthisstringencyuponhimselfitis
consideredpraiseworthy.

,
Siman18

Thelawofcheckingtheknifeanditsflaws

Seif1
Ifaslaughterertestedhisknifeandfoundittobe
defective(whatheslaughtered)becomesanevela
eveniftheflawoccurredfromtheneckbone,We

79
don'tattributethedamagetoaftertheslaughter,
howeverwetakeintoconsiderationthatperhaps
whileitwasintheskinthedefectwefoundoccurred
andtheknifewasflawed,andthisappliesalsofor
poultry.

,

.

Seif2
Whatistheamountofdefectwhichdisqualifiesa
knife?Evenaslightamount.Aslongasit
accumulatesevenifitisahairsizeitdisqualifies.

,
,

,
,

80

Seif3
Oneneedstocheckhisknifebefore(Slaughtering),
slaughteringthatisperformedwithoutfirstchecking
theknife,isnotconsidered(proper)slaughtering,
andifhetransgressesanddoesn'tcheck(theknife)
attheoutset,andifafter(theslaughter)wecheck
(theknife)andwefinditsuitabletheslaughteris
acceptable.

,

,

.

,

,


,

:

Seif4

81
Ifoneinspectedaknife(inonedirection)anddidn't
feelaflaw,ifhechecksanothertime(inadifferent
direction)andhefeelsaflaw,thischeckingistobe
disputed,ifyouslaughterinthedirectionthatthe
checkingwasconducted(withoutaflaw)anddidnot
reversethedirection,theslaughterisacceptable.If
perhapshereversedthedirection,theslaughteris
unacceptable.
Andonewhocutsanddoesn'tfeeltheflawbefore
theslaughter,onlyifwefoundhisknifeacceptable
beforetheslaughterhowever(now)afterthe
slaughterwefindadisputableflaw,asitissaid:itis
clearmethatifhecutinonlyonedirection,the
directionwithoutflawalone,theslaughteris
unacceptable.

.,

82

Seif5
A knife that has many flaws, even if everyone
disputes them, even if slaughtered (under the rubric
of) after the fact, it is not acceptable. Because the
flaws are many we worry when he returns his hand
andkills(hewill)notfeelit.

Seif6

83
Whenaknifehasbeensharpened,butitsedge
isnotsmooth,instead,whenonetouchesit,itislike
touchingthetipofanearofgrainwhichbecomes
stuckonone'sfinger,[nevertheless,]sinceitdoes
nothaveablemish,onemayslaughterwithit.

Seif7
Whentheedge of aknifeissmooth andisnotsharp,one
may slaughter with it, since it does not have a flaw. Even
thoughonepassesitbackandforththeentiredayuntilthe
slaughter[iscompleted],theslaughterisacceptable.

84

Seif8
Aknifethat(hasashapethat)goesupanddown
likeasnakewithoutanyflaws,onecanuseto
slaughterwithfromtheoutset.

,


,

.
,

,





.

Seif9
Thecheckingofakniferequiresthe(useofthe)skin
andfingernailfromthreeangles,inotherwordsone
mustpassitoveranddrawitbackoverthefleshof
hisfingerandafterwardspassitbackonone's
fingernailfromthreeangles,(whichare)itstipand

85
bothofitssidessothat(toinsure)itwillnothavea
blemishatall.
(afterthis)Wecheck(theknife)slowlyandwithfull
concentrationnotturningone'smindtootherthings,
andthenrepeatonanothernailslightlytocheck,
thatdamagednailonthesharppartoftheknife,and
perhapsthereisaflawonbothsidesthathedidn't
feelbypassingitinadamagednail.

,






,

Seif10
Ifaknifehasaflaw,onemaynotslaughtereven
withthesmoothpart,lestheusetheflawedpart.On
YomTov,thecustomistoallowtyingaclotharound

86
theflaw(toensurethatitwillnotbeusedto
slaughter),foronemaynotsharpentheknife.Even
duringaweekday,ifonedidnothaveachanceto
sharpentheknife,oneisallowedtoslaughterby
meansoftypingaclothontheflaw.

,

.

Seif11
Ifapersonslaughtersmanyanimalsormanyfowl,
hemustinspect[theknife]betweeneach[slaughter].
Ifhedidnotcheck,andthencheckedafter
slaughteringthelastoneanddiscovered[theknife]
tobeblemished,thereisanunresolveddoubt

87
whetherallofthemeventhefirstareconsidered
nevelot.

,




,

Seif12
Althoughonecheckstheknifebeforetheslaughter
oneneedstoperformacheckaftertheslaughtering.
Thisistalkingaboutwhenhestillhastheknife,butif
theknifegotlost,theshechitahiskosheraslongas
theknifewascheckedbeforetheshechitah,evenif
heslaughteredmanyoneaftertheother.Ifa
damagewasfeltintheneckofoneofthem,one

88
shouldbestrictandworryaboutallthose
slaughteredafterwards.

,
,




,

,





,

Seif13
If one slaughters with aknifethat waschecked, and
checked before and the knife was lost before it was
checked after the slaughter, and afterwards we find
the knife and see it flawed, the slaughter is
acceptableinasmuchasitperformedproperly.Andif
we find a flaw as stated that smashed a bone
without knowing after the slaughter, and the knife
remainswiththeestablishedchazaka.

89

,



,

,




,

,
,

Seif14
Ifonedoesn'tchecktheknifeandslaughtersand
losestheknifebeforehemakestheadditionalcheck
whichisnecessaryafterwards,ifheslaughter
withouttheadditionalcheckitsisforbidden.When
doesthisapply?whenaregularknifeisused,
howeverifabutcherhasaspecialknifefor
slaughteringinaspecialplaceputawaythere
always,traditionallywecheckit,ifitisslaughtered
withoutanadditionalcheck,itisacceptable.

90

,
,

,


.

,

,






,

Seif15

Seif15
If somebody slaughters with a knife that has been
checkedandaftertheslaughterhechopsboneswith
the knife in an unusual way (not in a manner of
goingbackandforth)

91
and if we then check and we find a flaw the
slaughter is acceptable because we assume that it
gotchippedbecausehebrokethebone.

SO in any simliar case, like it falls on the hard

ground.

If we saw it specifically fall its blade (its flawed)

however because of this doubt we don't attribute
what is said if it did not fall on the blade. And if a
break occurs because of a neck bone, even in the
direction that the break occurred, we dont attribute

92
what occurs before ittoit atall,because the neckis
soft.

, ,

Seif16
If one checks a knife after the slaughter and then
stores it away and after we find that it is defective,
we can have no objection, it is said someone else
did it, so if we find a flaw as stated that smashed a
bonewithoutknowingaftertheslaughter.

93

.
,

Seif17
A butcher who doesn't get his knife seen by a
scholar,weplaceabanonhim.
Presently our practice is to appoint well known
peopletoslaughterandinspect,

94
So the scholars gave up this honor to check by
themselvesandtrusttheshochtim,becausetheyare
careful and diligent. Thereis needfora lotofclarity
of mind and fear of heaven in checking the knife, If
this is not apparent look that he checks it 3 times
without feeling the damage for one minute,
afterwards we find whathe slaughteredrecently,we
test him to get a sense and feel in accordance with
theintentionofhisheart.

95

Seif18
Abutcherneedstogetpaidfortreifotasfromkosher
slaughter.

''
:





,

,


.

, ,

.

Seif19
(If) Reuven tells Shimon, check this knife, and he
checked ittwice but needed tocheck it12timesand
he then hands it backtoReuven, whileReuvenwas

96
going to slaughter Levi stopped his hand and found
adefectontheknife.
Reuven then apologizes and says he wants (the
knife)recheckedfurtherproperly.
(however) His actions prove him,andit wasenough
forhimtocheckforthisreasonweremovehim.
And if we see that the situation arose out of error,
and thatheactuallyiskosherwethenreinstatehim,
this is done solely thathe understandsnotto repeat
suchathing.

:
,

Seif20
A butcher that finds a flaw on the head of the knife
and says: "This flaw before me covers the blood of

97
fowl onthehead oftheknifeandIslaughterandim
careful that I do not touch the flaw", he is removed
from his post and it is close to say the vessels are
prohibitedasnolongerkosher.

Siman19

Thelawsoftheblessingofritualslaughter

Seif1

A slaughter must bless before (the slaughter), who

has sanctified us by his commandments and

98
commanded us regarding slaughtering And if one
slaughterswithoutablessingit'skosher.

,


.

Seif2
If one slaughters domestic or wild animals or fowl
thisoneblessingincludesallofthese.

'

,

.

Seif3

99
(if you have) Two Slaughterers and two animals,
One can make one blessing for (himself and) his
friend.(if)heintendedtomakeithimself.

.

,

Seif4
One needs to be careful (not to) speakbetweenthe
bracha and slaughtering regarding something not
related to the slaughter. If he didspeakheneeds to
recitetheblessinganothertime.

100

,









,
,

Seif5
Ifone wantstoslaughtermanyanimals, heneedsto
be careful not to speak about things not related to
ritual slaughter between the animals he has
slaughtered.
If he did speak he needs to cover the blood of the
first one he slaughtered andblessasecondtime on
the slaughter. However on second covering (of
blood) he does not make a second blessing. There
are those that say that from the talk between
slaughters,itisnotaninterruption.

101
,

Seif6
If one had in mind to slaughter one wild animal when he
recited the blessing, and afterwards they brought him
more animals, he should cover the blood of the first then
recite the blessing over it, and afterwards bless over the
slaughter of the second one but not over the covered
blood.The same would be if thenextanimalwerebrought
before blessing for the first animal for the blood being
covered.

,







,

,
.






,

,

102
Seif7
Iftheirwere beforehimmany(animals)toslaughter,
and he blessed over the slaughter, and afterwards
came more (animals), if when he brought the last
ones, there are still before him those that he
blessed, thereisnoneedtorepeattheblessing.And
ifnotyouneedtorebless.
And before the fact it is good to have in mind when
reciting the blessing that is will count over all that is
broughttohim(eventhosenotthereyet).

,










.

Seif8
If one slaughtered a beast or fowl andheintendsto
slaughteranother,andforgotthathewasplanningto
slaughter more, so he covered the blood and said

103
the blessing over the mitzvah of covering, when he
slaughters again he doesn't need to repeat the
blessing on the slaughter, and covering the blood is
notaninterruption.

,'

Siman20Theplaceofslaughterontheneck

,


.

,



,

,

104
















,

Seif1
Theplacetoslaughterisontheneckbythecarotid
thatleadingtowardsthehead.Fromtheopeningof
thesternohyoidandbelow.Thisisbeforethe
Esophagusbecomeswide.Thatiswherethereare
carotidsleft.
Theyarelocatedfromtheuppercarotid,beneaththe
bigcervicalopeningthatisliketwohoppersfromthe
bodytothedispenser.Thosecarotidsarecalled
cheiti.
Ifheslitintothecarotidsandthecervicesremained
slightlyconnectedonthetop,itiskosherbecause
heslitopeningofthesternohyoidandbelow.If
nothingisleftfromthecarotidbutslitfromabovethe
carotidthatisadestructionmeaningthecauseof
usingtheknifeoutsidetheplaceofslaughter
towardstheheadofthebodyisrejected.Andits
ringbelowisuntilthetipofthe(upper)lobeofthe

105
lungWhenyouaregoingtoinflatethelungand
thelaube,theplacewhereitreachesatthetipthatis
thesameplacewhereitreachedwhentheanimal
wasaliveanditwasgrazinginitregularwaywhenit
wouldstretchoutitsnecktograzewithoutithaving
tostretchoutitsneckanymorethenwhat'susual.

.
,

Seif2
Andinthegullet,(theplaceofslaughter)beginsin
thespotwherewhenwecutitwillshrivel,untilthe
pointdownbelowthatitbeginsgettingscalesand
hairliketheinsideofastomach.Ifyouslaughter

106
abovefromthisplace,thisiscalledtheTurbatz
haveshet,orifyouslaughterbelowthisareawhich
isthebeginningofweretheintestinesbegin,the
slaughterisunacceptable.Andthissectionof
(Turbatzhaveshet)thatisnotfitforshechitahup
above,Regardingadomesticatedorwildanimalit's
anamountthatyouareabletograbwithtwofingers
andregardingafowl,italldependshowlargeor
small.Andthesection(oftheslaughter)isuntilthe
(roofof)throat.

Seif3
Aslaughtererneedstoslaughtersitinthemiddleof
theneckandifyouslaughteronsidesoftheneck,

107
theslaughterwillbeacceptable,(only)ifheturned
thesignsbackandheknowsthathecutthembefore
cuttingtheneckbone,becausethesignsaresoft
andtheygetpushedawayfromtheknife,Itisthe
samehalachaifyouslaughteritfromthebackofthe
neck.

108

Seif4

.

Seif4
Itistogoodtobecareful,tofeelaroundthesigns
(beforeslaughtering)inorderthattheknifeshould
cutthembeforeitcutsthefleshoftheneck.
Andwithdoveswefindthatthesignsareonthe
sidessoweinsurethatonemusthaveskilledhands
andhavegreatcaution,ifwecantfeelthesigns
beforeslaughteritislikelythatyoumaycometobe
negligentandyouwillcuttheneckbeforethe
simanim.

109

Siman21
Theamountofslaughter(howfarmustonecut)

,

,

,
.,

Seif1
Howmuchmustonecutofthetracheaand
esophagus.Thebestwaytoslaughteristocutboth
ofthemananimalandafowlsidebysidethisis
whathe(theslaughterer)shoulddo..Ifyoucutone
signbyafowl,andonesignofananimalanda
beast,theslaughterisacceptable,aslongaswhen

110
youmeasureityoufindthatitwasslaughteredtothe
majority,andifyoufindthatthepartthatwas
slaughteredwasmorethanhalfevenahairbreadths
morethanhalfitsenough.

.,

Seif2
Ifoneslaughterswithoneanimalonefullsignand
halfofasecondone,andwithafowlyou
slaughteredbothsignsbothhalfofeachitisnot
acceptable.

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111

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Seif3
Ifonedidnotslaughterthesign(thatmakesananimal
kosher)inonespot,forexampleifonestarted
slaughteringandthesignturnedover(moved)andone
completedtheslaughter,andbetweenthetwocutsyou
haveasizeableamount,itisacceptablewhetheryoudoit
eitherbythewindpipeortheesophagus.
Thisappliesnotonlyinacasewherebothofthesecuts
arecirclingthesamespot,(but)evenifthefirstcutyou
madeupneartheheadandthesecondcutyoumade
furtherdown,itsacceptable,whetherit'sonepersonwho
madeacutlikethisintwoorthreespotsorifitwastwo
peoplewhoslaughtered(inthismanner)usingtwo
differentknives,itisacceptable.
Butifbothareonthesamesideofthesign,likeinacase
thathestartedslaughteringalittleandthenlefthisspot
andthenslaughteredaboveorbelowthespotonthe
sameside,youneedthatthesizeableamountbeinoneof
hiscuts,onecannotcombinethetwobecausetheyare

112
bothonthesamesign,ifwhenyouhavethesizeable
amountevenit'sonlyinthesecondcutsitacceptable
althoughtheslaughterisnotrevealedandobvious.

Seif4
ASlaughterthatwasperformedlikeaquill(likecutatan
angle)orliketheteethofcomb(orupanddownonan
angle)it'sacceptable.

,



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,

,

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,

Seif5
If1/2oftheesophaguswascut,andthenitwas
slaughteredcompletelytoasizableamountitiscomplete
itispermissible.

113
Thus(inacase)whereifonestartedslaughteringina
spot(inthesign)thatiswhole,andonefoundtheirwasa
flawinthe(original)cut,andonecutitcompletelytoa
sizeableamount,itisacceptable.

,
'

Siman22Withwhichspeciesmustonecutthebloodvessels

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Seif1
Withfowloneneedstocuttheveinsorpiercethem
whileittwitchesandthebloodiswarm,inorderthat

114
thebloodshouldgooutandnotgetcold.Andifone
didn'tso,oneshouldnotroastitwhole,andifone
roastsitwholethenoneshouldthrowouttheveins
andcutaroundathinpeelaboutthewidthofa
finger.Ifonecooksitwhileitswholeyousearchand
digoutthesebloodvesselsandwhatremains,andif
yougeteverything(enough)fromwhatwaschecked
thatyounullifythebloodfromallthebloodvessels
to1/60thorlessofthetotalthanitispermissible.

Seif2
Onadomesticatedanimalonedoesnotneedtocutor
piercethebloodvesselsduringslaughter.Becauseit'snot
commontoroastitwhole,howeverifonewantstoroastit

115
wholeoneneedstocutorpiercethebloodvesselsduring
slaughter,andifdoesnot,itisforbiddentoroastorcook
whole.

',

Siman23Thelawsofpausinginslaughter

,

.
,

, :

Seif1
Allbutchersthatdonotknowthelawsofslaughteritis
forbiddentoeatwhattheyslaughter/butcher.Andthiswhat
theyhavetoknow:pausing,striking,hiding,lifting
up/tippinganduprooting.

116

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117

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,

Seif2
Whatdowemeanbypausing?Whenapersonbeginsto
slaughterandraiseshishandbeforehecompletesthe
slaughterandthenpauses.Whetheritwasdone
inadvertentlyorintentionally,willinglyorunwillingly.Ifhe
oranotherpersoncompletedtheslaughterbutdelayedthe
amountoftimeitwouldtaketoliftuptheanimaland
causeittoliedown,evenifheslaughteredthegreater
partofthesignsrequiredforslaughter,hisslaughterisnot
acceptable.

118
Withregardtoslaughteringasmallanimal:theamountof
pausingistheamountthatitwouldtaketoliftupasmall
animal,causeittoliedown,andthenslaughterit.And
withregardtoalargeanimal,themeasureofpausingis
theamountoftimeitwouldtaketoliftupalargeanimal,
causeittoliedown,andslaughterit.Withregardstofowl,
themeasureofpausingistheamountoftimeitwould
taketoliftupasmallanimal,causeittoliedown,and
slaughterit.Therearethosewhosaythattheamountof
pausingregardingfowlistheamountoftimeitwould
taketocutthemajorityofonesign(Siman)withoutliftingit
uporlyingitdown.

119
Andaccordingtotheirreasoningoneshouldtakenotice
whenonebeginstoslaughterafowlandtocutslowlyuntil
thebloodcomesoutandliftsuphisknifefromtheneck
withoutcompletingtheslaughter.

Alsothereisconcernthatperhapshemightcutelsewhere
onthegullet.Andevenifhedoesnotliftuphisknifebut
foramoment,thereisstillconcernsincetheamount
pausinginfowlisverysmall.Accordinglyifheslaughters
mostofoneofthesigninthefowl,heshoulddoso
quickly.Eveniftheslaughterersaysthatitiscleartome
thatIonlycuttheskin,wedontrelyonthisbecause
bloodhascomeout.

120
Ifanotherpersoncomestoaskaftertheknifehasbeen
liftedhowhedidit,theysaytohimthatheshould
slaughterthewindpipealoneinanotherplaceand
afterwardturnoutthegulletandinspectit.
Therearethosethataremorestringentinthematter,
concludingthatunlessitisadiretimeorthereispotential
forgreatfinancialloss,oneshouldrelyonthefirst
argument.

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,

121
Seif3
If a slaughterer who slaughters a little (of the neck) and
then pauses a little and returnsandslaughtersalittleand
pausesalittle.Ifwhenallofthepausesarecombinedthey
measureshehiyah(theamountoftimeitwouldtaketolift
up the animal, cause it to lie down) his slaughter is not
acceptable..

Seif4
If one slaughters cattle with a knife that is not sharp and
delaysinthe measureofshehiyahinhisslaughteralittle
after[cutting]thefirstsign,itisnotacceptable.

122



,

Seif5
After one slaughters most of one [sign] infowl,ormostof
two[signs]incattle,thereisnoshehiyahthatcanmakeit
[the slaughter] not acceptable. Accordingly there is not
shehiyah with the windpipe in fowl. But there are those
that say that in any place that one does not finish the
slaughter of both signs it [the slaughter] is not acceptable
on the grounds of shehiyah, and ab initio they should
takeheedandbeconcernedaboutthis..

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123

Seif6
If one slaughters a fowl and pauseswithoutknowingifhe
perforated the esophagus, he shouldreturnandslaughter
the windpipe in another place and wait until it dies. He
then turns the esophagus out and checks it [the cuts]
against each other. If spots of blood are not found, it is
known that there are no perforationsandit[theslaughter]
isacceptable.

'

124
Siman24
Thelawsofstriking,hiding,liftingup/tippinganduprooting

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,

,

Seif1
What do we mean by striking? If when one rests the
knife on the neck and presses, cutting downward in the
same way as one cuts a radish or a squash. This is not
permitted. It goes without saying that if one struck with a
knife on the neck in the manner that one strikes a sword
andcutsthesignsatonetimetheanimalisnotpermitted.

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125
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.

Seif2
When one slaughters by only bringing the knife forward
andbackwards(on theneck) if it iswithaknifethatisthe
fullness of the neck and extendsofftheneck,thefullness
oftheneck,itisacceptableifnotitisnotacceptable.
Any[knife]that isnotthis measurementitisimpossibleto
slaughter without dirasah by going in a forward and
backward motion alone. But if he goes forward and
backward with a very sharp knife it is kosher. There are
those that are stringent with cattle.Thecustombeingthat
these circular motions are not acceptable in cattle even if
forward and backward if it is not with a knife that extends
thefullnessoftheneckandoutsidetheneck.

126

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,
Seif3
If one slaughters two heads [of cattle] with one forward
and backward motion, if it with a knife [the width of]three
necks it is kosher. If not, there is a concern and both of
them[theslaughteredanimals]arenotacceptable.

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127

Seif4
Two[people]are holdingtheknifeandslaughter,onefrom
above, the side of thehead,andonefrombelow,theside
of the chest, holding it [the knife] diagonally, it is kosher
and there is no concern ofdirasah.(onestrucktheneck
withaknifeasonestrikeswithasword)

Seif5
Ifoneslaughtersandcutstheentireneck,itisacceptable.

128

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Seif6
When a person slaughters a fowl and holds the signs
between twofingers,he needstoholdthemwellandifhe
does not hold them well sometimes they will loosen here
andthereandhewontbeabletocutitinaslicingfashion,
rather he will do dirasah. And thus one should not rest
onesfingersontheknifebutrathergripitbythehandleso
that he wont cause dirasah. Even if one does not do
dirasah with anything other than the gullet, it [the
slaughter] in not acceptable. The custom is that all
dirasah is unfit whether it be a little in the beginning [of
cutting] or at the end [of cutting], whether with the
windpipeorgullet.

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129

Seif7
What is meant by hiding? When one inserts the knife
between the signs [that is between the gullet and the
windpipe], slaughtering the lower sign in a manner from
above to below and returns to remove it [his knife] and
slaughterstheone[sign]aboveinamannerfrombelowto
above,itisnotacceptable.

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, .

Seif8
Ifonehidestheknifeunderthehideorundertangledwool
in the neck of cattle or under knottedclothontheneckor

130
cloththatisstuckwithwaxandslaughters,hisslaughterin
notacceptable.If however,theclothisspreadontheneck
and he slaughters, his slaughter is kosher. There are
those[that say] thisisalsonotpermitted.Abinitio,thereis
aconcernin thematter.Accordinglyoneshouldtakeheed
with sheep as they have tangled wool on their neck. One
should tear or pluck the clinging wool so as not to do
chaladah. (as if one inserted theknifebetweenonesign
andanother.)

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131
Seif9
One who slaughters should take heed and have
consideration for the hide so that he does not tear it
significantly andslaughteringwiththeheadoftheknifeso
that it is covered by the hide. If one slaughters with the
middle of the knife there is no concern about the head of
the knife being covered by hide since the knife is in the
place of proper slaughter [that is] opposing the signs and
not covered. There are those that are strict with this and
thereisaconcerninthematterabinitio.

132

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. ,

Seif10
If after one slaughtered most of the signs and the knife
becomes hidden under the remaining minority [of the
signs], or from one ofthem[thesigns]anddivided[cut]it,
it [the slaughter] is permitted. There are those [that say]
that this is also forbidden and it is clear that there is
concerninthematterabinitio(beforethefact).

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,

133

Seif11
If the knife is hidden underalittlebitofthefirst[sign]and
he cuts from below to above and afterwards finishes the
slaughter in proper manner or similarly if he slaughters
mostofonesignincattleandtheknifeishiddenunderthe
remaining remnant and he then slaughters the second
signorsimilarlyifhe slaughtersalittleofthefirst[sign]by
chaladah and finishestheslaughternotbychaladahall
ofthese[meansofslaughter]arenotacceptable.

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134
Seif12
What is meant by lifting up/tipping? One slaughters the
windpipe above the place that is not permitted for proper
slaughter. Or if one begins to slaughter in a place
permitted for proper slaughter and slaughters a little and
inclines the knifeoutside oftheplacefitforslaughterfrom
above and finishes there. However, if he slaughters most
of the windpipe inaplacefitforslaughterandinclinesthe
knife outside a place fit for slaughter from above and
finishes their, cutting the entire windpipe it is kosher.This
is the law if he slaughters most ofthetwo[signs]incattle
in a place fit for slaughterandcompletestheslaughterby
doinghagramahordirasahitiskosher.Therearethose

135
[that say] this is not acceptable if it is by dirasah and
thereisconcerninthesemattersabinitio.

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Seif13
If one inclines the knife in theinfirstthirdandslaughters
the next two thirds properly, it is kosher.Ifoneslaughters
the first third properly, inclines [while cutting] the second
thirdandthen returnsandcutsthefinalthirdproperly,itis
kosher. If one inclines on the first third, slaughter the
second third properly and then returns to incline on the
finalthird,itisnotacceptable.Ifhepressesorhidesinthe
firstthirdorthemiddlethird,itisnotacceptable.

136
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,

.
Seif14
All of these sections [thatwhichhasjustbeendiscussed],
when he is certain that he did not strike the gullet but
rather only the windpipe [moving] upward.Butevenifyou
slaughter thegullet withtheslightestcutoutsidetheplace
permitted for slaughter, be it from the upper side or the
lower side or similarly with the windpipe from the side
belowbeforehe finishesitinakosherslaughterevenifhe
finish [cutting] all of the remainderinaplacepermittedfor
kosher slaughter, it is not acceptable since even the
smallestoftheseperforationscount.

137
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.

Seif15
What is meant by uprooting? When the windpipe or the
gulletisripped from thejawandfromthefleshandoneor
bothofthemslipsbeforeslaughterhasbeencompleted.If
one [sign] in a fowl is slaughtered or most and afterward
the second slipped, his slaughter is kosher. If one [sign]
slipsandafterwardheslaughtersthesecondhisslaughter
isnotacceptable.

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138

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Seif16
As to the issue of Ikur being unacceptable, [this is the
casewhen]we have acompleteuprooting,butifthereisa
remnant, even a little bit, it is kosher provided that the
remnant is in its place, but if a little bit of the remnant is
loose a little here and a little there itisnotacceptable.
The matter is clear that it was uprooted with force and
what remains is just loosely attached. These rules apply
when most is removed but if only a little is uprooted here
and most isenacted, if most remainslooselyalittlehere
andalittlethereitiskosher.

139

,






,

Seif17
If one slaughters one of the signs and the second was
found to be displaced but it is not known [if it was
displaced]beforethe slaughteroraftertheslaughter.This
[slaughter]innotacceptable.

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Seif18
Ifasign[either thewindpipeorgullet]oftheslaughterwas
found dislodged: if when he slaughtered he took hold of
the signs in his hand or the skin from behind the placeof
slaughter and the signs were squeezed under the skin,
this is not acceptable. If not, it is permitted after

140
examination. If hebrings cattleandheslaughtersthesign
and afterward it was dislodged, if it is the same in two of
the slaughters, comparing one to the otheritiskosher.If
the second is bloodier, the firstoneisnotacceptable.We
no longer have expertstocheckthisandthecustominall
ofthesecasesistorulethemasnotacceptable.

Seif19
If one slaughters a fowl in the proper way that is
acceptable and he finishes the slaughter, a coin is found
fromthethroatontheknifeitisacceptable.

.
Seif20
When one slaughters a rooster one needs to take heed
andsqueezehis feet ontheonthegroundorlifthimupso
that his feet do not wedge in the ground in order that he
doesnotdislodgethesigns.

141

'
Siman25Thatonemustcheckthesigns(thetracheaandesophagus)afteronehasritually
slaughtered

.,

Seif1
A slaughterer must check the signs (that make an animal
fit) after slaughter to see is they was slaughtered
completely/properly/a sizeable amount. Or if you see
duringtheslaughterthattheyslaughteredcompletely,and
if you don't see that it was done completely and it
prohibited.Thereare thosewhosaythatoneneedstosee

142
them slaughterontheproperspotofslaughterandnoton
thepartwhereitisnotfittoslaughter.

Seif2
Those who do the checking with a feather to see if the
slaughterwas donecomplete/proper/toasizableamount,
theyaremakinganerror.

,
,.

Seif3
Ananimalthatwasslaughteredproperlyandthenawolf
andtookitsintestinesandreturnedthempunctured,itis
permissible,wetakeintoconsideration(maybe)therewas

143
awholeinitbeforeitwaspunctured.(nonethelessitis
permissible).

,)(

'

Siman26Thelawifthereisapunctureintheesophagusortheintestinesbeforetheritual
slaughterhasbeencompleted

Seif1
If there is a puncture in the esophagus during the
slaughter and its the opposite the spot of slaughter, its
consideredTorn(notacceptable).

144

,



.

Seif2
While one is slaughtering the gullet/esophagus and one
finds that the lungs are punctured before he was able to
slaughter the gullet, or if while one is slaughtering the
gullet/esophagus and one finds that intestines are
punctured before he was able to slaughter the gullet, it is
consideredTorn(It'sunacceptable).

145
Siman27Thatonemaynotcutalimb from ananimalwhileitisstill initsmefarcheset(post
deathmusclemovement)

.


Seif1
If one cuts from an animal a piece of meat after it
was slaughtered properly and it is still twitching it is
forbiddentoeatfromitbeforeit(theanimal)dies.