Thursday, 7 April 2011

SA YD 1:1 Women and Schechita

Several Years ago we debated the issue of women doing Schechitah on the Avodah List.

The Rav ZT"L opposed Minuy of women for sch'chitah due to "s'rarah"

This is expounded in this article by R Aryeh Frimer

http://text.rcarabbis.org/the-view-of-rav-joseph-b-soloveitchik-zt%e2%80%9dl-on-the-ordination-of-women-by-aryeh-a-frimer/


The L'vush, however, explains that the Rema's point of "ein l'hani'ach" women to do sch'chitah is due to the fear lest they faint.

Which means the policy was due to feminine squeamishness or perhaps a reaction to one or several incidents and was not a function of "Minuy".

L'mai Nafqa Minah?

If women would no longer seem as squeamish or if they have bona fides that they're OK with blood and guts [think EMT's or medical professionals] then there would be no need to be machmir any longer.

And E.G. I don't think we'd apply "lo plug" to a minhag.

Most schochtim today hold no communal office. They usually are staff members of slaughterhouses under strict supervision

What is your P'saq Preference -
The Rav's S'rarah or the L'vush's Fainting?
Shalom,
RRW

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