The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1888-01-15
Some Curious and Interesting Infor-
nation About Them.

nation About Them.
New YORK, Jan. 15.-The Hebrew colony
of New York, which but a few years ago
was mere village, is now vast and popu-
lous city on the East Side of Manhattan
Island. One of its oldest customs is the
employment of rabbs, or quasi clergymen,
exclusively as butchers. They are known
as "shochats,n and form q guild, or trade
union, to themselves. They dress differ
emily from the other members of their
race, and in their speech and manners are a
curious compound of Clergyman and butch
or. They are prominent figures in the jew
ish markets and slaughter houses around
GOuveneur Slip and also in the Interesting
-Hebralc society which now domi-
mates that neighbOrhoOd One Of them
very popular and successful shochat, said to
an lnqulsitiVe student OF human nature:
Our profession, and | use the word adj
visedly rather than trade, is very ancient.
1t was started by the divine command lin
the book of Leviticus, and thereafter devel-
oped into an art by the Talmudic teachers.
1t has remained unchanged now for at least
1000 years. A young Hebrew desiring to
become a shochat must have good moral
character and excellent social position to
| start with. He then must have or gain "a
thorough knowledge of the Talmud and the
commentaries and also of human and ami
NAL anatomy This corresponds to a good
theological and geologic education among
Christians. Upon all these points he is eX-
amined by veteran shochatS, and unless
'plucked,' as you would call it, is permitted
to enter as an apprentice IN some kosher
that is, orthodoxy slaughter house. Here
he must serve at least one year, q gener
ally does two or three The training here
is chiefly practical and includes the use of
the small knife, the large knife, the saw,
the cleaver and the AK, the position and re-
lation of the large blood vessels cartilages
muscles joints and bones of birds and ami
mails and the nature, condition and health of
animal tissues. When he has mastered these
he is again examined, and if found well in
formed and competent is recommended by
the examiners to a chief rabbi, who there
upon issues to him a certificate or diploma.
Without this diploma no orthodox Hebrew
will employ him or buy meat of any sort
that he has killed. This certificate, unlike a
college diploma, can be revoked for drunk
enness, insanity, disease or immoral conduct.
I'VE usually work for butchers or market
men at fixed wages. Some of us, who like
to be our own masters, work by the piece;
all of us make a handsome addition to our
income by killing poultry for people who
buy it alive. The Mosaic law prescribeS that
the shOch9t shall kill, and it, therefore, a
private citizen kills his own chicken or duck
the meat is unClean. Some customers are
very fastidious, and have us go to their homes
to kill their fowls. In this case they pay us
literally for our time and trouble. Nearly
all our patrons, however, come to our places
of business. What are we paid! Well, |
don't mind telling you that our regular rate
for a chickents five cents; for other birds
the rates vary, but are all larger than the
amount named, for the reason that they are
more of a luxury than chickens are.
But the remuneration is the best side of
our profession. We are governed by a code
of etiquette more rigorous than what applies
to Christian ministers. The origin and rea-
son of this law | know not, but such it is,
and we all obey it religiously We must be
dignitied, and not indulge in levity nor idle
words. We must wear the hair beard and
! the coat longer than do the rest of the CON-
munity. We must not dance with the other
sex, nor enter saloons or similar establish
mentS, nor use alcoholic stimulants, except
| it be for sickness. II we do otherwise we
lose our diploma and also our social position
and reputation.
1.-The life is good and healthy one. The
only danger is blood poisoning from a soiled
| knife or other article in the butcher shop,
OK from the horseaes that live ON animal
matter This occasionally destroys a sho-
chat, but generally only makes him sick
! for some time. The same risk, | believe, at
| tends all Strengthening, excepting where the
| Chicago system of abattoirs and refrigera-
| tors Is followed"
| WILLIAM T., s. FALES