New-York tribune., 1896-10-04
JEWISH KILLING RITES.
WHAT "KOSHER" MEANS AND WHY 1T Is
USED IN sLAUGHTERING.
THE sI.AYING OF ANIMALS FOR MEAT IN THE
MOST WHOLESOME MANNER

come before one of the lower courts OF New
York the point 10 be decided being the precise
legal status of the Jewish method OF siaus"'e'
ing cattle and fowl in accordance WIN 'i'e
Mosaic rites and regulations. SO far az can oc
recalled this question has never been proush'
D in this country before though some 'hii'S
years ago it was thoroughly thresheo out ~
England. and the "schochet.' or Killer ap'
po,ntes bv the chief rabbi. received what is
called a "locus standi' The question now
about to be determined here has been brought
up by woman employed as COOK IN JEWISH
household who sues for damages from an East
Side butcher on the grounds that he furnished
her ffty-two pounds of meat that was not
"kosher" when he declared that 1t was Kosher
and had sign in his window announcing that
nothing but kosher meat was sold withn'
The direct claim OF the suit is that the butcher
was selling meat under false pretences i'r
Kosher meat brings higher price thah 'ha'
sold ordinarily. The Butchers BeneVoieh' A.
socation which is composed or Heore" meat
dealers has sent it's counsel to aid the woman
in her legal fight. and to establish for kosher
a definite position in the American courts
THE BUTCHERS WORD TAKEN
From the Hebrew point Of view the case ana
the question are If great importance. FOR only
"kosher" meat Is permitted to orthodox jews
and II butchers can sell meat under TINS des>g-
nation that has not been killed according 10 the
Jewish rites at all. many are known 10 nave
been doing of late ii Is a serious matter anu
one that will prove Of great annoyance 10 or'ho-
dox housekeepers. When cattle are Kliieo III '"o
slaughter-houses in the Jewish way d!
"schochet' seal stating the name of the Killer
and the date of the killing is put upon each half
of the carcass. But in the butcher shops when
the meat is cut up, and when the buyer has
not the chance to see the seal. he or she must
depend upon the honesty and the true faith
Of the butcher. In other words. II a man vi
good standing in Jewish circles announces that
he sells kosher meat. his word Is taken ana
families buy from him without seeing for the H.
selves if the meat they take is actually cut from
a beef bearing the "schochets" seal.
AS has been said. very much the same ques-
ton was brought to an issue IN England a gen.
Grafton ago. and the details of this are worth
reviewing A butcher who had come from the
Continent. and had not the certificate as
"schochet" from the chief rabbi of England. per-
sisted in selling meat as kosher He was
warned several times to stop this. but in vain
and finally the chief rabbi had placed IN az the
synagogues In that part OF London hotlcc
stating that this butcher. giving his full name
and address was selling unlawful meat ana tha'
no member of the congregations should purchase
from him The command was. of course. I'M
plcitly obcyed and in day the butcher S trade
dropped completely away He carried the mat
ter into the English courts. alleging that inc
chief rabbi hid no right to ruin and destroy Ut
terly his business in this manner. The case was
brought before one of the highest State digni T.
tares Of England. and upon hearing the posi-
tion OF affairs he at once threw the meat ueai.'
out OF court affirming absolutely as principe
Of English law that the contention or the rappi
was right in every particular
WHAT KOSHER" MEANS.
But even more interesting than the question
of kosher meat from legal point OF view Is
lust what kosher means and what it really is
To most people the word implies some solemn
religious ceremony Of slaughtering. AS mat
ter OF fact however the whole process Is very
simple and nothing more nor less than Killing
done upon the most approved hyglenlc piin- an
ciples Kosher means Simply ,i zeal al .onH us
opposite "trepha." meaning 'unclean or con-
demrod." thus forbidden food one curious
thing about il is that the Jews XII now pre-
cisely the same in every detail as they dla IN
the DAYS of Moses. and it is conceded :hat thelr
slaughtering is the most thoroughly sclehtihc
that the world has ever seen. In fact man! oi
the greatest establishments In America Il We
adopted of their own free VIII many oi me
Jewish regulations just because they have Seen
that they are the perfection Of the science
There are tw" principles 0oseISeu IN dina
slaughtering. one to cut SO that the ANNA! dies
instantly and that the blood runs out lmfnr-
diately thus having no chance TO clot or coagu
late. the other 10 make Il iTOSl Cdisiui dp'
scientific search for any signs OF disease The
animal being killed and It's healthfuineSs nav
ing been determined upon. the "schochets
work is done. and he steps over to the next
beast first however. fastening on the seal al
reaov mentioned to each half of the carcass
which he has finished. 1t is an important posi-
ton and "schochet has a good standing IN
Jewish communities. for 1t is known that he is
honest and able. He only gets his position ard
the certificate of his abilities signed by the
chief rabbi after an examination before the
Of X
animation he has to cut and examine IN the
presence Of all these wise men at least one ami
'"' THE "sCHOCHETS' KNIFE
The knife he carries is "A cleaning blade OF
razor-like edge. rounded at the end and not less
than twelve inches long. 1t is known as the
schoof" the word signifying Changing from
life to death" 1t is absolutely necessary for
inc .'schochet" TO see that this knife Is kept in
the perfection OF condition. and that it lie 'er
gets notched. For the throats OF the animals
he kills must be cut clear through, cleanly. AT
one single sweep. not tearing the flesh at
single point. Ropes fastened to the wall are
sljnped around the animals hind legs and thcn
pulled slowly and steadily with curious move
ment that in an instant makes the Deast lose
his balance and fall easily on his shoulder. IL Is
essential that the fall should not be sudden. for
that would excite the animal, possibly !nJure
him In some way and make his flesh less health
full. ,,.,..
behind the great head. and by quick. sudden
movement in one cut sewers the windpipe the
carotid artery and the jugular vein. Two great
streams Of blood at once squirt forth. often com
pletely deluging the killer. and In a moment
the animal is dead. The carcass is then hung
nm cut at the top and the "schochet plunges
his right hand and arm down into the opening
of the chest to determine the condition Of the
lungs and the heart by feel" So expert are
these men. and so thoroughly do they under
stand anatomy that they can at once detect
almost any peural cardiac disease by the
way these organs and their surroundings feel
70 their fingers. After this the carcass Is cut
into halves and the "schochet' examines the
flesh of EACH looking thoroughly over at the
same time the stomach. liver and the other Or
gans. . .