2946 —בדיקת סכין השחיטה על ידי שני שובי"ם וחשיבותה

B"H, 23 Elul, 5714.

Brooklyn.

Shalom u'Vrachah!

In response to your letter from the first day of Nitzavim, regarding what you wrote about the necessity of having the knife checked by two shochtim: it is certainly very proper. However, this matter depends on the rabbis and mainly on the shochtim themselves. Unfortunately, improvement in this area is happening only gradually. Still, nothing stands in the way of willpower; if the rabbis and shochtim truly wanted this with appropriate resolve, they would succeed.

As for what you mentioned in your letter—that you were told even "in my shechita" there is not a check by two shochtim—there is no slaughterhouse here under Lubavitch supervision. Therefore, it is unclear what is meant by "my shechita," and certainly no proof or leniency should be drawn from this for any certifications or leniencies.

As you requested, I will mention you at the holy resting place of my revered father-in-law, the Rebbe zatzal (may his merit protect us), for a good inscription and sealing; may you and your entire family be inscribed and sealed for a good and sweet year both materially and spiritually together.

With blessing.

Summary

The Rebbe emphasizes that checking the shechita knife by two shochtim is highly proper but requires genuine commitment from both rabbis and shochtim to implement. He cautions against drawing conclusions from situations not under Lubavitch supervision.