6561 —ניסיון מעשי אצל שוחטים מומחים קודם שנעשים שוחט יחיד בעיר

B"H, 20th of Marcheshvan, 5719

Brooklyn.

Shalom u'Vrachah!

In reply to your letter, in which you write about the proposal to be a bodek (inspector) and later a shochet in Hamilton.

In general, the practice is that before one becomes an independent shochet in a city where there are no other shochtim, one must first be a practicing shochet together with other expert shochtim. Even though one has learned the laws מפי ספרים ומפי שוחטים "from books and from shochtim" (echoing the title page of the Tanya, "from books and from scribes," Likkutei Amarim, title page), and has also practiced a little, this is still not enough to be a practicing shochet (that is, to take on the position of shochet and bodek alone), for אין חכם כבעל נסיון "there is no wise man like one with experience." And even in a place where only glatt is slaughtered, one cannot foresee what questions and doubts may come up. Therefore you must still be with the shochtim in Montreal and acquire more practice, which should be sufficient to be an independent shochet in a small town. And if there is a doubt, it is known that שב ואל תעשה עדיף "sitting and not acting is preferable" (Eruvin 100a), especially in a matter of such responsibility as the above. And may G‑d, blessed be He, guide you in the manner that is good in His eyes in all the above.

With blessing for good news.

Summary

This letter advises that before serving as the sole shochet in a town, one must first work alongside expert shochtim, since study and a little practice cannot foresee every question that arises. The recipient should gain more experience with the shochtim in Montreal, and where there is doubt in so responsible a matter, it is better to refrain.