Qualifications of a Shochet
The halachah is that for a shochet to receive kabbalah, be authorized to work as a ritual slaughterer, he must to be a yerei Shomayim, a G-d fearing person, drachav mesukanim, unyielding in his observance of Torah and mitzvos, proficient in Gemarah and Rashi, and a person who will always act in a manner befitting his position. Unfortunately, these days many shochtim manage to receive kabbalah, a formal license to shecht, even if their standards are not up to par. Therefore, poskim say that we should only eat fowl and meat shechted by a shochet whom we know personally to be a yerei Shamayim, or if we know that the rabbonim of the city who provide the hechsher are yerei Shamayim, and would only hire a shochet who answers to the highest standards.
The description of a shochet in halachah and in poskim is that he should be a “Yerei Shamayim meirabim”. The word meirabim has three meanings: 1) He has been known to be a G-d fearing Jew for many years. 2) Many people say about him that he is G-d fearing. 3) He appears to be much more G-d fearing than the majority of people. One should ensure that all three interpretations apply to the shochet. #268