[Avodah] schechtworthy

[Zev Sero]

Saul.Z.Newman at kp.org wrote:

> seen on a  newsletter---  A /shochet/ that watches television is 
> violating Biblical prohibitions. While this casts aspersions on his 
> trustworthiness, he should not be removed. He must be first warned to 
> cease from such behaviour (Shevet Halevi YD 2).

>> q-is this a generally accepted disqualifier?  does the OU use this 
>> criteria?  are there people that wouldn't eat from tv-shchita?
>> what other professions does tv disqualify?
>> wouldnt this be an edah related issur  [ like  matza shruya], since 
>> many jews would not hold that this is true?

It's a question of poretz geder.  In a community where TV-watching is
not accepted, someone who does raises questions about his yiras shomayim,
and a shochet's yiras shomayim must be beyond question.  The same applies
to shaving or trimming, and in an earlier era even to wearing galoshes!
Someone whose community regards these things as normal is just behaving
normally, and no question need be raised.

R' Elchonon Loebenstein was a shochet in Melbourne for many decades.
He was one of the Dunera Boys, and when he started shechting for the
L community in Melbourne some were concerned because he trimmed his
beard.  They wrote to the LR, who replied that since he came from
Germany where this was normal, it did not cause any problem at all
with his shechita.

-- 
Zev Sero               Something has gone seriously awry with this Court's
zev at sero.name          interpretation of the Constitution.
                       	                          - Clarence Thomas