Khullin 2 Can a woman become a shochet, a ritual slaughterer?

This past Shabbat we began the new massekhet Khullin (חוּלִין). Massekhtot Zevakhim and Menakhot discusses laws concerning consecrated animals and meal offerings which were offered up on the altar in the Temple.  Khullin deals with un-consecrated food, the food that you and I eat. In other words, this is the massekhet that deals with the laws of kashrut.

The tractate begins: “Everyone slaughters an animal, i.e., can perform halakhically valid slaughter, and their slaughter is valid, except for a deaf-mute, an imbecile, and a minor, lest they ruin their slaughter because they lack competence…” (Sefaria.com translation) Does “everyone” include women? The answer to this question depends on your halakhic source.

According to Rambam women may ritually slaughter an animal for consumption. “When one knows the laws of ritual slaughter and slaughters in the presence of a wise man until he becomes familiar with ritual slaughter, he is called an expert. Any expert may slaughter in private as an initial and preferred option. Even women and servants may slaughter as an initial and preferred option.” (Mishneh Torah, Ritual slaughter 4:4, Sefaria.com translation)

According to the Shulkan Arukh women may ritually slaughter an animal for consumption. “All may slaughter (shecht), at the outset, even women.” (Yoreh Deah, 1:1) Note that both the Rambam and Yosef Karo, the author of the Shulkan Arukh, are Sephardim.

However, Moses Isserles who wrote the Ashkenazi gloss on the Shulkan Arukh, forbids women to become a shokhet. “Rema: There are those that say that women should not be permitted to shecht, as we have already established a custom that (women) are not to shecht, and thus the tradition (holds) that women do not shecht.” Why would he forbid women to fulfill this role? I can venture two possible reasons why he would forbid them. Many classical sources don’t hold women’s intellectual capacity highly. They would not be able to comprehend correctly the intricacies of shechita, ritual slaughter. Alternately, because of their weaker nature they would faint at the sight of blood.

Unfortunately Isserles’ decision seems to be the norm and women don’t become shokhtot. We know that the two above possible reasons are no longer valid, if they ever were. We don’t question women’s capability to become doctors. If women can become medical doctors who perform surgery, women certainly can handle the shechita of an animal.

You would think that rabbis would be proud of that women are studying Torah and halakha and specifically the laws of kashrut which they are obligated to know. Unfortunately, too many of them are stuck in the 19^th century.