Education
“[Favorite workshop] The ritual slaughter was meaningful exploration into life and death, loss and purpose that made me feel more connected to the food, animals, and land."
- Participant at Melacha U’veracha Jewish Ancestral Skills Gathering
Demonstrations and Workshops
Rabbi Edelstein brings a wealth of knowledge and possibilities to your program or event. Some locations or events may demand certain approaches, whereas others permit more flexibility.
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A demonstration includes Rabbi Edelstein processing one livestock animal (typically a sheep), or several birds (3-5 chickens or ducks), typically by himself, and explaining what he is doing and why as much as possible during the shechita, with Q&A afterwards.
A workshop is hands-on as much as halacha (Jewish law) permits. Rabbi Edelstein must shecht the animals, and for livestock inspect the lungs and organs, but participants are encouraged to assist in skinning/plucking, eviscerating, soaking, salting, rinsing, etc. Participants get the opportunity to experience making meat kosher first-hand.
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For demonstrations, 5-20 participants works best. Over 20 observers people tend to loose sight in the back and sides of the group.
For workshops, 3-15 participants, depending on livestock or fowl, and how many animals are being processed.
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In short—no.
Prior to shecht-ing an animal for the first time, a student must learn the halacha for handling the chalif (knife), the correct position for the cut, what to cut, etc. This is outside the scope of a workshop. If after participating in a demonstration or workshop a participant feels strongly that they want to study for certification to be able to shecht themselves, Rabbi Edelstein will gladly connect them to his teacher, Rabbi Shlomo Zacharow for the in-depth learning required.