About The Sacred Slaughter Institute: Reviving Tradition Through Ethical, Halakhic Shechita
OUR MISSION
The Sacred Slaughter Institute trains students to become שו"ב – שוחטים ובודקים – shochatim u’vodkim (ritual slaughterers and inspectors) – upholding the highest standards of halakhic excellence. Our comprehensive program combines intensive study of classical Jewish texts with hands-on instruction in all aspects of shechitah: from preparation of the knife חליפים halafim, to slaughter technique, to the inspection of animals for טריפות treifot (disqualifying conditions), as well as the processing and koshering of meat.
Learn more about our training program to become a certified shochet.
OUR TEAM
Rabbi Shlomo Zacharow, Founder and Chief Educator, is a certified shochet trained by the Moreshet Avot Institute in Beit Shemesh, Israel. Passionate about Sacred Skills - teaching our ancient Jewish texts, sharpening knives, shechting and inspecting for treifot - he established the Sacred Slaughter Institute to make this profession accessible to a broader audience. In addition to leading this endeavor, Rabbi Zacharow is the immediate past chairman of the Israel Rabbinical Assembly’s Law Committee and serves as Av Beit Din of its Tribunal for Divorces. He also teaches at the Schechter Institute and Conservative Yeshiva. Rabbi Zacharow lives in Jerusalem with his wife, Dafniella, and their children.
Expanding Access to Shechita
Historically, the training of shohatim has been cloaked in secrecy, and in recent years, certain communities have imposed new restrictions on who may enter this sacred profession. We aim to broaden access—including for women. Jewish legal sources, from the Talmud to the Mishneh Torah and Shulhan Arukh, explicitly permit women to become shochatot, even if tradition has not always encouraged their participation (Hullin 2a, Zevahim 31b–32a, Mishneh Torah Hilkhot Shechita 4:4, Yoreh De’ah 1:1).
Strengthening Jewish Communities
We believe every Jewish community—regardless of geography or ideology—should be equipped to meet its own religious needs, including access to kosher meat produced with integrity. By training local shochatim, we help communities become more self-sufficient and holistically observant.
Compassionate and Ethical Practice
In contrast to industrial slaughter, our approach adheres strictly to halakhic (Jewish law) standards while minimizing tza'ar ba'alei chayim (unnecessary animal suffering). We partner with local farms that raise animals humanely—allowing them to walk freely, access fresh air and sunlight daily, and avoid the stress of long-distance transport to slaughterhouses.
Honoring Every Living Creature
Our commitment to compassion is reflected in every step: each knife is carefully checked between uses, and no animal witnesses the slaughter of another (Hullin 10b, Shulhan Arukh, Yoreh De’ah 18:11). Even with fowl, we bring in only one bird at a time (Shulhan Arukh Yoreh De’ah 36:14, Yad Ephraim, Yoreh De’ah 26).
We honor each creature in its final moments, ensuring a dignified, swift, and gentle passing. While these practices demand more time and resources, we believe they are essential to the sanctity of our work and the values of our tradition.
Are You Interested?
Train to become a shochet (שוחט) and bodek (בודק) with a comprehensive program covering shechita (שחיטה), halacha (הלכה), and hands-on skills in preparing knives, handling animals, and checking for treifot (טריפות).
