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The Rambam says that the Shchita of a Mumar for one aveira is Kosher, just that there needs to be a Shochet who will check his knife before he shechts (as one can assume that he won't work too hard to make the knife clean). The only debate in the Gemara is if a Mumar Lechol hatorah kula's shechita is kosher.

So why are many people so careful about the Yiras Shamayim of the Shochet? I know people who will only eat Chassidisher Shchita, some will only eat meat that was shechted by Shochtim from their Chassidus, some will not eat meat outside their house (while they will eat other products), etc. These are people that will eat national hashgachos for most items.

These people can't consider non-Chassidim to be like a mumar lechol Hatorah as if they were, they couldn't rely on their Hashgachos at all (and wouldn't be able to eat anything with an O-U, etc.)

EDIT

I am looking for sources (such as, Shulchan Aruch demands ..., Simla Chadasha demands etc.)

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Are you sure the distinctions of the various chassiduts' shechita productions are only based on their views on their adherents' special fear of Heaven? Wouldn't some of them subscribe to different technical stringencies than others? – Isaac Moses Mar 15 '12 at 18:29
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The Rambam wasn't a chossid ;) – yitznewton Mar 15 '12 at 19:33
@IsaacMoses or even other more personal reasons, with little to do with actual kashrut... Politics, etc. "I don't want to give him my business!" – AviD Mar 18 '12 at 10:15
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@AviD Those people wouldn't eat anything of the other parties hechsher. Yet, there are many people who eat other's bread, oil, wine, and not meat. – Am Haaretz Gamur Mideoraysa Mar 18 '12 at 17:29
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You mean Shechting Chassidim? :) – Leitz Mar 18 '12 at 18:03
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2 Answers

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The technicalities of shechitah create a very fine line between a kosher shechitah and one that results in neveila meat. For example, applying too much downward pressure on the knife, or pausing during the procedure, can totally invalidate the shechitah. It is basically the shochet's call as to whether the necessary parameters were fulfilled. However, the shochet obviously has a bias to pronounce his work kosher, especially in large commercial productions where a high failure rate could cost him his job. It requires a certain amount of Yiras Shamayim on the shochet's part to make an honest assessment of his shechitah. Hence the focus on a shochet's affiliation, which makes people more comfortable about his probable level of Yiras Shomayim. (Whether this is justified or not is a separate issue.) Additionally, as mentioned by Issac Moses, customs vary (sometimes in a significant ways) from community to community.

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In addition to all said above is the Historical Perspective. When Chassidic communities left the shtetel and lives close together with other groups in NYC and Israel, the choice of supporting the Parnasah of their members versus another qualified individual stood. In regards to Chabad specifically, the Shochetim and Bodkim are required to learn Chassidus prior to working. – mochin rechavim Mar 15 '12 at 18:55
@mochinrechavim That's the question, why aren't normal Mashgichim required to learn Chassidus? – Am Haaretz Gamur Mideoraysa Mar 15 '12 at 19:02
So how did Yehoshafat eat Achav's food? (one can assume that Achav wasn't too Chassidish) – Am Haaretz Gamur Mideoraysa Mar 15 '12 at 19:03
Moreover, why isn't the Rambam/Mishna/Gemara/and AFAIK Shulchan Aruch choshesh for this possibility? – Am Haaretz Gamur Mideoraysa Mar 15 '12 at 19:14
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@mochinrechavim My question is that the Rambam says that a Shochet has the same requirements as a mashgiach (except when sharpening the knife). So why will Lubavitchers eat food which was supervised by people who don't learn Chassidus while they won't eat the meat shechted by a shochet who doesn't learn Chassidus? – Am Haaretz Gamur Mideoraysa Mar 15 '12 at 19:21
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up vote -2 down vote

Chasidic shechita is based on the sharpness of the knife.

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@AmHaaretzGamurMideoraysa so everybody does shechita according to the Chasidish standard today? Interesting. – yoel Mar 15 '12 at 18:58
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This answer does not deserve negative voting. While todays standards of shechita have embraced stainless steel blades, it is a Chassidic Invention that resulting in an excommunication being issued by the Misnagdim. – mochin rechavim Mar 15 '12 at 19:02
@mochinrechavim fine, but practically all current Shochtim will use steel blades. So why can't Chassidim eat from a non-Chossid's shchita if he uses steel knives? – Am Haaretz Gamur Mideoraysa Mar 15 '12 at 19:05
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@mochinrechavim I strongly suspect that this initial difference is the basis for requiring Chasidishe shechita today, even if it's no longer applicable. I could improve my answer if I could find a source or basis for this suspicion. – yoel Mar 15 '12 at 19:06
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