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“You know whatshechitais?”
“The only method allowed by Jewish law for producing kosher meat and poultry.”
“Not bad for a shiksa.”
“I—”
“Eat.” Adeera gestured at the tray.
I took a cookie. Monck did not.
I was dutifully nibbling one edge, thinking what I really needed was a jolt of caffeine, when a door slammed somewhere out of sight. In seconds, a man burst into the room, face red, breath coming fast. A quick scan of Monck, then the man’s dark eyes locked onto me.
“How dare you harass my mother with—”
“Dovid!” The pointing finger now jabbed at a chair off to one side. “Sit down.”
Dovid remained frozen in place.
“Sit!” As one might order a poodle.
Dovid started to object, decided against it. Sat.
“I am explaining the laws ofshechitato this young lady.”
“Why—”
Adeera hushed him with a blisteringssshhhthat would havemade Gran proud. To me, she said, “Dovid works down the hill at the chabat. He, too, occasionally forgets his manners.”
Then why did you phone and ask him to join us? I didn’t ask.
Dovid crossed his arms, thrust out his legs, and scowled. He was tall, much taller than the photo suggested, with a lot more hair on his chin than his head. Noshtreimelor tallit, but he was clearly the man in portrait number one.
“The laws ofshechitawere divinely given to Moses at Mount Sinai,” Adeera began. “The rules are clearly defined to ensure a swift and painless slaughter. The animal’s welfare is of the utmost importance.”
I didn’t interrupt. The cookie was oatmeal raisin. And delicious.
“Shechitais performed by a trainedshochet. Rather than the more common practice of first stunning an animal with a bolt to the head, the procedure consists of a single transverse cut to the throat. The animal must be alive and must die from loss of blood.”
I noticed that Adeera’s tone had become somewhat robotic, her accent less pronounced, as though she’d delivered this lecture many times. I wondered if the woman had done some teaching in her day.
Dovid’s scowl never wavered.
“The cut is made with achalef, a specially made knife honed to surgical sharpness. It severs the trachea, esophagus, carotid arteries, jugular veins, and vagus nerve. This causes an instant drop in blood pressure in the brain, which results in loss of consciousness, which renders the animal insensible to pain. The killing is done with both respect and compassion.”
Or one could forgo meat, I thought. Hypocritical, I know. I’m hardly vegetarian.
“Is there a required course of education, a form of certification necessary to be ashochet?” I asked when Adeera settled back two millimeters, presumably done talking.
“Certification is not mandatory.”
“Where did Uri train?”
“With a rabbi in New York.”
In my peripheral vision, I noticed Dovid flick an annoyed wave.
“That’s where you’re from?” I inquired, now mainly to pass the time.
