Derasha 2 on Vayikra 1:5

Parashas Vayikra · Aliyah 1 · Passuk 5

The Complete Passuk

וְשָׁחַ֛ט אֶת־בֶּ֥ן הַבָּקָ֖ר לִפְנֵ֣י יְהֹוָ֑ה וְהִקְרִ֨יבוּ בְּנֵ֤י אַהֲרֹן֙ הַכֹּֽהֲנִ֔ים אֶת־הַדָּ֕ם וְזָרְק֨וּ אֶת־הַדָּ֤ם עַל־הַמִּזְבֵּ֙חַ֙ סָבִ֔יב אֲשֶׁר־פֶּ֖תַח אֹ֥הֶל מוֹעֵֽד׃

Chabad.org — English translation + Rashi

Source Citation

Torah Temima points to Chullin 27a and Chullin 30b (verified; slaughter at the neck; drawing motion of the knife).

E-Daf — Chullin 27a · E-Daf — Chullin 30b

Core Text of Chazal

Core Text — Chullin 27a / 30b
אָמַר רַב כָּהֲנָא: מִנַּיִין לִשְׁחִיטָה שֶׁהִיא מִן הַצַּוָּאר? שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר וְשָׁחַט — מִמָּקוֹם שֶׁשָּׁחַ הַטֵּהוּ.

תָּנָא דְּבֵי רַבִּי יִשְׁמָעֵאל: אֵין וְשָׁחַט אֶלָּא וּמָשַׁךְ… מִכָּאן שֶׁאִם הֵתִיז אֶת הָרֹאשׁ בְּבַת אַחַת פְּסוּלָה.

English: Rav Kahana said: From where do we know that slaughter is at the neck? As it is stated “and he shall slaughter” — from the place where one “cleanses / draws.” The school of Rabbi Yishmael taught: “And he shall slaughter” means only “and he shall draw [the knife]”… From here: if one severed the head in a single stroke, it is invalid.

Type of Learning

Custom (etymology / word-play on shachat) — the verb teaches both the place (neck) and the required back-and-forth drawing motion of the knife.

What Is Learned

Kosher slaughter is performed at the neck with a drawing motion of the knife. Chopping the head off in one blow is invalid.