How can you tell me that if a person watches over one of the three people who can't and are exempt from slaughter, they're slaughtering is bdeavad.
If they aren't allowed to slaughter why don't the people watching over him prevent him from slaughtering or better yet, why are they allowing him or watching over him in the first place
Steven buch, Brooklyn new york
Shalom Steven,
It's great to hear from you! That is a very well-put question. Indeed, if the individual is Pasul to slaughter l'Chatchilah, then why would the adult supervisor not stop him?
One could answer by saying that the adult supervisor is not able to stop the unqualified individual, such as the Katan. Alternatively, for some reason the adult does not want to do so, or he does not know that he is supposed to do so.
But perhaps more interesting is the fact that if the Katan actually does possesses the requisite manual dexterity necessary for Shechitah, then although he may not slaughter alone (l'Chatchilah), still if there is a qualified adult supervising him, then he is permitted to slaughter! See Shulchan Aruch, Yoreh De'ah 1:5.
Warmly,
Yishai Rasowsky