“Abraham extended his hand and took the knife to slaughter his son” (Genesis 22:10). “Abraham extended his hand and took the knife” – Rav asked Rabbi Ḥiyya the Great: ‘From where is it derived that [according to Rabbi Yehuda HaNasi] slaughter must be performed with an object that is movable?’27Something that is not attached to the ground. [Rabbi Ḥiyya replied: ‘Rabbi Yehuda HaNasi learned it] from here: “Abraham extended his hand.”’28Implying that the object used for slaughtering must be capable of being taken up in the hand.
He [Rav] said to him: ‘If he [Rabbi Yehuda HaNasi] said this to you as a homiletical interpretation, it is possible that he retracted his teaching;29It is possible that Rabbi Yehuda HaNasi retracted his teaching that slaughtering must be done with an object that is not connected to the ground. but if [he said it to you] as an actual derivation, he has not retracted his teaching.’ It is as Levi taught: If they were attached [to the ground] from the outset, they are invalid [for slaughter], but if they were detached and then were re-attached they are valid, as we learn in the Mishna:30Mishna Ḥullin 1:2.
One who slaughters with a hand sickle, with a harvest sickle, with a flint, or with a reed, his slaughter is valid.31Even though the reed is attached to the ground. According to Rabbi Yehuda HaNasi, the case of the reed must be understood as a reed that was detached and then re-attached, for otherwise it would be invalid for use in slaughtering. This corroborates Levi’s statement that something that was detached and re-attached is valid.
Rabbi Yosei said: Five things were stated regarding the stalk of a reed: It may not be used for slaughter; it may not be used for circumcision; one may not slice meat with it; one may not wipe his hands with it; and one may not pick his teeth with it, because an evil spirit rests upon it.