If the place that Hashem your God will choose to put His Name there is too far from you, then you shall slaughter from your herd and from your flock that Hashem has given you, as I have commanded you, and you shall eat within your gates according to all the desire of your soul.
English: “And you shall slaughter” — If a knife fell and slaughtered [the animal]. Even though it slaughtered in the proper manner, it is invalid, as it is said “and you shall slaughter and you shall eat” — what you slaughter, you may eat.
On the daf / in context: The slaughter must result from human action; an accidental fall of the knife does not constitute valid shechitah.
Type of Learning
Derash on the verse (Sifrei) — the requirement of human agency in shechitah.
What Is Learned
Shechitah performed by a falling knife is invalid, even if the cut is otherwise proper; human action is required.