Gittin 11a

גיטין י״א ע״א

Learn Gittin 11a step by step: Aramaic beside English, every question, answer and proof colour-coded.

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Topic

Documents made by non-Jews: clear names, location, official courts, and Persian documents

Overview

The amud begins by explaining רבי שמעון's view that a גט or a שטר שחרור made in a non-Jewish court is valid. He means only when the witnesses have clearly non-Jewish names (שמות מובהקין), and רב פפא lists examples of such names. The גמרא asks why the משנה didn't state this name rule directly. It gives two answers: either 'made by a commoner' (הדיוט) is the משנה's way of describing unclear names, or the end of the משנה is talking about money documents. A ברייתא then sets out exactly where רבי עקיבא and the חכמים argue. רבן שמעון בן גמליאל adds that these documents are valid only in a place where Jews do not sign, because names can be confused but places cannot. רפרם tells רבינא that only official non-Jewish courts count, not just any group of non-Jews. רבא rules that a Persian document handed over in front of Jewish witnesses can collect from free property. The גמרא defends that ruling against three challenges and explains that it cannot collect from sold property because it has no publicity (קלא). The amud ends as ריש לקיש begins a question to רבי יוחנן, which continues on the next amud.

Opening lines

The steps (22)

1. ResolutionOnly clearly non-Jewish names
2. QuestionWhat counts as a clearly non-Jewish name?
3. Responseרב פפא lists examples of clear names
4. ChallengeWhy didn't the משנה say this directly?
5. ResolutionUnclear names count as a commoner's document
6. ResolutionA second answer: the end of the משנה is about money documents
7. Statementרבי שמעון explains where רבי עקיבא and the חכמים argue
8. Statementרבן שמעון בן גמליאל: valid only where Jews don't sign
9. ChallengeWhy not make a גזירה for every place?
10. ResolutionNames get mixed up, places don't
11. Statementרבינא wants to accept documents from groups of non-Jews
12. Rejectionרפרם: the משנה said courts, not just any group
13. Statementרבא: a Persian document can collect from free property
14. ChallengeBut the witnesses can't read Persian
15. ResolutionThe case is where they can read it
16. ChallengeBut a document must be safe from forgery
17. ResolutionThe case is where the paper was treated with gall
18. ChallengeBut the last line must repeat the main content
19. ResolutionThe case is where the last line does repeat it
20. ChallengeThen it should collect from sold property too
21. ResolutionIt does not get publicity
22. Questionריש לקיש asks רבי יוחנן a question