Gittin 17b

גיטין י״ז ע״ב

Learn Gittin 17b step by step: Aramaic beside English, every question, answer and proof colour-coded.

Open Gittin 17b in Gemara Clarity

Topic

Why a גט must be dated (the reasons of רבי יוחנן and ריש לקיש and how they fit רבי שמעון and the רבנן), and אביי's questions to רב יוסף about how the dating rule works in practice.

Overview

Earlier, the גמרא gave two reasons why a גט must be dated. רבי יוחנן says the date stops a husband from covering for an unfaithful wife. ריש לקיש says it settles when the husband's rights to the פירות of her property end. The גמרא explains why each rejected the other's reason, and how each fits the dispute between רבי שמעון and the רבנן about a גט written by day and signed at night. A quoted dispute seems to give them the opposite views on the produce, and the גמרא answers by switching the names there. Then אביי asks רב יוסף a series of questions about the dating rule. An undated גט works after the fact, but she may not remarry with it from the start. We do not worry about a cheater who cuts off the date. Even a general date, like a seven-year cycle, is valid because it settles what happened before and after that span. At the end רבינא begins a new question to רבא, which continues on the next amud.

Opening lines

The steps (20)

1. ResponseWhy ריש לקיש rejects רבי יוחנן's reason
2. QuestionWhy רבי יוחנן rejects ריש לקיש's reason
3. ResponseThe husband keeps the produce until the גט is given
4. ChallengeHow does רבי יוחנן explain רבי שמעון?
5. Resolutionרבי יוחנן explains the רבנן, not רבי שמעון
6. ChallengeAccording to ריש לקיש, what do רבי שמעון and the רבנן argue about?
7. ResolutionThey argue about the produce between the writing and the signing
8. ChallengeElsewhere רבי יוחנן and ריש לקיש hold the opposite views
9. ResolutionSwitch the names in the other dispute
10. ChallengeIf an undated גט still works, what did the enactment accomplish?
11. ResolutionThe enactment means she may not remarry with it from the start
12. QuestionWhat if the husband cut off the date before giving it?
13. ResponseWe do not worry about a cheater
14. QuestionWhat if the גט gives only a vague date?
15. ResponseA vague date is valid
16. ChallengeThen what does the enactment accomplish?
17. ResolutionIt helps for the cycle before and the cycle after
18. ProofEven an exact day leaves a gap: morning or evening?
19. ConclusionJust as a day helps for the days around it, a cycle helps for the cycles around it
20. Questionרבינא begins a new question to רבא