Gittin 18a

גיטין י״ח ע״א

Learn Gittin 18a step by step: Aramaic beside English, every question, answer and proof colour-coded.

Open Gittin 18a in Gemara Clarity

Topic

The date on a גט, when the three-month waiting period starts, when שמיטה cancels a כתובה, and documents written by day and signed at night.

Overview

The amud opens by finishing a discussion about why חכמים required a date in every גט. A held-back גט is too rare to matter, because nobody rushes a divorce. A גט from overseas arrives late, but everyone knows that, so its date misleads no one. Next, רב and שמואל argue about when a divorced woman's three-month wait begins: from the giving or from the writing of the גט. Each side has a supporting ברייתא, and the הלכה follows שמואל: count from the writing. A second רב and שמואל dispute asks when שמיטה cancels a כתובה. רב requires both collecting part of it and setting it up as a loan, while שמואל says either step alone is enough. שמואל then rules that a כתובה, like a court document, may be written by day and signed at night. A story about רב's silence at his son's wedding turns out not to prove that he agrees. Finally, the גמרא explains why רבי שמעון allows a גט signed at night, and ריש לקיש limits that to a גט signed right away.

Opening lines

The steps (22)

1. QuestionA husband writes a גט but keeps it in his pocket
2. ResponsePeople do not prepare a divorce in advance
3. ChallengeOverseas גיטין arrive months after they are written
4. ResolutionEveryone knows an overseas גט arrives late
5. StatementWhen does the waiting period after a גט begin?
6. ChallengeTwo women in one courtyard with different rules
7. ResolutionThe date on each גט explains the difference
8. ProofA ברייתא that supports רב
9. ProofA ברייתא that supports שמואל
10. StatementHow later אמוראים acted in practice
11. ConclusionThe הלכה: count from the writing
12. StatementWhen does a כתובה get canceled by שמיטה
13. ProofA ברייתא that supports רב
14. ProofA ברייתא that supports שמואל
15. StatementA כתובה may be written by day and signed at night
16. Proofרב stayed silent at his son's כתובה
17. QuestionDoes רב agree with שמואל?
18. RejectionThey were busy with the כתובה the whole time
19. ProofA ברייתא: continuous work makes it valid
20. QuestionWhy does רבי שמעון allow it?
21. ResponseOnce he decides to divorce, he loses the produce
22. Statementריש לקיש: only if it is signed right away