Gittin 18b

גיטין י״ח ע״ב

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Topic

How long a delay is allowed between writing and signing a גט, and what happens when a husband tells ten people to write a גט for his wife

Overview

This amud opens by finishing an argument about a delay between writing a גט and signing it. One view worries that during the delay the husband may have made up with his wife, so it allows only a short gap. רבי יוחנן says even ten days is fine, because a reconciliation would become known. The גמרא then brings a new argument between רבי יוחנן and ריש לקיש about a husband who tells ten men to write a גט for his wife. Using a משנה, the גמרא shows that the case must be where he said 'all of you,' so all ten must sign. רבי יוחנן says only two are real עדים and the rest sign just to fulfill the husband's תנאי. ריש לקיש says all ten are real עדים. Their views differ in two cases: when only two signed on the day of writing and the rest signed later, and when one signer turns out to be a קרוב or פסול. Next comes a further dispute about an unfit person who signed first. The amud ends with a real case brought to רבי יהושע בן לוי, whose ruling begins on the next amud.

Opening lines

The steps (11)

1. StatementThe worry that the husband made up with his wife
2. Statementרבי יוחנן allows even a ten-day delay
3. StatementTen men told to write a גט: are they all witnesses?
4. QuestionWhat exactly is the case?
5. ChallengeIt can't be where he didn't say 'all of you'
6. ResolutionThe case is where he said 'all of you'
7. QuestionWhat is the practical difference?
8. ResponseTwo signed on the day, the rest within ten days
9. ResponseAnother difference: one signer turns out to be a relative or unfit
10. StatementAn unfit person who signed first: two opinions
11. StatementA real case: the ten signers signed on different days