Gittin 19a

גיטין י״ט ע״א

Learn Gittin 19a step by step: Aramaic beside English, every question, answer and proof colour-coded.

Open Gittin 19a in Gemara Clarity

Topic

רבי יהושע בן לוי's reliance on רבי שמעון, the materials and surfaces for writing a גט, and how witnesses who cannot sign may sign a גט

Overview

The amud opens as רבי יהושע בן לוי finishes his ruling: in a pressing situation, we may rely on רבי שמעון, who allows a גט written by day and signed later. The גמרא checks this against ריש לקיש and רבי יוחנן, and concludes that he follows רבי יוחנן on timing and ריש לקיש on the role of the extra signers. A new משנה then teaches that a גט may be written with any lasting ink, on almost any surface, even a cow's horn or a slave's hand, as long as the wife receives that object; רבי יוסי הגלילי forbids living things and food. The גמרא defines the inks and adds more lasting materials from ברייתות of רבי חנינא and רבי חייא. It brings a related שבת law about tracing one ink over another, which can count as both writing and erasing. ריש לקיש then asks whether witnesses who cannot sign may trace over names written for them in red dye, and רבי יוחנן says that kind of tracing is not real writing for a גט. The אמוראים offer other methods where the first marking does not count as writing: a paper stencil, plain lead, gall water on treated parchment, and saliva. Finally, the גמרא limits this help to גיטין only, and a story shows that רב כהנא had a man flogged for using it on ordinary documents.

Opening lines

The steps (30)

1. StatementRelying on רבי שמעון in a pressing situation
2. Challengeריש לקיש limits רבי שמעון to immediate signing
3. ResolutionOn timing, he follows רבי יוחנן
4. ChallengeBut רבי יוחנן says the extra signers are not real witnesses
5. ResolutionOn the role of the signers, he follows ריש לקיש
6. StatementA גט may be written with any lasting material
7. StatementNot with liquids or anything that fades
8. StatementA גט may be written on any surface
9. Statementרבי יוסי הגלילי forbids living things and food
10. StatementThe גמרא explains the ink names in the משנה
11. QuestionWhat does 'anything that lasts' add?
12. ResponseIt includes רבי חנינא's case of gallnut water
13. Responseרבי חייא adds lead, coal, and black paint
14. StatementInk over red dye on שבת: two violations
15. StatementSame over same is exempt; red over ink is disputed
16. StatementWhy some say liable and some say exempt
17. QuestionCan witnesses trace over names written for them in red dye?
18. Responseרבי יוחנן says it is not writing
19. ChallengeBut you taught that upper writing counts for שבת
20. ResolutionA comparison is not enough to act on
21. Statementרב: a paper stencil filled in with ink
22. Statementשמואל: write their names with lead
23. ChallengeHow can lead be used if lead counts as real writing?
24. ResolutionPlain lead versus lead-ink
25. Statementרבי אבהו suggests gall water
26. ChallengeBut gall water is valid writing
27. ResolutionIt depends on whether the parchment was treated with gallnuts
28. Statementרב פפא suggests saliva, and used it in practice
29. StatementThis help is only for a גט, not for money documents
30. Proofרב כהנא punishes someone who used tracing for ordinary documents