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Gittin 20a

גיטין כ׳ ע״א

Learn Gittin 20a step by step: Aramaic beside English, every question, answer and proof colour-coded.

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Topic

The requirements of writing a גט: לשמה, tracing over, the material it is written on, and carving versus writing

Overview

The גמרא finishes explaining why a ספר תורה cannot serve as a גט: it was not written לשמה, and it lacks the couple's names and cities. רב יוסף's real point is that writing in מי מילין on top of מי מילין does not last. רב חסדא ties a גט written שלא לשמה and then traced over לשמה to a מחלוקת between רבי יהודה and the רבנן about tracing over God's name. רב אחא בר יעקב answers that the רבנן may be strict only because a ספר תורה must be beautiful. רב חסדא then claims he could invalidate all גיטין, and רבא knocks down both possible reasons. Along the way, the גמרא shows that a גט written on איסורי הנאה is valid, following רבי. Next, a ברייתא teaches that a גט must be written and not carved. The גמרא explains which kind of carving counts as writing, using the ציץ and gold coins. Finally, רבינא asks רב אשי how a coin stamp works and begins a challenge that continues on the next amud.

Opening lines

אִי מִשּׁוּם כְּרִיתוּת דְּאִית בַּהּ –

If it is because of the 'severance' that is in it,

הָא בָּעֵינָא ״וְכָתַב לָהּ״ –

but we require 'and he shall write for her':

לִשְׁמָהּ, וְלֵיכָּא.

for her sake, and that is not present.

וְכִי תֵּימָא, לֵיחוּשׁ

And if you will say, let us be concerned

The steps (26)

  1. RejectionThe divorce verses in a ספר תורה do not count as a גט
  2. ChallengeMaybe the scribe was paid at the start to write it for her
  3. ResolutionA גט also needs the names, which a ספר תורה lacks
  4. QuestionSo what is רב יוסף teaching us?
  5. ResponseGall ink on top of gall ink does not last
  6. StatementA גט written not for her sake, then traced over for her sake
  7. ProofThe source: tracing over God's name written by mistake
  8. RejectionMaybe the רבנן are strict only for a ספר תורה
  9. Statementרב חסדא's bold claim about all גיטין
  10. Questionרבא asks for the reason
  11. RejectionFirst possible reason: the wife pays for the writing
  12. RejectionSecond possible reason: the husband gives nothing of value
  13. ProofProof: a גט written on forbidden material is valid
  14. StatementReturning to the ruling from ארץ ישראל
  15. Proofרב אשי brings proof from the olive leaf
  16. RejectionAn olive leaf may be different
  17. ProofA ברייתא: רבי holds this view
  18. Conclusionלוי's teaching shows the הלכה follows רבי
  19. Statement'וכתב': writing, not carving
  20. ChallengeA carved slave document is valid
  21. ResolutionIt depends how the carving is done
  22. ChallengeCarving around the letters is not writing? The ציץ was like gold coins
  23. ResolutionLike gold coins in one way, but not in another
  24. Questionרבינא asks how a coin die makes its mark
  25. Responseרב אשי answers: the stamp digs
  26. Challengeרבינא begins an objection from the ציץ