Gittin 21a

גיטין כ״א ע״א

Learn Gittin 21a step by step: Aramaic beside English, every question, answer and proof colour-coded.

Open Gittin 21a in Gemara Clarity

Topic

Knowing to transfer ownership of a document, and divorcing a wife by giving her a slave or courtyard holding the גט.

Overview

The גמרא is looking for proof that people know they must transfer ownership of a document, such as a גט. The proof from an old man is rejected because an old man is different. רבא then brings a proof from an ערב, but רב אשי rejects it because a man is different. רב אשי instead brings a proof from a משנה that says a woman may write her own גט. Next, רבא rules that if a husband puts a גט in his slave's hand, or in his courtyard, and gives it to his wife with a gift document, she is divorced. The גמרא explains that the slave case only works when the slave is tied up (כפות), and it shows why רבא needed to teach both cases. אביי objects that a חצר is learned from 'her hand,' which works even against her will, while a gift needs her consent. רב שימי בר אשי challenges אביי from a שליח לקבלה, and the גמרא gives two answers in defense of אביי. The amud ends as the גמרא starts a question on the משנה's list of things a גט may be written on, which continues on the next amud.

Opening lines

The steps (15)

1. RejectionAn old man is different
2. Proofרבא's proof from a guarantor who signs later
3. Rejectionרב אשי: a man is different
4. Proofרב אשי's proof: a woman may write her own גט
5. StatementA גט placed in a slave's hand, then the slave given to the wife
6. ChallengeA slave is a moving courtyard, so how can he acquire the גט?
7. RejectionEven a standing slave counts as a moving courtyard
8. Resolutionרבא's ruling is about a tied-up slave
9. Statementרבא: giving her a courtyard with the גט inside
10. ResolutionWhy רבא had to teach both the slave and the courtyard
11. ChallengeA courtyard must work like her hand, but a gift needs her consent
12. ChallengeBut an agent for receiving also needs her consent
13. ResolutionAgency comes from a different word in the פסוק
14. ResolutionA father can receive a גט for his young daughter against her will
15. ChallengeStarting to question the משנה's case of a slave's hand