Gittin 22b

גיטין כ״ב ע״ב

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Topic

Limits on רבי אלעזר's ruling about an easily altered גט, and a new משנה on who may write a גט

Overview

The גמרא first explains that the ruling allowing a גט on a surface where writing is easy to change follows the תנא רבי אלעזר. He holds that עדי מסירה, the witnesses who watch the handing over, make the divorce work, so they can confirm what the גט said. The אמורא רבי אלעזר limits this in two ways. First, the witnesses must confirm the גט right away, in case a condition was erased. רבי יוחנן disagrees and says even days later is fine, because witnesses would remember a condition. Second, רבי אלעזר says the ruling covers only a גט and not other שטרות, based on a פסוק in ירמיהו about documents lasting many days. רבי יוחנן says it covers all שטרות, and the גמרא explains that the פסוק is only good advice. Then a new משנה teaches that anyone, even a חרש, שוטה or קטן, may write a גט, because its validity comes from its signers. The גמרא asks how people without understanding can write a גט, and רב הונא's answer begins on the next amud.

Opening lines

The steps (9)

1. ResponseThis ruling follows רבי אלעזר, who relies on the witnesses of the handing over
2. StatementThe witnesses must confirm the גט right away, out of fear of forgery
3. Statementרבי יוחנן: even later is fine, because the witnesses would remember a condition
4. StatementThe ruling applies only to גיטין, not to other documents
5. Statementרבי יוחנן says the ruling applies to all documents
6. ChallengeChallenge from the verse about documents lasting
7. ResolutionThe verse is only good advice
8. StatementNew משנה: anyone may write a bill of divorce
9. ChallengeHow can people without understanding write a bill of divorce?