Gittin 26b

גיטין כ״ו ע״ב

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Topic

Writing a גט and other documents in advance: the reasons for leaving the names and date blank, why every גט needs a date, and the ruling like רבי אלעזר

Overview

The גמרא first settles a contradiction: the משנה seems to quote רבי אלעזר both ways, and the answer is that two תנאים reported his view differently. It then asks why a סופר who writes a גט in advance must leave the names and date blank. חזקיה says the reason is to prevent fights at home, following רבי מאיר. אבימי says the reason is to help עגונות, and there are two versions of how that works: one following רבי מאיר and one following רבי אלעזר. Next the גמרא asks why a גט from אירוסין needs a date, since the 'produce' reason does not apply to a betrothed woman. רב עמרם answers with עולא's reason: the date protects the child, so people will not say her גט came before her son. Finally, רב rules like רבי אלעזר, who allows other documents to be written in advance. The גמרא shows that 'looking like a lie' does not invalidate ordinary documents, using רבי מאיר's garbage-גט and רבי יוחנן's ruling about a repaid loan document.

Opening lines

The steps (17)

1. Challengeרבי אלעזר seems to contradict himself
2. ResolutionTwo תנאים report רבי אלעזר's view differently
3. StatementFirst reason for the rule: to prevent a quarrel
4. StatementHow writing the names could start a fight
5. StatementSecond reason: to help deserted wives
6. StatementFirst version: the rule follows רבי מאיר
7. StatementSecond version: the rule follows רבי אלעזר
8. StatementThe space for the date applies to every divorce
9. ChallengeWhy a date makes sense for a divorce from full marriage
10. ChallengeThe produce reason does not fit a betrothed woman
11. Resolutionעולא's reason: protecting the child
12. StatementThe הלכה follows רבי אלעזר
13. ChallengeDoes the ruling apply to other documents too?
14. RejectionThe 'looks like a lie' idea is rejected using רבי מאיר
15. StatementThe חכמים argue only about a גט, not other documents
16. Proofרבי יוחנן: a repaid loan document cannot be reused
17. ConclusionThe only problem is the lost lien, not 'looking like a lie'