Gemara Clarity

Gittin 27b

גיטין כ״ז ע״ב

Learn Gittin 27b step by step: Aramaic beside English, every question, answer and proof colour-coded.

Open Gittin 27b in Gemara Clarity

Topic

A lost and found גט: when it may be returned, the different answers to the contradiction, סימנין, and how long a delay counts as 'not immediately'.

Overview

Our משנה says a lost גט that was found is valid only if it was found right away. Other sources, a משנה in בבא מציעא and a ברייתא, seem to return a found גט even after a long time. רבה said our משנה deals with a town known to have two men with the same names. רבי זירא said it depends on whether caravans pass through often, and the גמרא explains why each one built his question on a different source. רבי ירמיה says the גט is returned when the witnesses signed only one גט with these names. רב אשי says it is returned when the owner gives a very exact mark, because he is unsure whether ordinary סימנין work by Torah law. A story about רבה בר בר חנה, who lost a גט in the study hall, shows the same doubt about סימנין. Finally, a ברייתא lists opinions on how long a delay counts as 'not immediately,' and says a clear mark still works after a delay. The amud ends by starting the next case in the משנה, a גט found tied in a pouch, purse or ring, which continues on the next amud.

Opening lines

בִּזְמַן שֶׁהַבַּעַל מוֹדֶה מִיהַת –

When the husband admits, in any event —

יַחְזִיר לָאִשָּׁה,

he should return it to the woman,

וַאֲפִילּוּ לִזְמַן מְרוּבֶּה!

and even after a long time!

וּמְשַׁנֵּי:

And he answers:

The steps (21)

  1. ChallengeFinishing רבי זירא's contradiction from the ברייתא
  2. Resolutionרבי זירא's answer: it depends on caravans
  3. StatementFirst version: רבי זירא agrees with רבה
  4. StatementSecond version: רבי זירא argues with רבה
  5. QuestionWhy did each אמורא choose a different source?
  6. Responseרבי זירא did not read the משנה as 'even after a long time'
  7. Resolutionרבי ירמיה: The witnesses signed only one such גט
  8. ChallengeIf so, why does this even need to be said?
  9. ResolutionIt teaches that we do not worry about matching names and matching witnesses
  10. Resolutionרב אשי: The owner gives a very clear identifying mark
  11. StatementOnly an exact hole counts, not just any hole
  12. ConclusionWhy: רב אשי is unsure whether סימנין are from the Torah
  13. Statementרבה בר בר חנה loses a גט in the study hall
  14. Conclusionרבה בר בר חנה is unsure why they trusted him
  15. QuestionWhat counts as 'not immediately'?
  16. Responseרבי נתן: long enough for a caravan to pass and camp
  17. Responseרבי שמעון בן אלעזר: it depends on whether anyone passed by
  18. ResponseMeasuring by the time to write or read a גט
  19. StatementEven after a delay, a clear sign works
  20. StatementGeneral size is not a valid sign
  21. StatementNext line of the משנה: a גט found tied in a pouch, purse or ring