Gittin 2b

גיטין ב׳ ע״ב

Learn Gittin 2b step by step: Aramaic beside English, every question, answer and proof colour-coded.

Open Gittin 2b in Gemara Clarity

Topic

The reasons of רבה (לשמה) and רבא (קיום) for the declaration 'בפני נכתב ובפני נחתם', their practical differences, and why a single שליח is enough according to רבה

Overview

The amud opens at the end of רבה's explanation: a שליח bringing a גט from מדינת הים must say 'בפני נכתב ובפני נחתם' because people overseas are not experts in writing a גט לשמה. רבא gives a different reason: no witnesses are available there to confirm the signatures (קיום). The גמרא then lists three cases where the two reasons lead to different results: two people bring the גט, a גט goes from region to region inside ארץ ישראל, and a גט stays within one region overseas. Next the גמרא challenges רבה: if the declaration is testimony about לשמה, it should need two witnesses. The first answer is that one witness is believed about איסורין. The גמרא rejects that answer, because a married woman is an established prohibition of ערוה, and such a matter needs two witnesses. The second answer is that most people are experts in לשמה. Even רבי מאיר, who worries about the minority, agrees, since court scribes know the rule, so the declaration is only a requirement of the רבנן. The explanation of why the רבנן accepted one person begins with 'והכא' and continues on the next amud.

Opening lines

The steps (11)

1. Statementרבה's reason: they are not experts in writing for her sake
2. Statementרבא's reason: no witnesses available to confirm it
3. QuestionWhat is the practical difference between them?
4. ResponseFirst difference: two people brought the גט
5. ResponseSecond difference: from region to region inside ארץ ישראל
6. ResponseThird difference: within the same region overseas
7. ChallengeAccording to רבה, two witnesses should be needed
8. ResolutionOne witness is believed about prohibitions
9. ChallengeA married woman is an established prohibition, so two witnesses are needed
10. ResolutionMost people are experts in writing לשמה
11. ResolutionEven רבי מאיר agrees, since court scribes know the rule