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Gittin 32b

גיטין ל״ב ע״ב

Learn Gittin 32b step by step: Aramaic beside English, every question, answer and proof colour-coded.

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Topic

Cancelling a גט: what the word בטל means, which phrases cancel a גט, whether a cancelled גט can be reused, and how many people must be present.

Overview

The גמרא explains that the word בטל can mean 'already void' or 'let it become void,' and each case uses the reading that actually works there: one for a גט, another for a gift. אביי adds a tradition that a שליח for a gift is like a שליח for a גט, so 'take this' (הולך) does not mean 'acquire this' (זכי). רב נחמן בר יצחק wonders whether the bare word 'void' cancels a גט, and the question ends in תיקו. רב ששת, or a ברייתא, then lists phrases that cancel a גט, like 'let it be pottery,' and phrases that do nothing, like 'it is pottery.' 'It is hereby pottery' does cancel it, just like 'it is hereby הקדש.' רב נחמן and רב ששת argue whether a cancelled גט can be used again, and the הלכה follows רב נחמן that it can. The גמרא defends this against רבי יוחנן's ruling: words can cancel words, but cancelling the שליח does not destroy the גט itself. Finally, the two argue whether cancelling a גט needs two or three people. רב נחמן begins a proof from the פרוזבול that two can be called a בית דין, and that proof continues on the next amud.

Opening lines

שְׁתֵּי לְשׁוֹנוֹת מַשְׁמַע –

It has two meanings –

מַשְׁמַע דְּבָטֵל,

it can mean that it is already void,

וּמַשְׁמַע דְּלִיבְּטִיל.

and it can mean that it should become void.

גַּבֵּי גֵּט לִישָּׁנָא

Regarding a bill of divorce, the wording

The steps (17)

  1. ResolutionThe word 'void' has two possible meanings
  2. StatementAn agent for a gift is like an agent for a גט
  3. QuestionWhat if the husband says only 'void'?
  4. ConclusionThe question stays unresolved
  5. StatementPhrases that do cancel a גט
  6. StatementPhrases that do not cancel a גט
  7. QuestionWhat about saying 'it is hereby pottery'?
  8. ResponseIt works, just like 'it is hereby הקדש'
  9. QuestionCan a cancelled גט be used again?
  10. Responseרב נחמן says yes, רב ששת says no
  11. ConclusionThe הלכה follows רב נחמן
  12. ChallengeChallenge from the ruling of רבי יוחנן
  13. ResolutionSpeech can cancel speech, but not a physical document
  14. QuestionHow many people must be present to cancel a גט?
  15. Responseרב נחמן says two, רב ששת says three
  16. StatementWhy each one holds his view
  17. Proofרב נחמן begins his proof from the פרוזבול