Gemara Clarity

Gittin 33a

גיטין ל״ג ע״א

Learn Gittin 33a step by step: Aramaic beside English, every question, answer and proof colour-coded.

Open Gittin 33a in Gemara Clarity

Topic

How many people a בית דין needs, the reason for רבן גמליאל's rule against cancelling a גט, and whether such a cancellation works.

Overview

This עמוד opens with the end of the argument between רב נחמן and רב שֵׁשֶׁת over whether two people can count as a בית דין. רב נחמן brings proofs from the wording of a פרוזבול and from a משנה that lists judges and witnesses side by side, and רב שֵׁשֶׁת pushes both aside. The גמרא then explains why that משנה mentions both groups: the פרוזבול's wording does not have to match who signs it. Next, the גמרא asks what 'מפני תיקון העולם' means in רבן גמליאל's rule against cancelling a גט elsewhere. רבי יוחנן says it prevents ממזרים, and ריש לקיש says it helps עגונות. Each reason fits one side of the two-or-three argument. A ברייתא then asks whether a forbidden cancellation still works. רבי says it does, and רבן שמעון בן גמליאל says it does not. The גמרא explains how the חכמים can cancel a marriage that is valid by Torah law: every קידושין is made on their terms. Finally, a new ברייתא about a husband who told ten people to write a גט begins to tie their argument to the rule of עדות שבטלה מקצתה, and that explanation continues on the next עמוד.

Opening lines

פְּלוֹנִי וּפְלוֹנִי הַדַּיָּינִין

so-and-so and so-and-so, the judges

שֶׁבְּמָקוֹם פְּלוֹנִי״.

who are in such-and-such a place.

וְרַב שֵׁשֶׁת –

And Rav Sheshet?

אַטּוּ תַּנָּא כִּי רוֹכְלָא

Is that to say that the tanna, like a peddler,

The steps (18)

  1. ProofEnd of the פרוזבול quote naming only two judges
  2. Rejectionרב שֵׁשֶׁת: the תנא was not listing every judge
  3. Proofרב נחמן's second proof: judges compared to witnesses
  4. Rejectionרב שֵׁשֶׁת: judges and witnesses each keep their own number
  5. QuestionWhy does the משנה mention both judges and witnesses?
  6. ResponseThe פרוזבול's wording does not have to match its signers
  7. QuestionWhat does 'for the betterment of the world' mean here?
  8. ResponseTwo answers: preventing ממזרים or helping עגונות
  9. Statementרבי יוחנן's reason fits רב נחמן's view
  10. Statementריש לקיש's reason fits רב ששת's view
  11. StatementIf the husband cancels anyway, does it work?
  12. ChallengeHow can the court permit a woman who is still married by Torah law?
  13. ResolutionEvery marriage depends on the approval of the חכמים
  14. ChallengeWhat if the marriage was made through ביאה?
  15. ResolutionThe חכמים treat that act as בעילת זנות
  16. StatementCancelling instructions given to ten people
  17. QuestionWhat is the basis of their argument?
  18. ResponseThey argue about testimony that is partly cancelled