Gittin 3b

גיטין ג׳ ע״ב

Learn Gittin 3b step by step: Aramaic beside English, every question, answer and proof colour-coded.

Open Gittin 3b in Gemara Clarity

Topic

Which תנא requires both the writing and the signing of a גט to be done לשמה (for the sake of this specific woman)?

Overview

The גמרא is looking for a תנא who holds that a גט must be both written לשמה and signed לשמה. At first neither candidate fits. רבי מאיר requires only the signing to be לשמה, which the גמרא proves from the משנה about a גט written on something attached to the ground. רבי אלעזר requires only the writing to be לשמה. Someone suggests that רבי אלעזר might still require signing לשמה מדרבנן. The גמרא rejects this from the משנה of the 'three invalid גיטין', where רבי אלעזר rules that a גט with no signatures at all is fully valid. The גמרא then tries the same idea with רבי מאיר: perhaps he requires the writing לשמה מדרבנן. It challenges this with רב נחמן's report that רבי מאיר accepts even a גט found in the garbage. That quote continues on the next amud.

Opening lines

The steps (10)

1. QuestionWho requires the signing to be for her sake?
2. Challengeרבי מאיר requires only the signing for her sake
3. ProofProof from a גט written on something attached to the ground
4. Challengeרבי אלעזר requires only the writing for her sake
5. ResolutionMaybe רבי אלעזר requires signing for her sake by rabbinic law
6. RejectionThe rabbinic-law suggestion is rejected
7. ProofThe משנה of the three invalid גיטין
8. Proofרבי אלעזר: a גט with no signatures is fully valid
9. ResolutionMaybe the משנה follows רבי מאיר, who requires writing for her sake rabbinically
10. Challengeרב נחמן reports that רבי מאיר validates even a גט found in the garbage