Gittin 41b

גיטין מ״א ע״ב

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Topic

Freeing a half-slave: the end of the משנה, and רבה and רב יוסף on whether a שטר or כסף can free half a slave

Overview

This amud finishes the משנה about a person who is half slave and half free. בית שמאי show he cannot marry anyone, and staying single goes against פריה ורביה. So, for תיקון העולם, the master is forced to free him, and the slave writes a note for half his value. בית הלל accept this ruling. The גמרא then brings a ברייתא where רבי and חכמים argue whether a master can free only half his slave. רבה says they argue only about freeing with a שטר, and everyone agrees about כסף. רב יוסף says they argue only about כסף, and everyone agrees about a שטר. A ברייתא refutes רב יוסף on the שטר, but he can still hold that they argue about כסף too. The גמרא then tests both views against another ברייתא and against our משנה, and רבינא's answer for רב יוסף continues on the next amud.

Opening lines

The steps (24)

1. StatementThe half-slave cannot marry a free woman, and cannot stay single
2. StatementThe solution: force the master to free him
3. Conclusionבית הלל agree with בית שמאי
4. StatementCan a master free only half his slave?
5. Statementרבה: the argument is only about freeing with a document
6. ProofThe פסוק compares a document to money
7. ProofThe Rabbis learn from a woman's divorce that a document cannot free half a slave
8. QuestionIs the argument about which kind of learning is stronger?
9. RejectionNo: everyone prefers a גזירה שוה, but this one can be knocked down
10. Statementרב יוסף: the argument is about money, and with a document no one can free half
11. ChallengeA ברייתא contradicts רב יוסף
12. Conclusionרב יוסף is refuted
13. ChallengeIs רב יוסף refuted twice?
14. ResolutionThe argument covers money too
15. ChallengeWhy not show the חכמים' strength instead?
16. ResolutionShowing a lenient view is preferred
17. ProofA ברייתא: half-redemption with money
18. ProofThe ברייתא adds freeing with a document
19. ProofThe ברייתא adds half-freeing with a document
20. ChallengeThe ברייתא fits רב יוסף but is awkward for רבה
21. Resolutionרבה accepts that the ברייתא is split between two views
22. Resolutionרב אשי says the whole ברייתא follows רבי
23. ChallengeThe משנה about a half-free slave challenges רב יוסף
24. Resolutionרבינא begins his answer for רב יוסף