Gittin 4a

גיטין ד׳ ע״א

Learn Gittin 4a step by step: Aramaic beside English, every question, answer and proof colour-coded.

Open Gittin 4a in Gemara Clarity

Topic

Which תנא our משנה follows on writing and signing לשמה, and whether the opinions in the משנה reflect the two reasons for 'בפני נכתב ובפני נחתם'

Overview

Our משנה has the messenger say 'בפני נכתב ובפני נחתם', which suggests that both the writing and the signing of a גט must be לשמה. The גמרא finishes showing that רבי מאיר cannot be the author, because רב נחמן reports that רבי מאיר accepts a גט found in the garbage. It rejects the defense that this is only Torah law. It then explains the משנה as רבי אלעזר, who requires proper signing whenever witnesses do sign, and supports this with רבי אבא. רב אשי says instead that the משנה follows רבי יהודה, and the גמרא explains why it tried רבי מאיר and רבי אלעזר first. Next, the גמרא looks at רבן גמליאל and רבי אליעזר, who require the declaration even for towns right next to ארץ ישראל. It asks whether their argument with the תנא קמא matches the two reasons for the declaration: lack of experts in לשמה, or lack of witnesses to confirm the גט. It answers that רבה and רבא can each explain all three opinions with his own reason. Finally, it turns to the חכמים, who add 'the one who takes it overseas', and begins a similar suggestion that continues on the next amud.

Opening lines

The steps (16)

1. ChallengeFinishing the challenge from רב נחמן's report about רבי מאיר
2. RejectionRejecting the idea that רב נחמן was only speaking about Torah law
3. ResolutionThe משנה follows רבי אלעזר when there are witnesses
4. ProofProof from רבי אבא: a גט with built-in forgery is invalid even for רבי אלעזר
5. Resolutionרב אשי: the משנה follows רבי יהודה
6. QuestionWhy not say רבי יהודה from the start?
7. ResponseWhy we first tried רבי מאיר and רבי אלעזר
8. StatementThe משנה about places near ארץ ישראל, and אביי's explanation
9. Statementרבה בר בר חנה shows how close these places are
10. QuestionIs the argument in the משנה about the two reasons for the declaration?
11. RejectionNo proof: each אמורא can explain the משנה his own way
12. ResolutionHow רבה explains all three opinions
13. ResolutionHow רבא explains all three opinions
14. StatementQuoting the view of the Sages in the משנה
15. StatementInferring that the first opinion does not require it for taking a get overseas
16. QuestionSuggesting the argument depends on the reason for the declaration