Gittin 63b

גיטין ס״ג ע״ב

Learn Gittin 63b step by step: Aramaic beside English, every question, answer and proof colour-coded.

Open Gittin 63b in Gemara Clarity

Topic

When a husband can take back a גט, and how agents for delivering and receiving a גט work

Overview

The amud opens by asking whether, for רבי נתן, a husband who says "הֵילָךְ" (Here you are) to an agent is like one who says "זְכֵי" (Acquire), so that he cannot take the גט back. Two proofs from the משנה are pushed off, but a ברייתא proves that "הֵילָךְ" is like "זְכֵי". Next, רב rules that when the wife sends an agent to receive the גט and the husband tells him "deliver it," the agent counts as both of theirs, so she needs חליצה. The גמרא explains this by contrasting money doubts, which are ruled leniently, with איסור doubts, which are ruled strictly. רב and רבי חנינא then argue whether a woman can appoint an agent to receive her גט from her husband's agent. A real case of a woman kneading dough ends in doubt, so she needs a גט while her husband lives, or חליצה after he dies. Then רב, רבה and רב נחמן argue about when witnesses sent to write a גט have finished their mission. The amud ends with phrases that make a receiving agent and the start of a new משנה about the witnesses needed for him.

Opening lines

The steps (38)

1. ProofTrying to read the משנה's case as 'Here you are' following רבי נתן
2. RejectionNo, the case is 'Deliver,' following רבי
3. ProofA new proof from the משנה: 'I do not want you to receive for her'
4. ProofReading the implied case as 'Here you are' following רבי נתן
5. RejectionAgain, the case could be 'Deliver' following רבי
6. ProofA בריתא: 'Deliver' can be taken back, 'Here you are' cannot
7. ProofThe בריתא must be רבי נתן, so 'Here you are' is like 'Acquire'
8. ConclusionConclusion: the proof is accepted
9. Statementרב: the agent becomes both the husband's and the wife's agent
10. ChallengeWas רב really unsure? He treated 'deliver' like 'acquire' in a money case
11. ResolutionMoney doubts are handled leniently, איסור doubts strictly
12. StatementCan a woman send an agent to receive her גט from her husband's agent?
13. QuestionWhat is רב's reason?
14. ResponseFirst reason: disrespect to the husband
15. ResponseSecond reason: confusion with a courtyard that becomes hers later
16. QuestionWhat is the difference between the two reasons?
17. ResponseThe difference: she appointed her agent first
18. StatementA story: the woman kneading dough
19. Statementרב נחמן ties the case to רבי חנינא's view
20. Challengeרבא challenges רב נחמן's ruling
21. Statementרבי אמי rules the divorce does not work
22. Statementרבי חייא בר אבא asks for time to think
23. Statementרבי חייא בר אבא admits he is also unsure
24. ConclusionBecause of the doubt, she needs חליצה
25. StatementA real case: both a גט and חליצה required
26. ChallengeHow can both be needed?
27. ResolutionA גט while he lives, חליצה after he dies
28. StatementThe misspelled name: the witnesses' job is over
29. Challengeרבה: the husband did not ask for a worthless paper
30. Statementרבה: only a valid גט that was lost ends the mission
31. Challengeרב נחמן: the husband did not ask them to keep it in their pockets
32. Statementרב נחמן: write and give, even a hundred times
33. QuestionDoes handing the גט to an agent end the witnesses' job?
34. QuestionWhat if the husband added 'and he will bring it to her'?
35. ConclusionThe question stays unresolved
36. Statement'Take my גט for me' also makes a receiving agent
37. StatementA list of phrases that mean receiving
38. StatementNew משנה: two sets of witnesses for a receiving agent