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Gittin 70b

גיטין ע׳ ע״ב

Learn Gittin 70b step by step: Aramaic beside English, every question, answer and proof colour-coded.

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Topic

Finishing the health advice (bloodletting and כשות), then the משנה about a man who orders a גט and is then struck by קורדייקוס (temporary madness), and the מחלוקת between ריש לקיש and רבי יוחנן on when the גט is written.

Overview

First the גמרא finishes two pieces of health advice: where blood is let from in an earlier remedy, and in which seasons eating כשות helps or harms. Then it returns to the משנה. A sane man orders a גט, is struck by קורדייקוס, and says 'don't write.' His retraction means nothing. ריש לקיש says the גט is written right away. רבי יוחנן says they wait until he is healed. ריש לקיש compares the man to a sleeper, and רבי יוחנן compares him to a שוטה, and the גמרא defends both comparisons. The גמרא challenges רבי יוחנן from שמואל's ruling that a man whose throat was cut can order a גט by signs. It answers that that man's mind is clear, while the mad man's mind is confused. This leads to a discussion of whether such a man counts as alive and why the one who cut him is not exiled. Finally the גמרא turns to the mute husband in the משנה and asks how the court makes sure his nods are real answers. The ברייתא's test of asking about the seasons is still being worked out on the next amud.

Opening lines

לְמַטָּה – לְמַטָּה מִן הַבֵּיצִים,

'Below' means below the testicles,

לְמַעְלָה – לְמַעְלָה מִן הַבֵּיצִים.

'Above' means above the testicles.

וּכְשׁוּת שֶׁלֹּא בִּזְמַנָּהּ.

And dodder not in its time.

תָּנָא: כְּשֵׁם שֶׁקָּשָׁה שֶׁלֹּא בִּזְמַנָּהּ,

It was taught: just as it is harmful not in its time,

The steps (31)

  1. StatementDefining 'below' and 'above' in the bloodletting remedy
  2. StatementDodder is harmful out of season and good in season
  3. Statementרב פפא defines the seasons of dodder
  4. StatementThe משנה: a man orders a גט, goes temporarily mad, and retracts
  5. Statementריש לקיש: write and give the גט right away
  6. Statementרבי יוחנן: write only once he is healed
  7. QuestionWhat is ריש לקיש's reason?
  8. ResponseHis reason: the משנה says the last words are nothing
  9. Rejectionרבי יוחנן reads the same words differently
  10. QuestionWhat is the root of their argument?
  11. ResponseSleeping person versus שוטה
  12. ChallengeWhy doesn't רבי יוחנן also compare him to a sleeping person?
  13. ResolutionA sleeper needs nothing done, but this man needs a cure
  14. ChallengeWhy doesn't ריש לקיש also compare him to a שוטה?
  15. ResolutionA שוטה has no cure, but this man has one in our hands
  16. ChallengeA challenge to רבי יוחנן from the man whose throat was cut
  17. ProofA ברייתא supports שמואל: even a crucified man can order a גט
  18. ResolutionA dying man's mind is clear, but the mad man's mind is confused
  19. ChallengeDoes שמואל really treat a man with a cut throat as alive?
  20. ResolutionHe is alive now, but he will certainly die
  21. ChallengeIf he is sure to die, why isn't the killer exiled?
  22. ResolutionOther causes may have helped bring his death
  23. QuestionWhat difference is there between the two reasons?
  24. ResponseMarble house with thrashing, or open field without thrashing
  25. ChallengeMaybe the mute man's nods are a shaking he cannot control
  26. ResolutionThe court asks alternating questions
  27. ChallengeMaybe the shaking itself switches back and forth
  28. ResolutionUse an uneven pattern of answers
  29. StatementAnother test: summer questions in winter
  30. QuestionWhat are these season questions?
  31. ChallengeCoats and sheets do not prove anything