Gittin 72a

גיטין ע״ב ע״א

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Topic

Passing a husband's גט instructions through agents, and a גט given 'if I die': אביי on 'מהיום,' and רב הונא's requirement of חליצה.

Overview

The amud opens by finishing a discussion about a husband who sends his instructions for a גט through agents. The גמרא first splits the משנה: the רישא follows רבי מאיר and the סיפא follows רבי יוסי, who holds that spoken instructions (מילי) cannot be passed on to an agent, not even when the husband says 'Tell the scribe.' רב אשי instead reads the whole משנה as רבי יוסי, and a ברייתא backs him up: the scribe and witnesses must hear the husband's own voice. A new משנה then teaches that a גט meant to work 'if I die' or 'after death' is worthless. 'From today if I die' is valid, and 'from today and after death' is a doubtful גט. אביי explains that 'אם מתי' can mean two things, and the word 'מהיום' decides which. רב הונא rules that even with plain 'אם מתי' the widow must do חליצה. The גמרא explains that he follows רבי יוסי, for whom the date on a document shows when it takes effect. When challenged on why חליצה would then be needed, the גמרא proves through a story that רב הונא knew the הלכה follows רבי יוסי, and it begins a new answer that continues on the next amud.

Opening lines

The steps (23)

1. ResolutionThe later clause follows רבי יוסי: spoken instructions cannot be passed on
2. ProofProof that רבי יוסי rejects even 'Tell the scribe'
3. ConclusionConclusion: the first clause is רבי מאיר, the later clause is רבי יוסי
4. Resolutionרב אשי: the whole משנה is רבי יוסי, building up step by step
5. ProofA ברייתא supports רב אשי
6. ConclusionWhat 'they hear' and 'his voice' rule out
7. StatementA גט 'if I die' versus 'from today if I die'
8. Statement'From today and after death' is a doubtful גט
9. StatementThe man who recovered from his illness and then died
10. ChallengeDoes 'if I die' mean 'after death' or not?
11. Resolutionאביי: 'If I die' can mean two things
12. ConclusionSaying 'from today' decides the meaning
13. Statementרב הונא: She must do חליצה
14. ChallengeBut the משנה says 'he said nothing'
15. Resolution'Said nothing' only for marrying others
16. ChallengeThe later case implies this one allows יבום
17. Resolutionמשנה follows the רבנן, רב הונא follows רבי יוסי
18. ChallengeIf he follows רבי יוסי, why require חליצה at all?
19. ResolutionSuggested answer: רב הונא was unsure of the הלכה
20. ChallengeBut was רב הונא really unsure?
21. ProofThe visit to רבה בר אבוה, part one
22. Proofרב rules like רבי יוסי, and רב הונא explains why
23. ResolutionNew answer: רב הונא was unsure about something else