Gittin 78b

גיטין ע״ח ע״ב

Learn Gittin 78b step by step: Aramaic beside English, every question, answer and proof colour-coded.

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Topic

Throwing a גט to a woman: what counts as 'closer to her,' how far the rule reaches, and when the גט truly leaves the husband's control

Overview

The משנה teaches that if a husband throws a גט to his wife, she is divorced if it lands closer to her, not divorced if it lands closer to him, and in doubt if it is מחצה על מחצה (half and half). רבה and רב יוסף explain that half and half means two groups of witnesses who disagree. רבי יוחנן says 'closer' means who can guard the גט, even 100 אמות away, and a ברייתא of רבי אליעזר about a dog supports this. שמואל gives a stricter measure: close enough for her to bend down and take it. In practice, he says, wait until the גט reaches her hand, and a real case required חליצה. רבי יוחנן limits the 'closer' rules to גיטין. קידושין is included only because of a פסוק, and a debt is included only when the lender asked to be paid 'by the rules of גיטין.' רב חסדא teaches that a גט tied by a string the husband can still pull back lacks כריתות. רב יהודה rules that a גט landing on a sloped hand does not divorce her. The גמרא explains that his case is a woman at a riverbank, so it cannot settle רבי אלעזר's question about the airspace of ארבע אמות.

Opening lines

The steps (29)

1. ResponseThe divorce document lies across both people's areas
2. ChallengeBut the document is still attached to him
3. ResolutionTwo groups of witnesses who disagree
4. Statement"Closer" means truly closer, even far away
5. QuestionWhat then is "half and half"?
6. ResponseIt depends on who can guard the document
7. Statementרבי יוחנן hears his explanation from Babylonia
8. ProofA ברייתא of רבי אליעזר about a dog taking the גט
9. ChallengeWhy would a dog undo the divorce?
10. ResolutionThe ברייתא is really about who can guard the גט
11. Statementשמואל: close enough to bend down and take it
12. StatementA real case where the woman needed חליצה
13. Statementרבי יוחנן limits the 'closer' rule to divorce
14. ChallengeChallenge: the משנה itself includes betrothal
15. ResolutionAnswer: a פסוק links betrothal to divorce
16. ChallengeChallenge: the same rule is used for paying a debt
17. ResolutionThe lender told the borrower to throw the payment
18. ChallengeIf so, why teach it at all?
19. ResolutionHe said to throw it by the rules of divorce
20. ChallengeStill, why teach it?
21. ResolutionHe cannot say 'I was joking'
22. StatementA גט in her hand with a string in his hand
23. ResponseThe reason: a divorce needs a full cut-off
24. StatementA גט landing on a sloped hand does not divorce
25. ChallengeBut it falls into her four אמות
26. ResolutionThe גט did not rest in her area
27. ChallengeLet the air of her four אמות acquire it
28. ProofThen this would settle רבי אלעזר's question
29. RejectionThe case is a woman standing by a river