Kiddushin 23b

קידושין כ״ג ע״ב

Learn Kiddushin 23b step by step: Aramaic beside English, every question, answer and proof colour-coded.

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Topic

Can a slave appoint a שליח for his release document, and what do רבי מאיר and רבנן argue about when a slave frees himself with money from others?

Overview

The גמרא asks whether, according to רבי שמעון בן אלעזר, a slave can appoint a שליח to receive his release document. It concludes that he can, because the words "לה" "לה" link the slave to a woman's גט. This seems to clash with רב הונא בריה דרב יהושע, who said כהנים must be God's agents, since a person cannot send an agent to do what he cannot do himself. The גמרא answers that a ישראל has no connection at all to קרבנות, while a slave does have a connection to גיטין: a ברייתא shows he can receive another slave's release document. Next the גמרא turns to the משנה's argument between רבי מאיר and רבנן about a slave freeing himself with money from others. רבה, quoting רב ששת, says they argue about a gift given on the condition that the master has no rights to it. רבי אלעזר says everyone agrees such a condition fails, and puts the argument in a gift given "on condition that you go free with it." Finally, the גמרא begins to show that each side seems to contradict itself, using a ברייתא that comes on the next amud.

Opening lines

The steps (12)

1. QuestionCan a slave appoint an agent to receive his release document?
2. ResponseThe answer: the slave is like a woman
3. Statementרב הונא: כהנים are God's agents, not ours
4. ChallengeThe slave case seems to disprove רב הונא's logic
5. ResolutionA slave has some connection to bills of release
6. ProofProof that a slave can receive another slave's bill
7. QuestionSuggesting what רבי מאיר and רבנן argue about
8. RejectionEveryone agrees; the case is a gift with a condition
9. ResolutionDoes the giver's condition work?
10. Statementרבי אלעזר: A different case for the argument
11. ConclusionHow each side reads the 'go free with it' condition
12. ChallengeSetting up contradictions within רבי מאיר and within רבנן