Gemara Clarity

Sanhedrin 31b

סנהדרין ל״א ע״ב

Learn Sanhedrin 31b step by step: Aramaic beside English, every question, answer and proof colour-coded.

Open Sanhedrin 31b in Gemara Clarity

Topic

When late proof can overturn a ruling, and which court a case must go to

Overview

The עמוד opens by finishing the discussion of a שליש (trustee). רב נחמן said a confirmed שטר cannot be weakened by the argument 'she could have burned it.' רבא challenges him from a ברייתא about a receipt, and רב נחמן is refuted. Next, the גמרא asks when a losing litigant may still bring new proof. רב דימי's report of רבי יוחנן is rejected. רב שמואל בר יהודה's version stands: once he told בית דין 'I have no witnesses, no proof,' he is blocked, unless the proof was something he could not have known about. Then the גמרא discusses whether a case is heard locally or at the central court (מקום הוועד). רבי אלעזר rules it stays local, the יבמה travels to the יבם for חליצה, and אמימר concludes that a lender can demand the central court while a borrower cannot. The עמוד ends with a letter to מר עוקבא, two explanations of its wording, and the הדרן closing פרק זה בורר.

Opening lines

קְלָתֵיהּ!

she could have burned it!

כֵּיוָן דְּאִיתַּחְזַק בְּבֵי דִינָא,

Since it was confirmed in court,

״אִיבַּעְיָא קְלָתֵיהּ״ לָא אָמְרִינַן.

we do not say 'if she wanted, she could have burned it.'

אֵיתִיבֵיהּ רָבָא לְרַב נַחְמָן:

Rava raised an objection to Rav Nachman:

The steps (27)

  1. ChallengeShe could have burned it
  2. ResolutionA confirmed שטר is not weakened by 'she could have burned it'
  3. ChallengeA ברייתא shows a trustee is believed about a receipt
  4. Conclusionרב נחמן's view is refuted
  5. Statementרב דימי's report of רבי יוחנן's rule on bringing new proof
  6. ChallengeThe report contradicts itself
  7. ResolutionSuggestion: the whole statement follows רבן שמעון בן גמליאל
  8. RejectionRejected: רבי יוחנן does not rule like רשב"ג here
  9. ResolutionThe correct report: רב שמואל בר יהודה's version
  10. Statementרבי יוחנן: the case goes to the central court
  11. Challengeרבי אלעזר objects: spending a hundred to collect a hundred
  12. Resolutionרבי אלעזר's correction: the case is judged in the local city
  13. Proofרב ספרא's version supports the local court
  14. StatementThe local court may write to the higher court with questions
  15. StatementA litigant may ask for the court's reasons in writing
  16. StatementThe יבמה goes to the יבם's town for חליצה
  17. QuestionHow far must she travel?
  18. ResponseEven from טבריא to ציפורי
  19. ProofThe פסוק says the elders of HIS city
  20. Statementאמימר: one can be forced to go to the central court
  21. Challengeרב אשי: but רבי אלעזר said to judge locally
  22. ResolutionIt depends on who wants the trip: borrower or lender
  23. ProofThe letter sent to מר עוקבא
  24. ChallengeThe letter seems to contradict itself
  25. ResolutionJudge him first, send him only if he refuses
  26. Resolutionרב אשי: it was a case of fines, which בבל cannot judge
  27. ConclusionHadran — Closing the chapter זה בורר