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Yevamos 51a

יבמות נ״א ע״א

Yevamot 51a

Learn Yevamos 51a step by step: Aramaic beside English, every question, answer and proof colour-coded.

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Topic

רבן גמליאל's rule of אין גט אחר גט ואין מאמר אחר מאמר: its reasoning, אביי's explanation, the practical cases in the ברייתא, and how it fits with שמואל through אין זיקה

Overview

The משנה taught that רבן גמליאל holds a second גט after a גט, or a second מאמר after a מאמר, has no effect. The גמרא first explains that he is unsure whether a גט pushes away ייבום and whether a מאמר acquires, so either way the second act adds nothing. אביי challenges this from a ברייתא where רבן גמליאל agrees that a third act works after a ביאה that followed a מאמר or a גט. Under the doubt, that ביאה might count as a first ביאה, and nothing should work after it. So אביי gives a new explanation: רבן גמליאל is certain, but a גט only pushes away and a מאמר only acquires. Repeating the same act does nothing, while two different acts both work. The רבנן hold that every גט and מאמר was set up to work fully. The ביאה in the ברייתא is a ביאה פסולה: stronger than a מאמר in one way and weaker in another. A ברייתא then gives practical cases of a גט or מאמר to each of two יבמות, with רבן גמליאל and the חכמים disagreeing. The גמרא asks whether רבן גמליאל's ruling contradicts שמואל and answers that שמואל follows the view of יש זיקה while רבן גמליאל holds אין זיקה. It then begins a new challenge built on that point, which continues on the next amud.

Opening lines

מַאי טַעְמָא דְּרַבָּן גַּמְלִיאֵל —

What is the reason of Rabban Gamliel?

דִּמְסַפְּקָא לֵיהּ גֵּט

Because he is uncertain about a bill of divorce,

אִי דָּחֵי אִי לָא דָּחֵי.

whether it pushes away or does not push away.

מַאֲמָר — אִי קָנֵי אִי לָא קָנֵי.

Levirate betrothal: whether it acquires or does not acquire.

The steps (15)

  1. QuestionWhat is רבן גמליאל's reason?
  2. ResponseHe is unsure how strong a גט and a מאמר are
  3. ResponseWhy a second גט adds nothing
  4. ResponseWhy a second מאמר adds nothing
  5. Challengeאביי quotes a ברייתא where רבן גמליאל agrees a later act works
  6. ChallengeIf the first act might be nothing, the ביאה should finish everything
  7. Resolutionאביי's new answer: each act works in its own separate way
  8. ResponseWhy the רבנן say a second act does work
  9. ResolutionInvalid intercourse: stronger than a מאמר in one way, weaker in another
  10. StatementA ברייתא gives a case of 'no גט after a גט'
  11. StatementThe חכמים' view on a גט to each of two widows
  12. StatementThe same argument when he gives a מאמר to each widow
  13. ChallengeDoes רבן גמליאל's ruling contradict שמואל?
  14. Resolutionשמואל's rule only follows the view that יש זיקה
  15. ChallengeOpening a question from רבן גמליאל's view that there is no זיקה