Daf Yomi One Week at a Time: Gittin

We will begin with a brief introduction to Masechet Gittin. The first Mishna describes a case of an agent bringing a Get (document of divorce) from one place to another. There are certain requirements that the agent must fulfill based on where the agent is coming from and where the agent is delivering the Get to.

This week we will learn that if the agent bringing the Get didn’t see the document written and signed, the court needs to authenticate the signatures. The Gemara compares a women’s divorce document, Get, to an emancipation document of a slave in many ways. We will learn if a man can retract the Get that he sent to his wife if she hasn’t received it yet.

If a person brought a Get from outside Israel to Israel, they must say that they saw it being written and signed. The second chapter begins with numerous cases of partial statements made by the person who brought the Get. We will also learn about the importance of the date on the Get. If the Get was written during the day and then signed at night (the next day according to Jewish law), there is a disagreement if it is a valid Get.

This week we will learn that anyone can write a Get, even if they don’t have the mental capacity. We will also learn that anyone can be an agent to bring a Get from another location except for people without the mental capacity to do so. The third chapter of Gitin begins by explaining that the Get must be written for a specific husband and wife. However, some parts of the Get may be written in advance as long as certain parts are left blank to be filled in later.

This week we will learn that if an agent who is bringing a Get from within Israel gets sick, he can appoint another agent in his place. If he is bringing the Get from outside of Israel, he can only appoint another agent in court. We will also learn that the husband can cancel the agency either by himself or with another agent. But he may not say that the Get is invalid on its own.

This week we are going to learn laws pertaining to Canaanite slaves. We will learn when and how they can be set free. We will also see that they can be used as collateral for loans.

This week we will continue to learn about decrees made for the betterment of society. One may only redeem captives up to their value and not more so as to not encourage kidnapping. One can buy sacred Jewish objects from Idolaters up to their value and not more so as to not encourage theft.

This week we will learn about the laws pertaining to someone in charge of the property of orphans and his responsibilities on their behalf. We will also learn about “damaging” someone else’s property in a way that can’t be detected by sight (ie. making it ritually impure). The Gemara will also describe many terrible stories of the time period of the destruction of the Temple.

We will continue to discuss different examples of decrees made for the betterment of society (Darchei Shalom). These include who gets the first Aliya when reading the Torah, who has the right to irrigate their land first, and when is it considered stealing when biblically it isn’t. We will begin the 6th chapter and learn about agency and divorce. Who can send an agent and what is their role?

We are going to continue learning about agents who are told to write and deliver a Get, or to accept the Get. If the husband tells the agent to give the Get in a certain city, he must do so, even if he meets the wife in another town. We will also learn at what moment are they considered divorced, This has practical implications if a woman is married to a Cohen and can only eat Teruma if they are married.

This week we will learn about stipulations or conditions that the husband can make when he gives his wife the Get. We will see when they are valid and when they aren’t. This week we will begin the eighth chapter of Gittin and learn that the Get must be placed in the wife’s hand, but they may be other ways the husband can give her the Get…

This week we will learn what constitutes a personal domain and how it affects giving a Get.  We will learn what makes a Get invalid and if the woman uses it to get remarried, there are serious consequences. We will begin the last chapter of Gittin and learn that the Get must completely sever the marriage.

This week, as we finish the last chapter, we will learn what Gets (Gittin) are invalid and if they can be used anyway. We will learn about a case of 2 Gets (Gittin) written on the same parchment and if it’s valid or not. We will also learn the power of rumors and if they are valid sources of information. The Masechet ends by describing what are valid grounds for divorce.

Hadran Alach Masechet Gittin!