גיטין ז׳Gittin 7

Mishnah 1א׳

מִי שֶׁאֲחָזוֹ קֻרְדְּיָקוֹס, וְאָמַר, כִּתְבוּ גֵט לְאִשְׁתִּי, לֹא אָמַר כְּלוּם. אָמַר, כִּתְבוּ גֵט לְאִשְׁתִּי, וַאֲחָזוֹ קֻרְדְּיָקוֹס, וְחָזַר וְאָמַר, אַל תִּכְתֹּבוּ, אֵין דְּבָרָיו הָאַחֲרוֹנִים כְּלוּם. נִשְׁתַּתֵּק, וְאָמְרוּ לוֹ נִכְתֹּב גֵּט לְאִשְׁתֶּךָ, וְהִרְכִּין בְּרֹאשׁוֹ, בּוֹדְקִין אוֹתוֹ שְׁלֹשָׁה פְעָמִים, אִם אָמַר עַל לָאו לָאו וְעַל הֵן הֵן, הֲרֵי אֵלּוּ יִכְתְּבוּ וְיִתֵּנוּ:

If a person seized with cardiacos [confused condition connected perhaps with hypoglycemia] should say, "Write a bill of divorce for my wife," his words are not to be noticed. If he said [before he was taken ill], "Write a bill of divorce for my wife," and when seized with cardiacos, he said, "Do not write it," his last words are not to be noticed. When a person became dumb, and on being asked, "Shall we write a bill of divorce for your wife?" nods his head [in token of assent], he shall be questioned three times, and if he [by his motions or gestures] answers rightly the questions proposed to him, both affirmative and negative, they may in that case write a bill of divorce and deliver it to his wife.

Mishnah 2ב׳

אָמְרוּ לוֹ, נִכְתֹּב גֵּט לְאִשְׁתֶּךָ, וְאָמַר לָהֶם כְּתֹבוּ, אָמְרוּ לַסּוֹפֵר וְכָתַב, וְלָעֵדִים וְחָתְמוּ, אַף עַל פִּי שֶׁכְּתָבוּהוּ וַחֲתָמוּהוּ וּנְתָנוּהוּ לוֹ וְחָזַר וּנְתָנוֹ לָהּ, הֲרֵי הַגֵּט בָּטֵל, עַד שֶׁיֹּאמַר לַסּוֹפֵר כְּתֹב וְלָעֵדִים חֲתֹמוּ:

If a person is asked, "Shall we write a bill of divorce for your wife?" and he answered, "Write it;" and they spoke to the scribe, who wrote it, and the witnesses, who signed it: although it was duly written, attested and delivered to the husband, who delivered it to his wife, nevertheless it is ineffective, because it is only then valid when the husband himself orders the scribe to write, and the witnesses to attest it.

Mishnah 3ג׳

זֶה גִטֵּךְ אִם מַתִּי, זֶה גִטֵּךְ אִם מַתִּי מֵחֹלִי זֶה, זֶה גִטֵּךְ לְאַחַר מִיתָה, לֹא אָמַר כְּלוּם. מֵהַיּוֹם אִם מַתִּי, מֵעַכְשָׁיו אִם מַתִּי, הֲרֵי זֶה גֵט. מֵהַיּוֹם וּלְאַחַר מִיתָה, גֵּט וְאֵינוֹ גֵט. אִם מֵת, חוֹלֶצֶת וְלֹא מִתְיַבֶּמֶת. זֶה גִטֵּךְ מֵהַיּוֹם אִם מַתִּי מֵחֹלִי זֶה, וְעָמַד וְהִלֵךְ בַּשּׁוּק וְחָלָה וּמֵת, אוֹמְדִין אוֹתוֹ, אִם מֵחֲמַת חֹלִי הָרִאשׁוֹן מֵת, הֲרֵי זֶה גֵט. וְאִם לָאו, אֵינוֹ גֵט:

[When a husband says to his wife] "This is your bill of divorce in case I die," or, "If I die of this illness," or, "To take effect after my decease," his words are vain; but if he said, "Here is your bill of divorce, to take effect from this day," or, "from this moment, if I should die," it is a valid bill of divorce. If he said, "To take effect from this day and after my death," it is doubtful whether such bill of divorce is valid or not: and in case he dies [without leaving issue], his widow must perform Chalitsah [the ceremony performed to release a widow of a childless man from the obligation of Levirate marriage], but is not married via Yibbum [a Levirate marriage]. If he said, "This is your bill of divorce from this day if I die of this illness," and he rose [from his sick bed], went out into the street, and became ill again and died: if he died in consequence of a relapse of the former illness the bill of divorce is valid, but not otherwise.

Mishnah 4ד׳

לֹא תִתְיַחֵד עִמּוֹ אֶלָּא בִפְנֵי עֵדִים, אֲפִלּוּ עֶבֶד, אֲפִלּוּ שִׁפְחָה, חוּץ מִשִּׁפְחָתָהּ, מִפְּנֵי שֶׁלִּבָּהּ גַּס בָּהּ בְּשִׁפְחָתָהּ. מַה הִיא בְאוֹתָן הַיָּמִים. רַבִּי יְהוּדָה אוֹמֵר, כְּאֵשֶׁת אִישׁ לְכָל דְּבָרֶיהָ. רַבִּי יוֹסֵי אוֹמֵר, מְגֹרֶשֶׁת וְאֵינָהּ מְגֹרָשֶׁת:

Under the mentioned circumstances the wife may not meet the husband but in the presence of witnesses. A slave or a bondwoman is a competent witness for this purpose, her own bondwoman excepted, because a mistress is usually quite familiar with such a one. How is she to be considered during that interval? According to R. Yehudah, "As a married woman in every respect," but according to R. Yose, "As one whose divorce is doubtful."

Mishnah 5ה׳

הֲרֵי זֶה גִטֵּךְ עַל מְנָת שֶׁתִּתְּנִי לִי מָאתַיִם זוּז, הֲרֵי זוֹ מְגֹרֶשֶׁת, וְתִתֵּן. עַל מְנָת שֶׁתִּתְּנִי לִי מִכָּאן וְעַד שְׁלֹשִׁים יוֹם, אִם נָתְנָה לוֹ בְתוֹךְ שְׁלֹשִׁים יוֹם, מְגֹרֶשֶׁת, וְאִם לָאו, אֵינָה מְגֹרֶשֶׁת. אָמַר רַבָּן שִׁמְעוֹן בֶּן גַּמְלִיאֵל, מַעֲשֶׂה בְצַיְדָּן בְּאֶחָד שֶׁאָמַר לְאִשְׁתּוֹ, הֲרֵי זֶה גִטֵּךְ עַל מְנָת שֶׁתִּתְּנִי לִי אִצְטְלִיתִי, וְאָבְדָה אִצְטְלִיתוֹ, וְאָמְרוּ חֲכָמִים, תִּתֵּן לוֹ אֶת דָּמֶיהָ:

If he [a husband] says, "Here is your bill of divorce, on condition that you give me two hundred zuz," she is divorced from the moment she accepts the bill of divorce, and is bound to pay the stipulated amount. If he said, "On condition that you give me [two hundred zuz, or any other sum] within thirty days," and she consented and paid the amount agreed upon within the time stipulated, she is duly divorced, but not if she did not pay it within that time. R. Shimon ben Gamaliel relates, "Once, in Sidon, a husband said to his wife, 'Here is your bill of divorce, on condition that you give me my ‏fine coat,' and she lost it: the sages decided that the bill of divorce should be still valid, if she paid him a sum equal to the value thereof."

Mishnah 6ו׳

הֲרֵי זֶה גִטֵּךְ עַל מְנָת שֶׁתְּשַׁמְּשִׁי אֶת אַבָּא, עַל מְנָת שֶׁתֵּנִיקִי אֶת בְּנִי, כַּמָּה הִיא מֵנִיקָתוֹ, שְׁתֵּי שָׁנִים. רַבִּי יְהוּדָה אוֹמֵר, שְׁמֹנָה עָשָׂר חֹדֶשׁ. מֵת הַבֵּן אוֹ שֶׁמֵּת הָאָב, הֲרֵי זֶה גֵט. הֲרֵי זֶה גִטֵּךְ עַל מְנָת שֶׁתְּשַׁמְּשִׁי אֶת אַבָּא שְׁתֵּי שָׁנִים, עַל מְנָת שֶׁתֵּנִיקִי אֶת בְּנִי שְׁתֵּי שָׁנִים, מֵת הַבֵּן אוֹ שֶׁמֵּת הָאָב אוֹ שֶׁאָמַר הָאָב אִי אֶפְשִׁי שֶׁתְּשַׁמְּשֵׁנִי, שֶׁלֹּא בְהַקְפָּדָה, אֵינוֹ גֵט. רַבָּן שִׁמְעוֹן בֶּן גַּמְלִיאֵל אוֹמֵר, כָּזֶה גֵט. כְּלָל אָמַר רַבָּן שִׁמְעוֹן בֶּן גַּמְלִיאֵל, כָּל עַכָּבָה שֶׁאֵינָהּ הֵימֶנָּה, הֲרֵי זֶה גֵט:

If a husband says to his wife, "Here is your bill of divorce, on condition that you wait on my father," or "suckle my child" [the period allowed for the general duration of suckling a child is two years]. What period is she bound to suckle it? R. Yehudah says, "Eighteen months only, and if during that period the child or the father should die, the bill of divorce is valid." If he said, "Here is your bill of divorce, on condition that you wait on my father for two years," or "suckle my child two years," and either the child or the father dies, or that the latter refuses her services, without being angry with her, the bill of divorce is not valid: but Rabban Shimon ben Gamaliel considers it valid under the mentioned circumstances, for he establishes it as a rule "That every impediment which does not proceed from the part of the wife does not render the bill of divorce void."

Mishnah 7ז׳

הֲרֵי זֶה גִטֵּךְ אִם לֹא בָאתִי מִכָּאן וְעַד שְׁלֹשִׁים יוֹם, וְהָיָה הוֹלֵךְ מִיהוּדָה לַגָּלִיל, הִגִּיעַ לְאַנְטִיפַּטְרֶס וְחָזַר, בָּטֵל תְּנָאוֹ. הֲרֵי זֶה גִטֵּךְ אִם לֹא בָאתִי מִכָּאן עַד שְׁלֹשִׁים יוֹם, וְהָיָה הוֹלֵךְ מִגָּלִיל לִיהוּדָה, וְהִגִּיעַ לִכְפַר עוֹתְנַאי וְחָזַר, בָּטֵל תְּנָאוֹ. הֲרֵי זֶה גִטֵּךְ אִם לֹא בָאתִי מִכָּאן עַד שְׁלֹשִׁים יוֹם, וְהָיָה הוֹלֵךְ לִמְדִינַת הַיָּם וְהִגִּיעַ לְעַכּוֹ וְחָזַר, בָּטֵל תְּנָאוֹ. הֲרֵי זֶה גִטֵּךְ כָּל זְמַן שֶׁאֶעֱבֹר מִכְּנֶגֶד פָּנַיִךְ שְׁלֹשִׁים יוֹם, הָיָה הוֹלֵךְ וּבָא, הוֹלֵךְ וּבָא, הוֹאִיל וְלֹא נִתְיַחֵד עִמָּהּ, הֲרֵי זֶה גֵט:

Should a husband say to his wife, "Here is your bill of divorce if I do not return within thirty days," and intending to travel from Judea into Galilee he returned after having proceeded to Antipatris only, he has voided his condition. If he said, "Here is thy bill of divorce if I do not return within thirty days," and intending to travel from Judea to Galilee returns from the village Otenai, he has voided his condition. If he said, "Here is your bill of divorce if I do not return within thirty days," and intending to travel beyond sea he went only as far as Acco and returned, he has voided his condition. If he said, "Here is your bill of divorce if at any time I should stay away from you for thirty days," though he should frequently go and return for that period, the bill of divorce is valid, provided he did not remain alone with her.

Mishnah 8ח׳

הֲרֵי זֶה גִטֵּךְ אִם לֹא בָאתִי מִכָּאן וְעַד שְׁנֵים עָשָׂר חֹדֶשׁ, וּמֵת בְּתוֹךְ שְׁנֵים עָשָׂר חֹדֶשׁ, אֵינוֹ גֵט. הֲרֵי זֶה גִטֵּךְ מֵעַכְשָׁיו אִם לֹא בָאתִי מִכָּאן וְעַד שְׁנֵים עָשָׂר חֹדֶשׁ, וּמֵת בְּתוֹךְ שְׁנֵים עָשָׂר חֹדֶשׁ, הֲרֵי זֶה גֵט:

When a husband said to his wife, "Here is your bill of divorce if I do not return within twelve months ," and he died within twelve months, the bill of divorce is void; but if he said, "This is your bill of divorce from the present moment, if I do not return within twelve months from this day," and he died within that time, the bill of divorce is valid.

Mishnah 9ט׳

אִם לֹא בָאתִי מִכָּאן עַד שְׁנֵים עָשָׂר חֹדֶשׁ כִּתְבוּ וּתְנוּ גֵט לְאִשְׁתִּי, כָּתְבוּ גֵט בְּתוֹךְ שְׁנֵים עָשָׂר חֹדֶשׁ וְנָתְנוּ לְאַחַר שְׁנֵים עָשָׂר חֹדֶשׁ, אֵינוֹ גֵט. כִּתְבוּ וּתְנוּ גֵט לְאִשְׁתִּי אִם לֹא בָאתִי מִכָּאן וְעַד שְׁנֵים עָשָׂר חֹדֶשׁ, כָּתְבוּ בְתוֹךְ שְׁנֵים עָשָׂר חֹדֶשׁ וְנָתְנוּ לְאַחַר שְׁנֵים עָשָׂר חֹדֶשׁ, אֵינוֹ גֵט. רַבִּי יוֹסֵי אוֹמֵר, כָּזֶה גֵּט. כָּתְבוּ לְאַחַר שְׁנֵים עָשָׂר חֹדֶשׁ וְנָתְנוּ לְאַחַר שְׁנֵים עָשָׂר חֹדֶשׁ וּמֵת, אִם הַגֵּט קָדַם לַמִּיתָה, הֲרֵי זֶה גֵט. וְאִם מִיתָה קָדְמָה לַגֵּט, אֵינוֹ גֵט. וְאִם אֵין יָדוּעַ, זוֹ הִיא שֶׁאָמְרוּ, מְגֹרֶשֶׁת וְאֵינָהּ מְגֹרָשֶׁת:

When a husband said, "If I do not return within twelve months from this day, write and deliver a bill of divorce to my wife;" if they wrote it within twelve months, but did not deliver it till after that time, the bill of divorce is void. If he said, "Write and deliver a bill of divorce to my wife if I do not return within twelve months from this day;" if they wrote it within that time, but did not deliver it till after the expiration thereof, the bill of divorce is void. R. Yose says, "It is valid in similar cases." If they wrote and delivered it after twelve months, and the husband died meanwhile; if the delivery of the bill of divorce preceded the death of the husband, the bill of divorce is valid; if the death of the husband preceded the delivery of the bill of divorce, the bill of divorce is void; and where it cannot be ascertained which event was prior to the other, she is to be considered as one whose divorce is doubtful.