## Gittin Daf 88b

###### Gittin 88b:1
[Gittin 88b:1](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Gittin/r/88b:1)

אָמַר רַב אַחָא בַּר יַעֲקֹב: שְׁמַע מִינַּהּ, ״מְהֵרָה״ דְּמָרֵי עָלְמָא – תַּמְנֵי מְאָה וְחַמְשִׁין וְתַרְתֵּי הוּא.

**William Davidson Edition - English:**
**Rav Aḥa bar Ya’akov said: Learn from** this numerical value that **soon [*mehera*] for the Master of the World is eight hundred and fifty-two** years, as it is stated in the verse in Deuteronomy: “You will soon [*maher*] utterly perish.” Since the Jewish people dwelled in Eretz Yisrael for almost this amount of time, it is apparently considered soon.


###### Gittin 88b:2
[Gittin 88b:2](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Gittin/r/88b:2)

**מַתְנִי׳** גֵּט מְעוּשֶּׂה, בְּיִשְׂרָאֵל – כָּשֵׁר, וּבְגוֹיִם – פָּסוּל. וּבְגוֹיִם – חוֹבְטִין אוֹתוֹ וְאוֹמְרִים לוֹ: ״עֲשֵׂה מַה שֶּׁיִּשְׂרָאֵל אוֹמְרִים לָךְ״ (וְכָשֵׁר).

**William Davidson Edition - English:**
**MISHNA:** With regard to **a bill of divorce** that the husband **was compelled** by the court to write and give his wife, if he was compelled **by a Jewish** court it is **valid, but** if he was compelled **by gentiles** it is **invalid. But with regard to gentiles they may beat him** at the request of the Jewish court **and say to him: Do what the Jews are telling you, and it is a valid** divorce.


###### Gittin 88b:3
[Gittin 88b:3](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Gittin/r/88b:3)

**גְּמָ׳** אָמַר רַב נַחְמָן אָמַר שְׁמוּאֵל: גֵּט הַמְעוּשֶּׂה בְּיִשְׂרָאֵל, כַּדִּין – כָּשֵׁר; שֶׁלֹּא כַּדִּין – פָּסוּל, וּפוֹסֵל.

**William Davidson Edition - English:**
**GEMARA:** **Rav Naḥman says** that **Shmuel says:** With regard to **a bill of divorce** that the husband **was compelled by a Jewish** court to give his wife, if they did so **lawfully,** as the *halakha* obligated the husband to divorce his wife, it is **valid.** This is referring to cases where sexual intercourse is forbidden or specific cases where the Sages instituted that the husband is obligated to divorce his wife. If they did so **unlawfully,** the bill of divorce is **invalid, but** it is not considered entirely invalid, as it **disqualifies** the wife from marrying a priest after her husband’s death.


###### Gittin 88b:4
[Gittin 88b:4](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Gittin/r/88b:4)

וּבְגוֹיִם, כַּדִּין – פָּסוּל וּפוֹסֵל, שֶׁלֹּא כַּדִּין – אֲפִילּוּ רֵיחַ הַגֵּט אֵין בּוֹ.

**William Davidson Edition - English:**
**And** in a case where the husband was compelled **by gentiles,** if he was compelled **lawfully,** the bill of divorce is **invalid, but** it also **disqualifies** the wife from marrying a priest. But if he was compelled **unlawfully it does not have even the trace of a bill of divorce,** and the wife is not even disqualified from marrying a priest.


###### Gittin 88b:5
[Gittin 88b:5](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Gittin/r/88b:5)

מָה נַפְשָׁךְ? אִי גּוֹיִם בְּנֵי עַשּׂוֹיֵי נִינְהוּ, אִיתַּכְשׁוֹרֵי נָמֵי לִיתַּכְשַׁר! אִי לָאו בְּנֵי עַשּׂוֹיֵי נִינְהוּ, מִיפְסָל לָא לִיפְסֹל!

**William Davidson Edition - English:**
The Gemara raises an objection: With regard to the statement that if the husband was compelled by gentiles the divorce is invalid but it also disqualifies the wife from marrying a priest, **whichever way you look at it,** the statement is difficult. **If gentiles are** legally **capable of compulsion, it should be rendered valid** with regard to the woman’s permission to remarry **as well. If they are not** legally **capable of compulsion, it should not disqualify** her either.


###### Gittin 88b:6
[Gittin 88b:6](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Gittin/r/88b:6)

אָמַר רַב מְשַׁרְשְׁיָא: דְּבַר תּוֹרָה – גֵּט מְעוּשֶּׂה בַּגּוֹיִם, כָּשֵׁר. וּמָה טַעַם אָמְרוּ פָּסוּל – שֶׁלֹּא תְּהֵא כׇּל אַחַת וְאַחַת הוֹלֶכֶת וְתוֹלָה עַצְמָהּ בְּגוֹי, ומַפְקַעַת עַצְמָהּ מִיַּד בַּעְלָהּ.

**William Davidson Edition - English:**
**Rav Mesharshiyya says: By Torah law a bill of divorce** that the husband **was compelled by gentiles** to write and give his wife **is valid, and what is the reason** the Sages **said** that it is **invalid?** It is **so that each and every woman will not go and depend on a gentile** to compel her husband to divorce her through temptation or bribery, **and** thereby she will **release herself from her husband** unlawfully.


###### Gittin 88b:7
[Gittin 88b:7](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Gittin/r/88b:7)

אִי הָכִי, שֶׁלֹּא כַּדִּין – אֲפִילּוּ רֵיחַ הַגֵּט אֵין בּוֹ?! וְנֶהֱוֵי שֶׁלֹּא כַּדִּין כְּיִשְׂרָאֵל, וּמִפְסָל נָמֵי לִפְסוֹל!

**William Davidson Edition - English:**
The Gemara asks: **If that is so,** that where the husband was compelled by gentiles the bill of divorce is valid by Torah law, why did Shmuel rule that if he was compelled **unlawfully it does not have even the trace of a bill of divorce? Let** a bill of divorce that the husband was compelled **unlawfully** by gentiles to give his wife **be compared to** a case where he was compelled unlawfully by **Jews, and disqualify** the wife from marrying a priest **as well.**


###### Gittin 88b:8
[Gittin 88b:8](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Gittin/r/88b:8)

אֶלָּא הָא דְּרַב מְשַׁרְשְׁיָא – בְּדוּתָא הִיא.

**William Davidson Edition - English:**
**Rather, that** statement **of Rav Mesharshiyya,** that by Torah law a bill of divorce is valid even if the husband was compelled by gentiles to write it and give it to his wife, **is a mistake.** In principle it does not have even the trace of a bill of divorce, even if the husband is required by law to divorce his wife.


###### Gittin 88b:9
[Gittin 88b:9](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Gittin/r/88b:9)

וְטַעְמָא מַאי? כַּדִּין בְּכַדִּין דְּיִשְׂרָאֵל – מִיחַלַּף. שֶׁלֹּא כַּדִּין בְּכַדִּין [דְּ]יִשְׂרָאֵל – לָא מִיחַלַּף.

**William Davidson Edition - English:**
**And what is the reason** that the wife is disqualified from marrying a priest in this case? It is because the case where the husband was compelled **lawfully** by gentiles **can be confused with** a case where he was compelled **lawfully by Jews.** If a bill of divorce that gentiles compelled the husband to write and give to his wife carries no weight, people might think that this is likewise the *halakha* with regard to a case where Jews compelled the husband to do so. Therefore, the Sages issued a decree that even if the husband was compelled by gentiles the wife is disqualified from marrying a priest. By contrast, the case where the husband was compelled **unlawfully** by gentiles **cannot be confused with** a case where he was compelled **lawfully by Jews,** as they are too dissimilar. Therefore, a bill of divorce that gentiles unlawfully compelled the husband to write and give his wife is entirely invalid.


###### Gittin 88b:10
[Gittin 88b:10](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Gittin/r/88b:10)

אַבָּיֵי אַשְׁכְּחֵיהּ לְרַב יוֹסֵף דְּיָתֵיב וְקָא מְעַשֵּׂה אַגִּיטֵּי, אֲמַר לֵיהּ: וְהָא אֲנַן – הֶדְיוֹטוֹת אֲנַן, וְתַנְיָא, הָיָה רַבִּי טַרְפוֹן אוֹמֵר: כׇּל מָקוֹם שֶׁאַתָּה מוֹצֵא אֲגוֹרִיאוֹת שֶׁל גּוֹיִם, אַף עַל פִּי שֶׁדִּינֵיהֶם כְּדִינֵי יִשְׂרָאֵל – אִי אַתָּה רַשַּׁאי לְהִיזָּקֵק לָהֶם, שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר: ״וְאֵלֶּה הַמִּשְׁפָּטִים אֲשֶׁר תָּשִׂים לִפְנֵיהֶם״; ״לִפְנֵיהֶם״ – וְלֹא לִפְנֵי גּוֹיִם. דָּבָר אַחֵר: ״לִפְנֵיהֶם״ – וְלֹא לִפְנֵי הֶדְיוֹטוֹת!

**William Davidson Edition - English:**
§ **Abaye found Rav Yosef sitting** in court as the judge **and compelling** husbands to give their wives **bills of divorce. He said to him: But aren’t we ordinary people,** not ordained judges? **And it is taught** in a *baraita* that **Rabbi Tarfon would say:** With regard to **any place where you find gentile courts [*agoriot*], even if their laws are like Jewish laws, you may not attend them, as it is stated: “Now these are the ordinances which you shall set before them”** (Exodus 21:1). It is derived from here that one may go to court only **before them,** i.e., Jewish judges, **and not before gentiles. Alternatively,** it is derived that one may go to court **before them,** i.e., ordained judges, **and not before ordinary people.** Since we are not ordained judges, how can you perform a distinctly judicial act?


###### Gittin 88b:11
[Gittin 88b:11](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Gittin/r/88b:11)

אֲמַר לֵיהּ: אֲנַן – שְׁלִיחוּתַיְיהוּ קָא עָבְדִינַן, מִידֵּי דְּהָוֵה אַהוֹדָאוֹת וְהַלְוָאוֹת.

**William Davidson Edition - English:**
Rav Yosef **said to him:** We see ourselves as agents of the ordained judges in Eretz Yisrael, and **we are performing** our task as judges on the basis of **their agency, just as is** the case **with regard to** cases of **admissions and loans,** which we attend to on the same basis.


###### Gittin 88b:12
[Gittin 88b:12](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Gittin/r/88b:12)

אִי הָכִי, גְּזֵילוֹת וְחַבָּלוֹת נָמֵי! כִּי עָבְדִינַן שְׁלִיחוּתַיְיהוּ – בְּמִילְּתָא דִשְׁכִיחָא, בְּמִילְּתָא דְּלָא שְׁכִיחָא – לָא עָבְדִינַן שְׁלִיחוּתַיְיהוּ.

**William Davidson Edition - English:**
The Gemara asks: **If so,** why is the *halakha* that judges living outside Eretz Yisrael do not judge in cases of **robbery and** personal **injury?** They should judge in these cases **as well.** The Gemara answers: **When we perform** our tasks as judges on the basis of **their agency,** it is **with regard to common matters,** e.g., cases that pertain to the *halakhot* of admissions and loans, which arise frequently between people. But **with regard to uncommon matters,** e.g., cases of robbery or personal injury, **we do not perform** our tasks as judges on the basis of **their agency.**


###### Gittin 88b:13
[Gittin 88b:13](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Gittin/r/88b:13)

**מַתְנִי׳** יָצָא שְׁמָהּ בָּעִיר ״מְקוּדֶּשֶׁת״ – הֲרֵי זוֹ מְקוּדֶּשֶׁת; ״מְגוֹרֶשֶׁת״ – הֲרֵי זוֹ מְגוֹרֶשֶׁת. וּבִלְבַד שֶׁלֹּא יְהֵא שָׁם אֲמַתְלָא.

**William Davidson Edition - English:**
**MISHNA:** If **a rumor circulated in the city** that an unmarried woman is **betrothed, she is** considered to be **betrothed.** Similarly, if a rumor circulated that a married woman is **divorced, she is divorced, provided there is no** valid alternative **explanation [*amatla*]** for the rumor.


###### Gittin 88b:14
[Gittin 88b:14](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Gittin/r/88b:14)

אֵיזוֹ הִיא אֲמַתְלָא? גֵּירַשׁ אִישׁ פְּלוֹנִי אֶת אִשְׁתּוֹ עַל תְּנַאי; זָרַק לָהּ קִידּוּשֶׁיהָ – סָפֵק קָרוֹב לָהּ, סָפֵק קָרוֹב לוֹ – זוֹ הִיא אֲמַתְלָא.

**William Davidson Edition - English:**
**What is** considered a valid **explanation?** For example, it is a case where there is a rumor that **so-and-so divorced his wife** but that the bill of divorce was given to her **conditionally.** It is therefore possible that the condition was not fulfilled and she is not actually divorced. Similarly, if there is a rumor that a woman was betrothed but that the man **threw her betrothal,** i.e., the money or document of betrothal, **to her,** and it is **uncertain** whether it was **closer to her** and **uncertain** whether it was **closer to him,** and therefore the status of their betrothal is likewise uncertain, **this is** considered a valid **explanation.**


###### Gittin 88b:15
[Gittin 88b:15](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Gittin/r/88b:15)

**גְּמָ׳** וְאָסְרִינַן לַהּ אַגַּבְרָא?! וְהָא אָמַר רַב אָשֵׁי: כֹּל קָלָא דְּבָתַר נִישּׂוּאִין – לָא חָיְישִׁינַן לֵיהּ!

**William Davidson Edition - English:**
**GEMARA:** With regard to the statement that a woman who is rumored to be divorced is divorced, **do we render her forbidden to** her **husband** if she is married to a priest? **But didn’t Rav Ashi say** that **we are not concerned about any rumor that** circulates **after marriage?** Accordingly, a woman should not be compelled to leave her husband merely on the basis of a rumor.


###### Gittin 88b:16
[Gittin 88b:16](https://torahapp.org/share/book/Gittin/r/88b:16)

הָכִי קָאָמַר: יָצָא שְׁמָהּ בָּעִיר ״מְקוּדֶּשֶׁת״ – הֲרֵי זוֹ מְקוּדֶּשֶׁת. ״מְקוּדֶּשֶׁת וּמְגוֹרֶשֶׁת״ –

**William Davidson Edition - English:**
The Gemara answers that **this is what** the mishna **is saying:** If **a rumor circulated in the city** that a woman is **betrothed, she is betrothed,** and she may not marry another man until she receives a bill of divorce from the man to whom she is rumored to be betrothed. If she is rumored to have been **betrothed** to a certain man **and** subsequently **divorced** from him,