"These are the things that are said mipnei darchei shalom." (Gittin 59) After listing a series of rabbinic enactments …
A Peace of Torah: Gittin 59
Perhaps the most famous Talmudic story is that of the convert who wants to learn the entire Torah while standing on one foot. For good…
Don't Get it in Writing: Gittin 60
“Vekatav lah sefer krietoot”, and he shall write for her a book of separation (Devarim 25:1). A get must be in…
What is Life Worth?: Gittin 45
In the first row of the remarkably preserved Jewish cemetery in Worms (one we will please G-d visit on this summer's Journey…
Changing My Mind: Gittin 41
One of the marks of a great person is the ability to change one’s mind. While such may end the career of a politician[1] it demonstrates…
Making the Pruzbul Work: Gittin 36
One of the most famous rabbinic enactments is that of the pruzbul, enacted by the great sage Hillel, which allowed a loan to be…
Estate Planning:Gittin 35
Two of the groups of people to whom we must show the greatest consideration are the widow and the orphan. It is these two who come in…
Living in Sin: Gittin 33
"Initially one would establish a court in another place and nullify [the get]. Rabban Gamliel the Elder decreed that one may not…
A Love-Hate Relationship: Gittin 23
The commandment to love and care for others, perhaps the most important in the entire Torah, while applicable to all is phrased in the context of one…
Points for Penmanship: Gittin 22
One of the primary requirements of a get is that it be written lishma, with the husband's intent of divorcing the…
I Married My Niece: Gittin 17
Timing is everything. Not only is picking the right time to do something crucial but recording that time can be equally important. This is especially…
It Sure Doesn't Sound Jewish: Gittin 11
In a well-known Midrash our Sages assert that one of the factors that prevented the total assimilation of the Jews in Egypt thereby…
A Line in the Parchment:Gittin 6
How does one measure greatness in Torah learning? We can glean an important insight from the Talmudic discussion regarding the status of …
The Good Old Days: Gittin 5
We live in a generation in which many seek chumrot, religious stringency. This can be most positive, hamachmir tavo…
One is Enough: Gittin 6
One would not expect the laws of divorce to be affected by one's location. Thus it comes as a bit of a surprise to open masechet Gittin…
An Introduction to Masechet Gittin
After detailing the laws of the suspected adulteress the Mishna moves to masechet Gittin. While the law of the Sotah is no longer applicable the laws…
The Comfort Zone: Sotah 44
Part of the purpose of the harsh treatment of the Sotah is convincing the suspected adulteress to admit her infidelity. By doing so she is…
I Thought I Was Humble: Sotah 40
In our last post we discussed the Talmudic tendency to group together sayings of one particular sage quoting another. In…