A Found Get: Writing and Delivery

A written get does not prove delivery: the writer may reconsider. Other documents share this concern. Duplicate names and travelers raise separate identification issues. Distinguish nondelivery from mistaken identity; this is not practical divorce guidance.

1. 1Read the source on י״ח ע״א (18a) and define the case facts.
2. 2Give two reasons to investigate a document with matching names.
3. 3Answer What is the Mishnah’s explicit concern? and identify its support in the source.

What is the Mishnah’s explicit concern?

1. 01·Mishnah / BaraitaBava Metzia 18a

   מָצָא גִּיטֵּי נָשִׁים וְשִׁחְרוּרֵי עֲבָדִים, דְּיָיתֵיקֵי, מַתָּנָה, וְשׁוֹבָרִין – הֲרֵי זֶה לֹא יַחֲזִיר.

   The Mishnah rules that one who finds bills of divorce or similar deeds must not return them, fearing the writer reconsidered and never delivered them.

2. 02·The Gemara asksBava Metzia 18a

   The Gemara infers: if the husband explicitly says to give the get, do we deliver it even after a long time?

3. 03·KushyaBava Metzia 18a

   The Gemara raises an objection from a baraita: an agent who lost a get may deliver it only if found immediately; otherwise, it is invalid.

4. 04·TerutzBava Metzia 18a

   Rabbah resolves this: the baraita fears a mix-up where caravans are frequent, whereas our Mishnah discusses a place without caravans.

5. 05·Conclusion of the sugyaBava Metzia 18a

   The Gemara concludes that the concern about caravans applies specifically where two people with identical names are known to live in the same town.

1. 1What is the Mishnah’s explicit concern? Answer in your own words and support your explanation with a phrase from the Gemara.