1

The Torah's statement [Deuteronomy 24:1], "And he will write a bill of divorce for her and place it in her hand," refers both to [a husband] who writes [the get] with his own hand and to one who tells [another person] to write it for him. Similarly, [the husband] may place it in her hand or tell an agent to give it to her.1

The verse states, "And he will write," only to teach that divorce is effective only through the medium of a written document. "And [he will] place it" teaches that the woman may not take [the get] herself.

א

זֶה שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר בַּתּוֹרָה (דברים כד א) "וְכָתַב לָהּ סֵפֶר כְּרִיתֻת וְנָתַן בְּיָדָהּ". אֶחָד הַכּוֹתֵב בְּיָדוֹ אוֹ שֶׁאָמַר לְאַחֵר לִכְתֹּב לוֹ. וְאֶחָד הַנּוֹתֵן בְּיָדוֹ אוֹ שֶׁאָמַר לְאַחֵר לִתֵּן לָהּ. לֹא נֶאֱמַר וְכָתַב אֶלָּא לְהוֹדִיעַ שֶׁאֵין מִתְגָּרֶשֶׁת אֶלָּא בִּכְתָב. וְנָתַן שֶׁלֹּא תִּקַּח מֵעַצְמָהּ:

2

When [a husband] tells two [colleagues]: "Write a get, sign it, and give it to my wife," the two may write it, sign it,2 and give it to her. They are [the husband's] agents [for the divorce], and they are the witnesses [to it].3

Similarly, if [the husband] tells a scribe: "Write a get for my wife for me," and he tells the witnesses to sign, the get may be written, signed and given to [the husband]. He may use it to divorce his wife whenever he desires.4

ב

אָמַר לִשְׁנַיִם כִּתְבוּ גֵּט וְחִתְמוּ וּתְנוּ לְאִשְׁתִּי הֲרֵי אֵלּוּ כּוֹתְבִין וְחוֹתְמִין וְנוֹתְנִין לָהּ וְהֵן הֵן שְׁלוּחָיו וְהֵן הֵן עֵדָיו. וְכֵן אִם אָמַר לַסּוֹפֵר כְּתֹב לִי גֵּט לְאִשְׁתִּי וְאָמַר לָעֵדִים לַחְתֹּם כּוֹתְבִים וְחוֹתְמִים וְנוֹתְנִין לוֹ וְהוּא מְגָרֵשׁ בּוֹ בְּכָל עֵת שֶׁיִּרְצֶה:

3

We may write a get for a man even when he is not accompanied by his wife, provided the witnesses and the scribe who wrote and signed [the get] know the identity of the man and his wife.5

If there are two men in a city whose names are the same and whose wives' names are the same, one may divorce his wife only in the presence of the other. [This safeguard was enacted] lest one [of the men] have a get written and give it to the wife of the other man, causing her to [be considered] to be divorced from [her husband].6

ג

וְכוֹתְבִין גֵּט לָאִישׁ אַף עַל פִּי שֶׁאֵין אִשְׁתּוֹ עִמּוֹ. וְהוּא שֶׁיִּהְיוּ הָעֵדִים וְהַסּוֹפֵר שֶׁכָּתְבוּ וְחָתְמוּ בּוֹ מַכִּירִין וְיוֹדְעִים שֶׁזֶּה הוּא פְּלוֹנִי וְאִשְׁתּוֹ הִיא פְּלוֹנִית. וְאִם הָיוּ בְּאוֹתוֹ מָקוֹם שְׁנַיִם שֶׁשְּׁמוֹתֵיהֶם שָׁוִים וּשְׁמוֹת נְשׁוֹתֵיהֶם שָׁוִים אֵין מְגָרֵשׁ אֶחָד מֵהֶם אֶלָּא בְּמַעֲמַד חֲבֵרוֹ שֶׁמָּא יִכְתֹּב גֵּט וְיוֹלִיכוֹ לְאֵשֶׁת חֲבֵרוֹ וְיַאַסְרֶנָּה עָלָיו:

4

In a time of danger,7 we may write a get [on behalf of a husband] and give it [to his wife], even though we are not aware of [their identities].

It is the woman who always pays the scribe's fee.8

ד

וּבִשְׁעַת הַסַּכָּנָה כּוֹתְבִין וְנוֹתְנִין אַף עַל פִּי שֶׁאֵין מַכִּירִים. וְהָאִשָּׁה נוֹתֶנֶת שְׂכַר הַסּוֹפֵר בְּכָל מָקוֹם:

5

The husband himself must tell the scribe to write [the get] and the witnesses to sign [it]. When a court of law9 or two [colleagues] ask a man: "Shall we write a get for your wife?" and he tells them to write [it and sign it],10 it is acceptable if they themselves write [the get] and sign it.

If, however, they tell a scribe [to write] and he does, and they tell witnesses [to sign] and they do, the get is void, because it was written by someone who was not told to write it by the husband himself.11 [This ruling applies] even when they give [the get] to the husband, who in turn gives it to his wife in the presence of witnesses.12

ה

וְצָרִיךְ שֶׁיֹּאמַר הַבַּעַל עַצְמוֹ לַסּוֹפֵר כְּתֹב וְלָעֵדִים חֲתֹמוּ. הֲרֵי שֶׁאָמְרוּ לוֹ בֵּית דִּין אוֹ שְׁנַיִם נִכְתֹּב גֵּט לְאִשְׁתְּךָ וְאָמַר לָהֶם כִּתְבוּ וְכָתְבוּ הֵן עַצְמָן וְחָתְמוּ בּוֹ הֲרֵי זֶה כָּשֵׁר. אֲבָל אִם אָמְרוּ הֵם לַסּוֹפֵר וְכָתַב וְלָעֵדִים וְחָתְמוּ אַף עַל פִּי שֶׁחָזְרוּ וּנְתָנוּהוּ לַבַּעַל וְחָזַר וְנָתַן גֵּט זֶה לְאִשְׁתּוֹ בִּפְנֵי עֵדִים הֲרֵי זֶה גֵּט בָּטֵל, שֶׁהֲרֵי כְּתָבוֹ מִי שֶׁלֹּא אָמַר לוֹ הַבַּעַל לְכָתְבוֹ:

Mishneh Torah (Moznaim)

Featuring a modern English translation and a commentary that presents a digest of the centuries of Torah scholarship which have been devoted to the study of the Mishneh Torah by Maimonides.

6

When [a man] tells two or three [colleagues]: "Tell a scribe to write a get for my wife and tell the witnesses to sign," and they convey these instructions, the get is unacceptable.13 [The same ruling applies if the husband] tells two [colleagues] to tell a scribe to write a get and tells them to sign it.14

This matter should be deliberated upon at length, because the get is close to being considered void.15

ו

אָמַר לִשְׁנַיִם אוֹ לִשְׁלֹשָׁה אִמְרוּ לַסּוֹפֵר וְיִכְתֹּב גֵּט לְאִשְׁתִּי וְאִמְרוּ לָעֵדִים וְיַחְתֹּמוּ וְאָמְרוּ לַסּוֹפֵר וְכָתַב וְלָעֵדִים וְחָתְמוּ, אוֹ שֶׁאָמַר לִשְׁנַיִם אִמְרוּ לַסּוֹפֵר וְיִכְתֹּב גֵּט לְאִשְׁתִּי וְאַתֶּם חֲתֹמוּ הֲרֵי זֶה גֵּט פָּסוּל. וּמִתְיַשְּׁבִין בְּדָבָר זֶה הַרְבֵּה מִפְּנֵי שֶׁהוּא קָרוֹב לִהְיוֹת גֵּט בָּטֵל:

7

What is the difference between the terms "unacceptable" (pasul) and "void" (bateil)? Whenever this text refers to a get as "void," that means that according to Scriptural law it is void. Whenever the term "unacceptable" is used, it refers to a get deemed unacceptable by Rabbinic decree.16

ז

וּמַה בֵּין פָּסוּל לְבָטֵל. שֶׁכָּל מָקוֹם שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר בְּחִבּוּר זֶה בְּגֵט שֶׁהוּא בָּטֵל הוּא בָּטֵל מִן הַתּוֹרָה. וּבְכָל מָקוֹם שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר פָּסוּל הוּא פָּסוּל מִדִּבְרֵי סוֹפְרִים:

8

When a husband brings a get that has been signed in his hand and tells [two colleagues]: "Give this get to my wife," they should give it to her [and it is acceptable].17

If he tells others to write a get, sign it and give to his wife, and they write it, sign it and give it to her, and then it is discovered that the get is void or unacceptable, they may write another get - or even 100 other gittin - until the woman receives an acceptable get.18

ח

הַבַּעַל שֶׁהֵבִיא גֵּט בְּיָדוֹ חָתוּם וְאָמַר תְּנוּ גֵּט זֶה לְאִשְׁתִּי הֲרֵי אֵלּוּ יִתְּנוּ לָהּ. אָמַר לַאֲחֵרִים לִכְתֹּב גֵּט וְלַחְתֹּם בּוֹ וְלִתְּנוֹ לְאִשְׁתּוֹ וְכָתְבוּ וְחָתְמוּ וְנָתְנוּ לָהּ וְנִמְצָא הַגֵּט בָּטֵל אוֹ פָּסוּל הֲרֵי אֵלּוּ כּוֹתְבִין גֵּט אַחֵר אֲפִלּוּ מֵאָה עַד שֶׁיַּגִּיעַ לְיָדָהּ גֵּט כָּשֵׁר:

9

If the husband tells [two colleagues]: Write and sign [a get] and give it to an agent to bring to her, and they do as they were charged, but it was discovered that the get was void or unacceptable, they may not write another [get] until they consult the husband.

[The rationale is] that [the husband] did not charge them with [effecting the divorce]. Perhaps he wanted merely that they write [the get] and give it to the agent. [If so, their agency was completed,] and nothing remains for them to do, for they have written it and given it [to the agent]. Therefore, they should not write another [get].19

If they do write another get that is acceptable and give it to the agent - who in turn gives it to the wife - the status of the divorce is in doubt.20

ט

אָמַר לָהֶם הַבַּעַל כִּתְבוּ וְחִתְמוּ וּתְנוּ לַשָּׁלִיחַ לְהוֹלִיךְ לָהּ וְכָתְבוּ וְחָתְמוּ וְנָתְנוּ לַשָּׁלִיחַ וְנִמְצָא הַגֵּט בָּטֵל אוֹ פָּסוּל אֵין כּוֹתְבִים אַחֵר עַד שֶׁיִּמָּלְכוּ בַּבַּעַל. שֶׁהֲרֵי לֹא עָשָׂה אוֹתָן שְׁלוּחִים לְגֵרוּשִׁין וְשֶׁמָּא לֹא רָצָה אֶלָּא שֶׁיִּכְתְּבוּ וְיִתְּנוּ לַשָּׁלִיחַ בִּלְבַד וְלֹא יִשָּׁאֵר לָהֶם בּוֹ מַעֲשֶׂה אַחֵר וַהֲרֵי כָּתְבוּ וְנָתְנוּ. לְפִיכָךְ לֹא יִכְתְּבוּ אַחֵר. וְאִם כָּתְבוּ גֵּט אַחֵר כָּשֵׁר וּנְתָנוּהוּ לַשָּׁלִיחַ (וְנָתְנוּ לָהּ) הֲרֵי זוֹ סָפֵק מְגֹרֶשֶׁת:

10

When a person tells two or more [colleagues]: "Write a get and give to my wife," "Divorce her," "Send her away," "Release her,"21 "Discharge her," or "Write a letter and give it to her," [the colleagues] should write an acceptable get and give it to her.

If, however, he tells them: "Dismiss her," "Give her what she needs," "Do as our faith requires to her," "Do as the law requires to her," "Do unto her as she deserves," his statements are of no consequence.22 If [these individuals] write a get and give it to the woman, the get is void.23

י

הָאוֹמֵר לִשְׁנַיִם אוֹ לְיֶתֶר מִשְּׁנַיִם כִּתְבוּ גֵּט וּתְנוּ לְאִשְׁתִּי גַּרְשׁוּהָ שַׁלְּחוּהָ שִׁבְקוּהָ תַּרְכוּהָ כִּתְבוּ אִגֶּרֶת וּתְנוּ לָהּ הֲרֵי אֵלּוּ יִכְתְּבוּ גֵּט כָּשֵׁר וְיִתְּנוּ לָהּ. אָמַר לָהֶם פִּטְרוּהָ פַּרְנְסוּהָ עֲשׂוּ לָהּ כַּדָּת עֲשׂוּ לָהּ כַּנִּימוּס עֲשׂוּ לָהּ כָּרָאוּי לֹא אָמַר כְּלוּם. וְאִם כָּתְבוּ גֵּט וְנָתְנוּ לָהּ הֲרֵי זֶה גֵּט בָּטֵל:

11

If he tells them: "Get her out," "Let her go," "Permit her [to remarry]," "Let her be," "Assist her," there is doubt whether or not these terms imply that she should be divorced or whether they have another meaning. Therefore, [these individuals] should not write [a get] for her. If they write a get and give it to her, the status of the divorce is in doubt.

יא

אָמַר לָהֶם הוֹצִיאוּהָ עִזְבוּהָ הַתִּירוּהָ הַנִּיחוּהָ הוֹעִילוּהָ הֲרֵי זֶה סָפֵק אִם מַשְׁמָע מִלּוֹת אֵלּוּ גֵּרוּשִׁין אוֹ עִנְיָן אַחֵר. לְפִיכָךְ אֵין כּוֹתְבִין לָהּ. וְאִם כָּתְבוּ גֵּט וְנָתְנוּ לָהּ הֲרֵי זוֹ סָפֵק מְגֹרֶשֶׁת:

12

When [a man] says: "Write a get for my wife," [the people he addresses] should write the get, sign it and give it to him. They should not give it to the woman unless he tells them to. If they do give it to the woman, the get is not [effective].24

When does the above apply? With regard to a healthy man. If, however, a man is dangerously ill - i.e., he suddenly falls sick and his illness rapidly becomes very severe - or if he is being led away in chains,25 even for financial matters, or he departs on an ocean journey, or he departs with a caravan [on a desert journey] and he says, "Write a get for my wife," they should write it, sign it and give it to her. For it is clear that his intent was that they should write the get and give it to her.26

יב

הָאוֹמֵר כִּתְבוּ גֵּט לְאִשְׁתִּי הֲרֵי אֵלּוּ כּוֹתְבִין וְחוֹתְמִין וְנוֹתְנִין לַבַּעַל בְּיָדוֹ וְאֵין נוֹתְנִין לְאִשְׁתּוֹ עַד שֶׁיֹּאמַר לָהֶם לִתֵּן לָהּ. וְאִם נָתְנוּ לָהּ אֵינוֹ גֵּט. בַּמֶּה דְּבָרִים אֲמוּרִים בְּבָרִיא אֲבָל בִּמְסֻכָּן וְהוּא אָדָם שֶׁקָּפַץ עָלָיו הַחלִי בִּמְהֵרָה וְהִכְבִּיד עָלָיו חָלְיוֹ מִיָּד וְהַיּוֹצֵא בְּקוֹלָר אֲפִלּוּ עַל עִסְקֵי מָמוֹן וְהַמְפָרֵשׁ בַּיָּם וְהַיּוֹצֵא בְּשַׁיָּרָא וְאָמַר כִּתְבוּ גֵּט לְאִשְׁתִּי הֲרֵי אֵלּוּ יִכְתְּבוּ וְיַחְתְּמוּ וְיִתְּנוּ לָהּ. שֶׁהַדָּבָר יָדוּעַ שֶׁלֹּא נִתְכַּוֵּן זֶה אֶלָּא לִכְתֹּב וְלִתֵּן לָהּ:

13

[The following rules apply when] a healthy person says: "Compose a get for my wife," and [his listeners] write a get, sign it and give it to her. If he commits suicide immediately thereafter - e.g., he throws himself down from a roof or jumps into the sea - the get is acceptable.27

If, however, he climbs up onto a [high] roof, and he is buffeted by the wind until he falls and dies, the get is void.28 If there is doubt whether he threw himself down [from the roof] or was buffeted by the wind, the get is valid unless it becomes known with certainty that he was buffeted by the wind.29

Similarly, if a man was cast into a pit and he said, "Whoever hears my voice should write a get for my wife," [his listeners] should write a get and give it to her, provided they recognize his identity.30 Even if [afterwards,] they took him out of the pit and could not identify him,31 [the divorce] is acceptable. For in time of danger, [a get] can be written and given to [a man's wife] even if they do not know his identity.

Similarly, when a person suffers many severe blows, to the extent that it is impossible for him to survive - or even if the majority of [his windpipe and gullet]32 have been cut - and he makes motions33 and says: "Write a get for my wife," [his listeners] should write [a get] and give it [to her]. Although he will eventually die, he is alive at this time.34

יג

בָּרִיא שֶׁאָמַר כִּתְבוּ גֵּט לְאִשְׁתִּי וְכָתְבוּ וְחָתְמוּ וְנָתְנוּ לָהּ וְהָרַג עַצְמוֹ מִיָּד כְּגוֹן שֶׁהִשְׁלִיךְ עַצְמוֹ מִן הַגַּג אוֹ הִפִּיל עַצְמוֹ לַיָּם הֲרֵי זֶה גֵּט כָּשֵׁר. עָלָה לַגַּג וּדְחָפַתּוּ הָרוּחַ וְנָפַל וּמֵת אֵינוֹ גֵּט. סָפֵק הִפִּיל עַצְמוֹ סָפֵק דְּחָפַתּוּ הָרוּחַ הֲרֵי זֶה גֵּט עַד שֶׁיִּוָּדַע לְךָ בְּוַדַּאי שֶׁהָרוּחַ דְּחָפַתּוּ. וְכֵן מִי שֶׁהָיָה מֻשְׁלָךְ בַּבּוֹר וְאָמַר כָּל הַשּׁוֹמֵעַ קוֹלִי יִכְתֹּב גֵּט לְאִשְׁתִּי הֲרֵי אֵלּוּ יִכְתְּבוּ וְיִתְּנוּ לָהּ. וְהוּא שֶׁיָּדְעוּ אוֹתוֹ. וְאַף עַל פִּי שֶׁהֶעֱלוּהוּ וְלֹא הִכִּירוּהוּ הֲרֵי זֶה כָּשֵׁר. שֶׁזֶּה כִּשְׁעַת הַסַּכָּנָה הוּא שֶׁכּוֹתְבִים וְנוֹתְנִין אַף עַל פִּי שֶׁאֵין מַכִּירִין. וְכֵן מִי שֶׁנָּפְלוּ בּוֹ מַכּוֹת רָעוֹת שֶׁאִי אֶפְשָׁר שֶׁיִּחְיֶה מֵהֶן אֲפִלּוּ נִשְׁחֲטוּ בּוֹ רֹב סִימָנִין וְרָמַז וְאָמַר כִּתְבוּ גֵּט לְאִשְׁתִּי הֲרֵי אֵלּוּ יִכְתְּבוּ וְיִתְּנוּ שֶׁהֲרֵי עַתָּה חַי הוּא אַף עַל פִּי שֶׁסּוֹפוֹ לָמוּת:

14

[The following rules apply when] a person is troubled by an evil spirit, and at the time when his infirmity begins to take hold of him says: "Write a get for my wife." His statements are of no consequence, because his thoughts are not organized and settled.35 The same ruling applies to a person who has become as drunk as Lot.36 If a drunkard has not reached that level [of incapacity], [the status of the divorce] is in doubt.37

יד

מִי שֶׁהָיְתָה רוּחַ רָעָה מְבַעֶתֶת אוֹתוֹ וְאָמַר כְּשֶׁהִתְחִיל בּוֹ הַחלִי כִּתְבוּ גֵּט לְאִשְׁתִּי לֹא אָמַר כְּלוּם. מִפְּנֵי שֶׁאֵין דַּעְתּוֹ נְכוֹנָה וּמְיֻשֶּׁבֶת. וְכֵן שִׁכּוֹר שֶׁהִגִּיעַ לְשִׁכְרוּתוֹ שֶׁל לוֹט. וְאִם לֹא הִגִּיעַ הֲרֵי זֶה סָפֵק:

15

[The following rules apply when a] healthy [man] says: "Write a get for my wife and give it to her," and afterwards he becomes mentally disturbed. We wait until he becomes healthy again, and then we write the get and give it to her. There is no need to consult with him about the matter again when he regains his heath.38

If a get is written and given before he regains his health, it is unacceptable.39

טו

אָמַר כְּשֶׁהוּא בָּרִיא כִּתְבוּ וּתְנוּ גֵּט לְאִשְׁתִּי וְאַחַר כָּךְ נִבְעַת מַמְתִּינִין עַד שֶׁיַּבְרִיא וְכוֹתְבִין וְנוֹתְנִין לָהּ. וְאֵין צָרִיךְ לַחֲזֹר וּלְהִמָּלֵךְ בּוֹ אַחַר שֶׁהִבְרִיא. וְאִם כָּתְבוּ וְנָתְנוּ קֹדֶם שֶׁיַּבְרִיא הֲרֵי זֶה פָּסוּל:

16

[The following rules apply when] a person loses his ability to speak, but is of sound mind. We ask him: "Should we write a get for your wife?" If he nods his head affirmatively, we test him with three [questions with different answers].40 If he answers those [questions] to be answered affirmatively in the affirmative and those to be answered negatively in the negative, they should write [a get] and give it [to her]. His mental state must be checked thoroughly, lest he not be of sound mind.

Similarly, if he writes by hand: "Write a get and give it to my wife," they should write it and give it to her, if [it appears] that he is of sound mind. For the laws governing a person who loses his ability to speak differ from those governing a deaf-mute.41

טז

מִי שֶׁנִּשְׁתַּתֵּק וַהֲרֵי דַּעְתּוֹ נְכוֹנָה וְאָמְרוּ לוֹ נִכְתֹּב גֵּט לְאִשְׁתְּךָ וְהִרְכִּין בְּרֹאשׁוֹ בּוֹדְקִין אוֹתוֹ שָׁלֹשׁ פְּעָמִים בְּסֵרוּגִין אִם אָמַר לָהֶם עַל לָאו לָאו וְעַל הֵן הֵן הֲרֵי אֵלּוּ יִכְתְּבוּ וְיִתְּנוּ. וּצְרִיכִין לְבָדְקוֹ יָפֶה יָפֶה שֶׁמָּא נִטְרְפָה דַּעְתּוֹ. וְכֵן אִם כָּתַב בְּיָדוֹ כִּתְבוּ וּתְנוּ גֵּט לְאִשְׁתִּי הֲרֵי אֵלּוּ כּוֹתְבִין וְנוֹתְנִין לָהּ אִם הָיְתָה דַּעְתּוֹ מְיֻשֶּׁבֶת עָלָיו. שֶׁאֵין דִּין מִי שֶׁנִּשְׁתַּתֵּק כְּדִין הַחֵרֵשׁ:

17

When a person married while sound of mind and became a deaf-mute, he cannot divorce his wife until he regains his mental health.42 Needless to say, this applies to a person who loses his mental stability.43 We do not rely on the motions of a deaf-mute or on his writing, even if he is of sound mind.

If, however, a deaf-mute married a woman while he was in that state, he may divorce her by making motions, for his consecration of her is not valid according to Scriptural law, as has been explained.44 Just as he married her by making motions, he may divorce her by making motions.

יז

מִי שֶׁנָּשָׂא כְּשֶׁהוּא פִּקֵּחַ וְנִתְחָרֵשׁ וְאֵין צָרִיךְ לוֹמַר נִשְׁתַּטָּה אֵינוֹ מוֹצִיא לְעוֹלָם עַד שֶׁיַּבְרִיא. וְאֵין סוֹמְכִין עַל רְמִיזַת הַחֵרֵשׁ וְלֹא עַל כְּתָבוֹ אַף עַל פִּי שֶׁדַּעְתּוֹ נְכוֹנָה וּמְיֻשֶּׁבֶת עָלָיו. אֲבָל אִם נָשָׂא אִשָּׁה כְּשֶׁהוּא חֵרֵשׁ מְגָרֵשׁ בִּרְמִיזָה שֶׁאֵין קִדּוּשָׁיו קִדּוּשִׁין מִן הַתּוֹרָה כְּמוֹ שֶׁבֵּאַרְנוּ. וּכְשֵׁם שֶׁכּוֹנֵס בִּרְמִיזָה כָּךְ מוֹצִיא בִּרְמִיזָה:

18

When a man consecrates a minor via her father's agency and [seeks to] divorce her while she is a minor, her father should accept her get.45 When the get reaches her father's possession, she is divorced.

If [the husband seeks to] divorce [his arusah] when she is a na'arah,46 the divorce is effective when the get reaches her possession or her father's possession. A na'arah who is consecrated may not appoint an agent to receive her get from her husband during her father's lifetime.47 A father, by contrast, may appoint an agent to receive a get for his daughter who has been consecrated, whether she is a minor or a na'arah.

יח

הַמְקַדֵּשׁ קְטַנָּה עַל יְדֵי אָבִיהָ וְגֵרְשָׁהּ כְּשֶׁהִיא קְטַנָּה אָבִיהָ מְקַבֵּל גִּטָּהּ וּמִשֶּׁיַגִּיעַ גֵּט לְיַד הָאָב נִתְגָּרְשָׁה. גֵּרְשָׁהּ כְּשֶׁהִיא נַעֲרָה אִם הִגִּיעַ הַגֵּט לְיָדָהּ אוֹ לְיַד אָבִיהָ נִתְגָּרְשָׁה. וְאֵין עוֹשָׂה נַעֲרָה הַמְאֹרָסָה שָׁלִיחַ לְקַבֵּל גִּטָּהּ מִיַּד בַּעְלָהּ בְּחַיֵּי אָבִיהָ. אֲבָל הָאָב עוֹשֶׂה שָׁלִיחַ לְקַבֵּל הַגֵּט לְבִתּוֹ הַמְאֹרָסָה בֵּין קְטַנָּה בֵּין נַעֲרָה:

19

[The following rules apply when] a girl's father consecrates her48 when she is a minor and then [the father] dies. If [the girl] can differentiate between a get and another object,49 the divorce is effective after the get reaches her possession. If [she is] incapable [of making such a distinction], she cannot be divorced until she becomes capable of making such distinctions.50 If such a divorce is carried out, it is of no consequence.

יט

קִדְּשָׁהּ אָבִיהָ כְּשֶׁהִיא קְטַנָּה וּמֵת. אִם מַבְחֶנֶת בֵּין גִּטָּהּ לְדָבָר אַחֵר הֲרֵי זוֹ מִתְגָּרֶשֶׁת מִשֶּׁיַגִּיעַ הַגֵּט לְיָדָהּ. וְאִם לָאו אֵינָהּ מִתְגָּרֶשֶׁת עַד שֶׁתַּבְחִין וְאִם גֵּרְשָׁהּ אֵינָהּ מְגֹרֶשֶׁת:

20

When a man whom the law requires to be compelled to divorce his wife51 does not desire to divorce her, the court should have him beaten until he consents, at which time they should have a get written. The get is acceptable. This applies at all times and in all places.52

Similarly, if gentiles beat him while telling him: "Do what the Jews are telling you to do," and the Jews have the gentiles apply pressure on him until [he consents] to divorce his wife, the divorce is acceptable. If, however, the gentiles compel him to write [a get] on their own initiative, the get is [merely] unacceptable.53 The rationale is that the law requires him to give a divorce.

Why is this get not void? For he is being compelled - either by Jews or by gentiles - [to divorce] against his will [and a get must be given voluntarily].

Because the concept of being compelled against one's will applies only when speaking about a person who is being compelled and forced to do something that the Torah does not obligate him to do - e.g., a person who was beaten until he consented to a sale,54 or to give a present. If, however, a person's evil inclination presses him to negate [the observance of] a mitzvah or to commit a transgression, and he was beaten until he performed the action he was obligated to perform, or he dissociated himself from the forbidden action, he is not considered to have been forced against his will. On the contrary, it is he himself who is forcing [his own conduct to become debased].55

With regard to this person who [outwardly] refuses to divorce [his wife] - he wants to be part of the Jewish people, and he wants to perform all the mitzvot and eschew all the transgressions; it is only his evil inclination that presses him. Therefore, when he is beaten until his [evil] inclination has been weakened, and he consents [to the divorce], he is considered to have performed the divorce willfully.

[Different laws apply when] the law does not require him to divorce his wife, and a Jewish court or simple people compel him to divorce her. This get is deemed unacceptable. Since, however, it was Jews who compelled him, he [is advised] to complete the divorce [in a proper manner]. If, by contrast, gentiles compel him to divorce when it was not required, the divorce is void. Even though he tells the gentiles that he consented and tells the Jews to write and sign [a get], since the law does not require him to divorce, and he was compelled to do so by gentiles, the get is void.

כ

מִי שֶׁהַדִּין נוֹתֵן שֶׁכּוֹפִין אוֹתוֹ לְגָרֵשׁ אֶת אִשְׁתּוֹ וְלֹא רָצָה לְגָרֵשׁ. בֵּית דִּין שֶׁל יִשְׂרָאֵל בְּכָל מָקוֹם וּבְכָל זְמַן מַכִּין אוֹתוֹ עַד שֶׁיֹּאמַר רוֹצֶה אֲנִי וְיִכְתֹּב הַגֵּט וְהוּא גֵּט כָּשֵׁר. וְכֵן אִם הִכּוּהוּ עַכּוּ''ם וְאָמְרוּ לוֹ עֲשֵׂה מַה שֶּׁיִּשְׂרָאֵל אוֹמְרִין לְךָ וְלָחֲצוּ אוֹתוֹ יִשְׂרָאֵל בְּיַד הָעַכּוּ''ם עַד שֶׁיְּגָרֵשׁ הֲרֵי זֶה כָּשֵׁר. וְאִם הָעַכּוּ''ם מֵעַצְמָן אֲנָסוּהוּ עַד שֶׁכָּתַב הוֹאִיל וְהַדִּין נוֹתֵן שֶׁיִּכְתֹּב הֲרֵי זֶה גֵּט פָּסוּל. וְלָמָּה לֹא בִּטֵּל גֵּט זֶה שֶׁהֲרֵי הוּא אָנוּס בֵּין בְּיַד עַכּוּ''ם בֵּין בְּיַד יִשְׂרָאֵל. שֶׁאֵין אוֹמְרִין אָנוּס אֶלָּא לְמִי שֶׁנִּלְחַץ וְנִדְחַק לַעֲשׂוֹת דָּבָר שֶׁאֵינוֹ מְחֻיָּב בּוֹ מִן הַתּוֹרָה לַעֲשׂוֹתוֹ כְּגוֹן מִי שֶׁהֻכָּה עַד שֶׁמָּכַר אוֹ עַד שֶׁנָּתַן. אֲבָל מִי שֶׁתְּקָפוֹ יִצְרוֹ הָרַע לְבַטֵּל מִצְוָה אוֹ לַעֲשׂוֹת עֲבֵרָה וְהֻכָּה עַד שֶׁעָשָׂה דָּבָר שֶׁחַיָּב לַעֲשׂוֹתוֹ אוֹ עַד שֶׁנִּתְרַחֵק מִדָּבָר הָאָסוּר לַעֲשׂוֹתוֹ אֵין זֶה אָנוּס מִמֶּנּוּ אֶלָּא הוּא אָנַס עַצְמוֹ בְּדַעְתּוֹ הָרָעָה. לְפִיכָךְ זֶה שֶׁאֵינוֹ רוֹצֶה לְגָרֵשׁ מֵאַחַר שֶׁהוּא רוֹצֶה לִהְיוֹת מִיִּשְׂרָאֵל וְרוֹצֶה הוּא לַעֲשׂוֹת כָּל הַמִּצְוֹת וּלְהִתְרַחֵק מִן הָעֲבֵרוֹת וְיִצְרוֹ הוּא שֶׁתְּקָפוֹ וְכֵיוָן שֶׁהֻכָּה עַד שֶׁתָּשַׁשׁ יִצְרוֹ וְאָמַר רוֹצֶה אֲנִי כְּבָר גֵּרֵשׁ לִרְצוֹנוֹ. לֹא הָיָה הַדִּין נוֹתֵן שֶׁכּוֹפִין אוֹתוֹ לְגָרֵשׁ וְטָעוּ בֵּית דִּין שֶׁל יִשְׂרָאֵל אוֹ שֶׁהָיוּ הֶדְיוֹטוֹת וַאֲנָסוּהוּ עַד שֶׁגֵּרֵשׁ הֲרֵי זֶה גֵּט פָּסוּל הוֹאִיל וְיִשְׂרָאֵל אֲנָסוּהוּ יִגְמֹר וִיגָרֵשׁ. וְאִם הָעַכּוּ''ם, אֲנָסוּהוּ לְגָרֵשׁ שֶׁלֹּא כַּדִּין אֵינוֹ גֵּט. אַף עַל פִּי שֶׁאָמַר בְּעַכּוּ''ם רוֹצֶה אֲנִי וְאָמַר לְיִשְׂרָאֵל כִּתְבוּ וְחִתְמוּ הוֹאִיל וְאֵין הַדִּין מְחַיְּבוֹ לְהוֹצִיא וְהָעַכּוּ''ם אֲנָסוּהוּ אֵינוֹ גֵּט: