Languages, Forms, and Physical Requirements
Overview
This chapter discusses:
- What materials may be used to write a Get.
- What qualifies as writing.
- Languages and wording of a Get.
- The standard text of the Get.
- Corrections, erasures, and tears in a Get.
- Multiple Gittin on the same document.
The central theme is:
A Get must be clearly written, durable, identifiable, and free of ambiguity.
Halachah 1
Permanent Ink Required
A Get must be written with a substance that lasts, such as:
- Ink
- Red dye
- Gum-based ink
- Gall ink
If written with substances that disappear, such as fruit juice or other temporary liquids:
It is invalid.
Writing with lead-based materials is valid after the fact but should not be done initially.
Halachah 2
Visible Writing
One may write with gall-water on paper or parchment.
However, if the writing cannot be seen properly:
It is invalid.
A Get may even be written on items from which benefit is forbidden.
A Get may also be written on materials capable of alteration, provided there are valid delivery witnesses.
Halachah 3
Surfaces Suitable for a Get
A Get may be written on:
- Paper
- Parchment
- Pottery
- Leaves
- A slave’s hand
- A cow’s horn
The object itself is then delivered to the woman.
Halachah 4
Tattooed Get on a Slave
If the Get and signatures are permanently tattooed onto a slave’s body and the slave is delivered to her:
The divorce is valid.
Since such writing cannot easily be forged.
However, if ownership of the slave is uncertain:
The divorce is doubtful.
Halachah 5
Get Engraved on a Tablet
If a Get is engraved onto a tablet and comes into her possession:
She is divorced.
Even without delivery witnesses, because the signatures themselves establish validity.
Halachah 6
Engraving Versus Embossing
If the letters are created by cutting into the material:
It is considered writing.
If the letters are raised outward like a coin:
It is not considered writing.
The Get is invalid.
Halachah 7
Scratching or Marking Letters
Creating recognizable letters by scratching or marking leather is considered writing.
A Get may be written:
- In any language.
- In any script.
Witnesses only need to understand what they are signing.
Halachah 8
Different Languages
Two witnesses may sign in different languages.
However:
If the body of the Get itself contains multiple languages mixed together:
It is invalid.
Halachah 9
Clear Meaning
The language of the Get must have only one meaning.
There must be no wording that could be interpreted:
- As divorce
- Or as something else
The intent to divorce must be unmistakable.
Halachah 10
Clear Handwriting
The handwriting must be legible even to ordinary readers.
Letters may not be distorted in ways that could change their meaning.
Halachah 11
Ambiguous Writing
If the wording or lettering can reasonably be read another way:
The Get is invalid.
The accepted Jewish custom became writing Gittin in Aramaic.
Halachah 12
Standard Text of a Get
The Rambam records the traditional Aramaic text of the Get.
The essential declaration is:
“You are permitted to any man.”
This remains the core language of divorce.
Halachah 13
Scribal Precision
The scribe must carefully form certain letters and words.
Minor spelling changes may create entirely different meanings.
The Rambam lists several examples where:
- Missing letters
- Extra letters
- Misformed letters
could alter the legal meaning.
Halachah 14
Failure to Follow These Rules
If these critical spellings are not followed:
The Get is invalid.
The Rambam extends this principle to every language.
Halachah 15
Erasures and Insertions
If a correction appears in:
The standard text (Tofes)
the Get remains valid.
If it affects:
The essential text (Tofes/To’ref)
the Get is invalid.
If properly explained at the end of the document, corrections may be accepted.
A Get torn with the official Beit Din cancellation tear is invalid.
Halachah 16
Damaged Documents
If the Get is:
- Worm-eaten
- Decayed
- Full of holes
but remains readable:
It is valid.
If the text has become unreadable:
It is invalid.
Halachah 17
Delivery Witnesses Override Defects
If valid delivery witnesses saw a proper delivery:
Many physical defects in the document itself no longer invalidate the divorce.
The essential act is still:
Proper delivery before witnesses.
Halachah 18
One Get Containing Multiple Divorces
Five husbands may include five divorces on one document.
When properly drafted and witnessed:
All the divorces are valid.
Halachah 19
Two Women Cannot Share One Divorce Statement
If two husbands jointly write:
“We divorced our wives”
in one unified declaration:
It is invalid.
Each wife requires her own separate act of divorce.
Halachah 20
Two Gittin Side by Side
If two Gittin appear side-by-side and each has its own witnesses:
Both are valid.
Halachah 21
Witnesses Attached to Only One Get
If the signatures clearly belong to only one of the two Gittin:
Only that Get is valid through signatures.
The other requires delivery witnesses.
Halachah 22
Signatures Between Two Gittin
When signatures appear between two Gittin:
Only the Get that the signatures properly follow is valid.
The other is invalid without delivery witnesses.
Halachah 23
Signatures at the Top
If signatures appear at the top rather than the end:
Both Gittin are invalid based on signatures alone.
If delivered before witnesses:
They become valid.
Halachah 24
Continuing onto a Second Page
A Get may continue onto a second sheet if it is obvious that both pages belong together.
If this is unclear:
The divorce is doubtful.
Halachah 25
Extra Writing After the Get
If, after completing the Get, someone writes:
“Send regards to so-and-so”
and the witnesses sign beneath that statement,
there is concern they signed only the greeting.
This creates:
Safek Gerushin.
However, if the greeting is clearly attached to the Get text, the Get remains valid.
Main Principles of Chapter 4
| Halachah | Summary |
| 1 | Get must be written with permanent writing |
| 2 | Writing must be visible and durable |
| 3 | Many surfaces may be used |
| 4 | Tattooed writing may be valid |
| 5 | Engraved Get may be valid |
| 6 | Engraving is writing; embossing is not |
| 7 | Any language may be used |
| 8 | Mixed languages in the text invalidate |
| 9 | Wording must be unambiguous |
| 10 | Handwriting must be clear |
| 11 | Ambiguous text invalidates |
| 12 | Rambam provides standard Get text |
| 13 | Exact spelling matters |
| 14 | Critical spelling errors invalidate |
| 15 | Essential corrections can invalidate |
| 16 | Readability determines validity |
| 17 | Delivery witnesses remain primary |
| 18 | Multiple divorces may appear on one document |
| 19 | One joint divorce statement is invalid |
| 20-23 | Placement of signatures affects validity |
| 24 | Multi-page Get must clearly be one document |
| 25 | Extra writing after the Get can create doubt |
Chapter Theme
Chapter 4 focuses on the physical form of the Get. The Rambam emphasizes that a Get must be permanent, readable, unambiguous, and clearly identifiable as a divorce document. Many technical requirements exist to ensure that no uncertainty remains regarding the husband’s intent, the wife’s status, or the authenticity of the document.