đź’§ Sotah Summary –  Sotah 16: Writing and Erasing the Divine Name: Humility, Peace, and the Sotah Ritual

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  1. Writing the Scroll for the Sotah

The Torah commands that the parasha of the Sotah be written specifically for her, and not reused.

The Gemara derives:

  • The scroll must be written lishmah (for this woman)
  • It cannot be copied from another scroll
  • Intent matters as much as form

This parallels other mitzvot requiring personal designation (e.g., a get).

  1. What Is Written—and How

The Gemara discusses:

  • Which verses are included
  • Whether the curses alone are written, or also God’s Name

Conclusion:

  • God’s explicit Name is written
  • And then deliberately erased into the water

This is exceptional—normally erasing God’s Name is strictly forbidden.

  1. Why God’s Name May Be Erased

The daf articulates one of the most famous principles in Shas:

Great is peace, for even God allows His Name to be erased to restore peace between husband and wife.

The Sotah ritual prioritizes:

  • Truth
  • Reconciliation
  • Restoration of trust

Holiness yields when peace is at stake.

  1. What Can Be Used for Writing

The Gemara analyzes:

  • Ink types
  • Writing surfaces

The rule emerges:

  • Anything that can be erased into water is valid
  • Permanent inscriptions are not

Again, function determines form.

One‑sentence takeaway

Sotah 16 teaches that peace is so central to Torah that God permits His own Name to be erased to heal a broken marriage.

About The Author

Rabbi Yaakov Goldstein is a 6th generation descendent of the famous Chief Rabbi of Izhmir, Rav Yehoshua Avraham Krispin, who authored a number of Sefarim, and was a colleague of Rav Chaim Falagi, and father in-law of the Pesach Hadvir. He currently lives with his wife Shayna, and twelve children K”H, in Tzfas, Israel. Rabbi Goldstein received Semicha from Rabbi Schneur Zalman Labkowski of the Tomchei Temimim headquarters in 2005 and served as a chaplain in the Lotar/Kalatz and K9 unit of the IDF from years 2005-2008. He is also a certified Shochet, and has performed Hashgacha work in slaughterhouses. Rabbi Goldstein is the director of Shulchanaruchharav.com, the world’s leading web-based Halacha database, and is the director of the Home Study Semicha Program, a self-study web-based Semicha program. He is a prolific author of over 50 Sefarim studied by a wide range of readers throughout the world, which is used regularly in Semicha programs around the globe. He is a world renowned Posek, answering questions to a web-based market, and serves as a local Posek, Rav, and Lecturer, in the Tzemach Tzedek community Shul in Tzefas, Israel. His many classes can be heard both from his website, Vimeo and YouTube channel. Students can join live to classes given in the Tzemach Tzedek Shul, through the “בית חבד צפת Chabad Tsfat” YouTube channel.