The rabbis continue to discuss the borders of Israel. These are significant to gittin because a get must be written, signed and witnessed while being placed directly or indirectly on the ground. If a get is written in a boat, the boat must be touching the earth beneath the water for the get to be valid. When a get is written on a boat there is greater leniency regarding whether or not the boat is within the limits of Eretz Yisrael.
It is interesting to read the rabbis' regarding Israel. Many of the places mentioned in our text continue to exist approximately two years later. And those same borders are questioned and debated today.
There are other implications regarding the borders of Israel. Within the borders, the land (and air) is considered to be ritually pure. That means that many laws, including that of shemita and of other agricultural laws like tithing only take effect within the holy land. The rabbis debate whether or not the land of Syria should be considered to within the land of Israel, "like a suburb of Jerusalem". Does that mean that contracts can be signed by an agent of a Jew on Shabbat?
We end on the very disturbing note of slavery. Does a slave who brings a contract ending his term of service maintain his property if he is outside of the land of Israel? We will return to this conversation with tomorrow's daf.
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