About this episode
If, as Rav holds, a document comes before the court that has been completely erased and written over and signed, it is acceptable, why is there not a concern that the text was erased a second time and the signatures of the witness were on a version that was erased? The reason is that it is noticeable if a document is erased once or twice. To answer a follow-up question about another concern for forgery, Abaye also explains that if witnesses are to sign on an erased document, they must also be present when the document is erased. A difficulty is raised against Rav's ruling from a braita, but is resolved. However, two difficulties are raised against the resolution but are resolved as well. On a tied document ( get mekushar ) the dating system differed from a regular document. Based on that, Rabbi Chanina ben Gamliel's opinion in the Mishna is questioned by Rabbi Yehuda haNasi as he said that a tied document can be turned into a straight one and if the dating system is different, that could lead to issues of one collecting a debt that has already been repaid. How can this be resolved? Other issues regarding the dating system are discussed which include references to the Greek numbering system. In the context of a story showing that Rabbi Yehuda haNasi was not familiar with a tied document, he reprimands his son for speaking lashon hara . The Gemara digresses to discuss different types of lashon hara , some of which include just speaking about a person, not even saying something negative, or even complimenting someone. This is called avak lashon hara , as it can lead to lashon hara . Rav Amram in the name of Rav explains that three sins are unavoidable daily - having sinful thoughts, thoughts during prayer, and lashon hara . As it is difficult to say that people daily speak negatively about others, Rav's words are explained to be referring to avak lashon hara .