Study Kiddushin folio 72A with parallel Hebrew-English text, traditional commentary, and modern study tools. Free access to Babylonian Talmud online.
Text Excerpt
והאידנא הוא [ד]דליוה פרסאי. אמר ליה אביי לרב יוסף: להא גיסא דפרת עד היכא? אמר ליה: מאי דעתיך? משום בירם? מייחסי דפומבדיתא מבירם נסבי.
And it is only now that the Persians moved the bridge further up northward. Abaye said to Rav Yosef: Until where does the border extend on this western side of the Euphrates? Rav Yosef said to him: What are you thinking? Why do you ask? Is it due to the town of Biram? Even those of pure lineage who live in Pumbedita marry women from Biram, which demonstrates that the residents of Biram are presumed to have unflawed lineage.
אמר רב פפא: כמחלוקת ליוחסין, כך מחלוקת לענין גיטין. ורב יוסף אמר: מחלוקת ליוחסין, אבל לגיטין – דברי הכל עד ארבא תניינא דגישרא.
Rav Pappa says: Just as there is a dispute between Rav and Shmuel as to the northern border of Babylonia with regard to lineage, so is there a dispute with regard to bills of divorce. An agent bringing a bill of divorce from a country overseas to Eretz Yisrael must state that it was written and signed in his presence. If he brought it from Babylonia, there is no requirement for him to state this. Rav Pappa is teaching that the borders that define Babylonia with regard to this issue are the same as the borders with regard to lineage. And Rav Yosef says: This dispute is with regard to lineage, but with regard to bills of divorce, everyone agrees that it is considered Babylonia up to the second lake of the bridge that Shmuel mentioned.
אמר רמי בר אבא: חביל ימא – תכילתא דבבל. שוניא וגוביא – תכילתא דחביל ימא. רבינא אמר: אף ציצורא. תניא נמי הכי, חנן בן פנחס אומר: חביל ימא – תכילתא דבבל, שוניא וגוביא וציצורא – תכילתא דחביל ימא. אמר רב פפא: והאידנא איערבי בהו כותאי. ולא היא, איתתא הוא דבעא מינייהו, ולא יהבו ליה. מאי חביל ימא? אמר רב פפא: זו פרת דבורסי.
Rami bar Abba said: The province of Ḥaveil Yamma is the glory of Babylonia with regard to lineage; Shunya and Guvya are the glory of Ḥaveil Yamma. Ravina said: The town of Tzitzora is also like Shunya and Guvya. This is also taught in a baraita: Ḥanan ben Pineḥas says: Ḥaveil Yamma is the glory of Babylonia; Shunya and Guvya and Tzitzora are the glory of Ḥaveil Yamma. Rav Pappa says: And nowadays, Samaritans have assimilated with them, and their lineage is problematic. The Talmud comments: And that is not so. Rather, one Samaritan requested to marry a woman from them and they would not give her to him, which led to the rumor that Samaritans had assimilated with them. The Talmud asks: What is this region called Ḥaveil Yamma? Rav Pappa said: This is the area near the Euphrates adjacent to Bursi.