When a shaliach brings a get from the husband to the wife, the assumption is that status quo ante – the husband is presumed to remain alive, and other similar conditions (eg, one’s right to eat terumah). Plus, a key dispute that reflects personal approach, within the debate. Plus, why only men did semicha (laying on if hands) for the sin-offering, and women did not. [Who’s Who: R. Yehudah ben Prata] Also, different cases, including a besieged town and a ship at sea… when does one presume the person there is alive or did, or get the stringencies of both cases?

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