1.
Daniel asked:
Is the origin of the Shetar Babylonian? If it is, then was it adopted by the Jews while in Babylonian captivity?
Daniel, los angeles california
2.
The Kollel replies:
The Scriptures mention a Shetar, reffering to it as "Sefer Kerisus" (Deuteronomy 24:3) and "Sefer ha'Mikneh" (Jeremiah 32:11). According to the Talmud, many other Shetaros were of ancieant use, besides the specific two referred to in the above verses (Kidushin 9a and elsewhere).
M. Kornfeld