Both in today’s (Yevamot 33b) and yesterday’s (Yevamot 32b) daf, reference is made to the level of transgression committed by someone who marries their sister-in-law in circumstances that do not meet the specific criteria of permitting yibum. And in each instance where various Rabbis disagree about the severity of the crime committed, the Gemara concludes…
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Today’s daf (Yevamot 32a) makes reference to the biblical verse (Devarim 25:9) describing the halitzah procedure where the woman makes the declaration: כָּכָה יֵעָשֶׂה לָאִישׁ אֲשֶׁר לֹא יִבְנֶה אֶת בֵּית אָחִיו – ‘this is what is done to the man who will not build up his brothers house’.Significantly, in these words the woman speaks not…
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Much of today’s daf (Yevamot 31) explores the difference between קידושין (marriage) and גירושין (divorce) and, specifically, the differences between the requirements of a marriage document (שטר קידושין) and a divorce document (גט).In particular, we are taught (on Yevamot 31b) that while a גט (divorce document) must include the date of the divorce, a שטר…
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The first Mishna (Yevamot 1:1) in Massechet Yevamot (2a) discusses the situation where a man with more than one wife dies such that one of these two wives is prohibited to marry her brother-in-law – with the rule being that both women are exempt from yibum.With this in mind, the Mishna (Yevamot 3:8) in today’s…
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The Mishna (Yevamot 3:5) in today’s daf (Yevamot 29a) describes a case of three brothers, where two of the brothers were married to two sisters and the third was unmarried. The Mishna then discusses the unfortunate scenario when one of the married brothers dies without children and whose widow then fulfils yibum with the single…
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We were previously taught in the Mishna (Yevamot 3:1, 26a) about a case of four brothers, where two of them were married to two sisters, and then the two married brothers suddenly died without having fathered a child – with the question being whether the two remaining brothers may marry the two widowed sisters?The answer…
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Earlier on in Massechet Yevamot (14b-15a) we learnt a Beraita where we were informed of Rav Yochanan ben Nuri’s attempt to overcome the halachic problems arising from the fact that Beit Hillel and Beit Shammai had different approaches about who could perform yibbum – to the extent that the children born from relationships permitted by…
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The Mishna (Yevamot 2:9) in today’s daf (Yevamot 25a) informs us that if a man brings a Jewish divorce bill (get) from abroad and declares that it was written and signed in his presence, then that man may not marry the woman who was the intended receiver of the divorce bill. Similarly, if someone testifies…
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I have previously explained that Massechet Yevamot contains much material about conversion, and given this, I would like to make reference to a teaching from the Beraita about Jewish conversion policy found in today’s daf (Yevamot 24b) where we are taught that אין מקבלים גרים לימות המשיח – ‘conversions won’t be performed in the Messianic…
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In previous posts I have spoken about my method of learning and writing my thoughts on the daily daf, and though I always endeavour to share, explain or add further insight to a teaching in the daf – oftentimes by making references to various classical or more modern commentaries – I also, either explicitly or…
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A topic that is regularly addressed in Massechet Yevamot which, as those currently studying it have come to discover, is a Massechet that examines various simple and not so simple relationships, is conversion.In today’s daf (Yevamot 22a), reference is made to the relationship of converts to their families, and it is here where the Gemara…
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