Towards the end of today’s daf (Yevamot 43b) we find a Beraita listing what may or may not be done in the nine days between Rosh Chodesh Av and Tisha B’Av, and while it states that neither Eirusin nor Nissu’in may be performed during this period, the Gemara then clarifies and explains that though Nissu’in…
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A Beraita is cited in today’s daf (Yevamot 42b) which makes reference to a ruling מפי חכמים בכרם ביבנה – ‘from the mouths of the Sages in Kerem (lit. ‘the vineyard) B’Yavne (lit. ‘in Yavne’)’, and given that studied in Yeshivat Kerem B’Yavne – whose founding was inspired by the great academy of Yavne established…
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Embedded in the Mishna (Yevamot 4:10) in today’s daf (Yevamot 41a) is a fascinating remark reflecting – at least according to some commentaries – a keen interest that married couples not be hesitant, awkward or embarrassed about matters of sexual intimacy. But to explain, a little background is necessary.The Torah speaks of two stages of…
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As we are in the midst of the festival of freedom, and having just had our Pesach Seder, it seems apt to reflect on the gift of freedom while – at the same time – considering a lesson from the Mishna (Yevamot 4:7) and the subsequent Gemara found in today’s daf (Yevamot 40a).If a man…
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In my commentary to Yevamot 3a (see https://rabbijohnnysolomon.com/yevamot-3/), I referenced Yevamot 39b, because it is here where Abba Shaul teaches that the only instance where Yibbum is not considered to be a transgression of a forbidden relationship is where Yibbum is performed לשם שמים (for the sake of heaven) – which is why Abba Shaul…
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While not the only example, it is rare for a Mishna to appear verbatim as a Mishna in two different Massechtot. However, the Mishna (Yevamot 4:3) in today’s daf (Yevamot 38a) – which discusses the status of a woman whose husband has died and who is in the three-month waiting period during which she is…
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I have often said that halachic sayings and teachings contain and seek to convey Jewish values and philosophy, and upon studying today’s daf (Yevamot 37b) I was struck by Abaye’s statement who said of Rabbi Eliezer ben Yaakov that כל ספיקא כודאי משוי ליה – ‘[he treats] every uncertainty as being certain’.As should be clear…
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The final lines of today’s daf (Yevamot 36b), continuing onto tomorrow’s daf (Yevamot 37a), raises an oft-overlooked and highly misunderstood approach of halacha which endeavours to enable all parties to ‘have its cake and eat it’. And to explain, I would like to quote from Eliezer Berkovits’ ‘Not in Heaven’ where he provides a good…
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A principle discussed in today’s daf (Yevamot 35b) and stated explicitly in a later Mishna (Yevamot 4:10, 41a) is that if a woman’s husband dies, she may neither fulfil yibum or halitzah until three months have passed since the death of her husband so as to verify that she is not pregnant from her first…
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In today’s daf (Yevamot 34b) we find a curious teaching of Rav Yochanan that: כל ששהתה אחר בעלה עשר שנים ונשאת שוב אינה יולדת – ‘any woman who waited ten years after the death of her husband and then remarries will not bear children [with her future husband]’. Interestingly, immediately following this teaching, we are…
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