Talking Talmud

How to change a rabbinic kiddushin to a Torah-level kiddushin? Plus, a story of kidnapping, essentially, from the moment of marriage - or chuppah, at least. Which leaves a second marriage in her case as not significant. But is this story representative?! Kidnapping isn't a normal marriage. Also, a new mishnah: a man who is married to two minors who are orphans, and he dies - what is the yibum/chalitzah status?

A new mishnah! Can a couple that divorces remarry each other? How does that affect yibum? And a other mishnah: A case of two brothers who are married to two minor sisters. What happens in the case of one of the brother's death (if he dies without children)? Likewise, the case of deaf-mute women. Namely, rabbinic kiddushin. But an adult and a minor mixes things up. Also, the sages take on more detailed cases, including refusal, which isn't necessarily encouraged. Plus, a message to judges, and how careful they must be.

A mishnah from 107b: defining a minor girl, who would then need to and be able to refuse a betrothal organized by her mother or brother. She needs to have a level of understanding of what's going on. The Gemara gives us way to determine whether she has the ability to take enough responsibility to protect it... The sages are adding layers of protection but establishing by okaying limitations. Plus, another mishnah: How a divorce establishes prohibitions.... again, that protect her. When a minor girl's refusal is compared to get.... Her refusal is less strong, but the timing of either or both makes a difference.

A new chapter, a new mishnah, and a new topic: miyun - refusal. When a minor girl is in the charge of her family who wants to marry her off - she's allowed to refuse the husband, and nullify a betrothal that has been established between them. The question is whether this kind of refusal works both for a (regular) husband and for a yavam. Also, how many men can she refuse in this way? Also, spotlighting a minor girl's refusal of the yavam, with the implications for his brother (a three-way machloket).

During the process of yibum/chalitzah - when a yevamah refuses to stand because she's refusing yibum, and insisting on chalitzah. The sage then advises her how to maneuver to ensure that she isn't stuck in an unwanted yibum - but does that work? And if it does, is it ethical? Also, a new mishnah, the last of the chapter. It reviews specific procedure of chalitzah in court. Plus, R. Hyrcanus and reading the passage of yibum/chalitzah.

Levi goes out to teach Torah in a village, and the people stump him with 3 questions, two of which are about chalitzah. Plus, the family of Eli (and descendants) and God's anger and promise that they would die young - and how Torah and/or gemilut chasadim proved an antidote. Also, a scene of the beit midrash, R. Yehudah HaNasi, and a sage who is rebuked by a shamash as not being on the level, but as a student, he really was.

2 new mishnayot, on more practical details and requirements of chalitzah. 1. Can you do chalitzah at night? Can you do chalitzah on the wrong foot? Plus, how does it compare to tzara'at in certain requirements? 2. What if only 2 of the 3 component elements of chalitzah are completed? Is that chalitzah valid? Well, it depends on which of the 3 are completed (removal of the shoe, spitting, reading of the Torah passage). What is/are the core element(s) of chalitzah?

The Gemara springboards off the "foot" that wears the chalitzah shoe to biblical verses that include the Hebrew word, "regel" that come to be interpreted euphemistically. Including a focus on the story of Yael and Sisera. Also, what about the case of tzara'at and its quarantine time, with the question of implications for chalitzah.

More on the practicalities of chalitzah. To what extent does the chalitzah close the door on the relationship between yavam and yevama? Plus, testimony as to what shoe was in use for chalitzah, and why there was a machloket over the shoe. Also, how do we know that the root of the word "chalitzah" means to remove (as in, removing the yavam from the yevama)? Including Rabban Gamliel's scorn at a poor effort to interpret the "removal" as God turning His back on Bnei Yisrael.

Chapter 12! On chalitzah. The process of what happens before the court, and what kind of shoe the yavam needs to be wearing, and even what happens if he's an amputee. Also: Real life examples of chalitzah (in marked contrast to the absence of real life examples of yibum) || The video of crafting the chalitzah shoe: youtube.com/watch?v=6QzT_li3moE&ab_channel=AllDaf