Talking Talmud

Finishing chapter 2, and starting chapter 3, with a mishnah apiece. First, a case where a woman was able to leave her marriage - are any of the people involved in the case in court allowed to marry her? The answer - in sweeping terms for which there are of course exceptions - is no. Ulterior motives, and all. But with an important caveat or few. Plus, chapter 3 returns us to cases of yibum. For ex...

The daf discusses a few different scenarios where a woman is released from her marriage but someone involved with the end of her marriage may not marry her afterward.

On the mitzvah that is on the eldest of brothers to do yibum. Plus, what is the purpose of yibum?! (Finally?) What does it mean to carry on a dead brother's name? Also, when a man is suspected of having slept with a non-Jewish maidservant or a non-Jewish woman, who is then set free or converts to Judaism (respectively)... He can't marry that woman. What's the rationale and how far does it go? Incl...

A study of the divergent opinions of R. Yosi and the sages on the progeny of a non-Jewish maidservant, or of an idolatress. The child apparently inherits the status of the non-Jewish maidservant, regardless of the Jewish paternity. Which means that siblings aren't siblings, on a technical logistic level. But the non-Jewish slaves did have some connection to mitzvot, which makes the exclusionary ve...

On the status of converts, particularly with regard to the secondary forbidden relationships. Also, a mishnah: how different statuses of one's brother have impact (or don't) on issues of yibum. Plus, the implications of having a non-Jewish mother. Also, the issue of mamzerut, the progeny from illicit sexual relationships, and the impact on yibum. NOTE: The conference mentioned in the episode is on...

King Solomon and his proverbs and the way he gave "handles" to the "basket" of Yevamot (among other details of halakhah. Note also the list of the secondary forbidden relationships - in full (as much as a beraita can be). [Who's Who: R. Hisda] Plus, a Chaldean astrologer. Plus, the secondary forbidden relationship of the daughters-in-law.

A new mishnah that establishes some principles about a yevamah... which is established by means of hypothetical examples that can be head-spinning, to be sure... Including principles regarding various sources of prohibition (mitzvah, sanctity). Until the Gemara asks what this principle really adds! Which brings us back to the eilonit, and the implications of those who are connected to her. Also, t...

The kind of case we've been dealing with, but with ma'amar, not full yibum - with an entrance to probe R. Shimon's opinion further. Also, more on ma'amar - including the case of ma'amar when she doesn't know about it (does that even work? It's a machloket).

A lengthy discussion on how to understand the mishnah: R. Huna, R. Yehudah, R. Yehudah Ben Beteira, R. Meir, and Rabban Gamliel. So first, a view of each of their opinions. Also, a new mishna, tracking yibum cases of two brothers, who are each married, one dies, one does yibum, and now has two co-wives, the widow and his original wife. What happens if he dies? And a third brother was only born aft...

Concerns about those with questionable lineage, which sparks a discussion about the 10 Tribes that were exiled in the era of the prophets. Including the question of Jewish heritage in a small amount, and the question of mamzerut that might emerge from the more questionable relationships... But how likely was this really?! The question is also whether the child is one if a couple who are idolators...

The question of whether the co-wives of a daughter would be permitted to the brothers... As answered in the time of R. Dosa ben Hyrcanus, in accord with Beit Shammai (which is a startling alignment). He was elderly and rather homebound, so he wasn't available for consultation or elaboration on his psak, so eventually, a crew of rabbis make the trek to his home. And the Gemara presents what seems t...

More on Beit Shammai and Beit Hillel... Specifically, did the members of Beit Shammai actually follow the approaches of Beit Shammai. Note also the affinity of other sages for either given approach - for example, Rabbi Tarfon (and his opinion, in contrast to R. Yochanan ben Nuri). Rabban Gamliel should be following Beit Hillel... But is introduced here as a follower of Beit Shammai?! Plus, several...

More on the disputes of Beit Hillel and Beit Shammai, with the serious implications of a potential "mamzer" status for a child of a forbidden relationship (or perhaps not). That is, they disagreed, and followed their respective approaches for actual practice. What about the bat kol (heavenly voice) that said the law is in accord with Beit Hillel?

How we derive the exemption of the co-wives with regard to the yavam. Plus, a new mishnah! The 6 cases that are more stringent than the original mishnah's 15 cases. And the disputes here between Beit Hillel and Beit Shammai, and the implications of those differences of approach that come to pass, and those that do not.

More cases of yibum, of course, including that of the eylonit. Also, 3 cases where an attempt, such as it was, at contraception was recommended - including details that do align with modern science, and others that do not: a pregnant woman, a nursing woman, and a "ketanah," a status that is narrowly defined and involves further discussion.

Two complicated yibum situations, with regard to the co-wife, and whether there are other relationships that would exempt the co-wife. Say, the sotah. Or a divorcee. Note: "Sotah" in this example means a woman who inadvertently committed adultery, and not the usual definition of a woman who is suspected of having committed adultery. And divorcee here is specifically remarrying her first husband af...

Another yibum case - including when one brother dies before the other is born leads to a mnemonic how to keep this particular complication straight: "died, was born, does yibum" x2 - in a family of many brothers. And if the brother doing yibum dies... another brother should be taking it on. Yaakov is brought as an example - a strawman, and with echos of the biblical Yaakov. Also, when a woman exem...

Disturbing daf: Warning - discussion of rape. The question if the strange case of a wife who is raped by her father-in-law, which yields all kinds of complications for those who accept the possibility of the case (as compared to the Tanna who basically calls the question itself idiotic). Plus, a discussion of why there are 15 cases in the opening mishnah instead of 16 cases. Also, charts are neede...

The way yibum is pulled out of the category of "arayot," the illicit sexual relationships. Where the prohibitions seem to add up, until we realize how narrow a scheme the issue of yibum is, and we don't extend it further beyond the exception. And then the Gemara tries to knock down the rationale it's built up, via the specificity of the language in the biblical verse that teaches yibum. Until that...

More on the contradictory cases where a positive commandment overrides a negative commandment that has a punishment of karet - until that very line of inquiry is upended and rejected as a principle. So the Gemara takes another stab at explaining the rationale behind yibum and the "extra" word of "aleha" in the verse about yibum. Which brings us to hermeneutical derivation of k'lal u-p'rat u-k'lal....

What specific mitzvot can override Shabbat? Shouldn't one fear the Beit HaMikdash itself? That would theoretically have impact on what you can/have to do, since there's no fear of Shabbat in that same way. But there is reverence for God that is then later applied to the Temple? What kind of reverence is due to the place where the Temple stood? Namely, don't use the Temple as a shortcut. Plus, goin...

When the mitzvah and the prohibition essentially come together, as with shaatnez and tzitzit - such that the positive commandment overrides the prohibition. Where else does this happen? For example, the metzora and the prohibition against shaving pe'ot. What about a kohen who's a metzora? With all concomitant objections. Of course, it is also relevant and present in the context of yibum and the pr...

How do we interpretation biblical verses that are juxtaposed, or simply in proximity to each other? Do we extrapolate details from one verse and apply to the context of the other verse? Or is that too much to assume? Of course, the discussion uses the case of the yevama to discuss this principle, and establishes that a yevama cannot be forced to marry a yavam whom she doesn't want to marry. A thir...

Why are the co-wives described as "exempting" one another from yibum, when really those potential cases of yibum are prohibited? One suggestion is that that language would have suggested a need for halitzah, and once there's a need for halitzah, there's a risk of presuming yibum was possible, when it wasn't. Another suggestion: Plus, the strong connection between halitzah and yibum. Also, the Gema...

Diving right in... Introducing Masekhet Yevamot and Seder Nashim! Defining the case of yibum, the Levirate marriage. Defining halitzah. Defining tzarot. Also, beginning with the first mishnah, which presumes knowledge of the basic yibum case, and how co-wives negate the need for yibum for other co-wives - 15 different cases of relationships. Note that the requirement of yibum cancels the prohibiti...