Daf Yomi One Week at a Time: Yevamot

This week we will begin learning Masechet Yevamot. We will learn about the mitzvah of Yibum, Levirate Marriage, and who needs to fulfill this mitzvah. The Masechet begins by teaching us who is exempt from Yibum and why. We will learn several fundamental Talmudic principles in this week’s review.

This week we will continue learning about the 15 women that are prohibited to do Yibum or Chalitza due to familial relationships. Not only are they forbidden from doing Yibum and Chalitza but so are their co-wives. The next Mishna teaches that there are 6 women who are closer to the man than the original 15. These 6 women are also forbidden to him but their co-wives are permitted to do Yibum or Chalitza.

After finishing the first chapter, we will begin the second chapter of Masechet Yevamot. We will learn about a brother who is born after his older brother dies and leaves a widow. The Gemara teaches that this brother is exempt from doing Yibum. We will also learn about secondary forbidden relationships that the Rabbis decreed are also exempt from Yibum.

This week the Gemara will introduce us to numerous cases with numerous brothers who marry numerous sisters and then some of the brothers die. The Gemara will explain who needs to do what to each widow. We will learn about the concept of Zika, a bond between the brother and the widow, and how strong that bond is. We will be finishing the second chapter or Yevamot and we will begin the third chapter.

This week we will learn various scenarios that begin with three brothers, two of which marry two sisters. We will see what the third brother is obligated to do if one or more of the brothers die. We will also learn some fundamental halachic principles dealing with two or more prohibitions that occur either simultaneously or one after the other.

This week we will learn about Inheritance in Jewish Law and how it relates to Yibum. The Gemara will discuss several cases where we are unsure of the child’s father is the deceased brother or the living brother, and now they are arguing over the inheritance. We will also learn that one needs to wait three months before performing Yibum or Chalitza.

This week the Gemara describes different prohibited relationships that the resulting child is considered a Mamzer. This has ramifications on who the child can marry in the future. We will also learn about the laws of Jewish Conversion. Who can convert and how the conversion process works.

This week we will continue our conversation about the power of Maamar and Get in relation to Yibum and Chalitza. We will finish the fifth chapter of Yevamot and start learning the sixth. In this chapter we will explore the various ways a man can perform Yibum.

This week we are going to learn about who a High Priest and regular Priest can marry. What are the consequences if they marry someone forbidden to them? We will learn about the commandment to procreate and its parameters. The Gemara also teaches about the virtues of a good wife and the effect of a bad wife.

We will continue the discussion on the mitzvah of “Pru u’rvu”, procreation, and learn who is obligated. This week we will learn the entire seventh chapter of Yivamot that deals with property brought into a marriage by the wife. We will try and understand who owns it and who is responsible for it and the halachic consequences.

This week, we will learn about the laws pertaining to a Jewish male who can’t be circumcised for health reasons. The Gemara also teaches various male injuries that prevent him from being able to marry specific Jewish women. We will then learn about numerous nations that are or are not allowed to convert to Judaism (in the time of the Bible).

This week we will discuss various types of eunuchs and if they have the ability to do Chalitza or Yibum. We will also learn about the Hermaphrodite and the Tumtum and if they can do Chalitza and if their spouses can eat Teruma. The ninth chapter discusses different relationships where the wife can be forbidden or permitted to marry the husband, but can also be prohibited or permitted to his brother, the Yavam.

This week we will learn when an Israelite woman can eat Teruma, which is normally only eaten by Priests. And we will see when that right is taken away. We will begin the tenth chapter of Yevamot and discuss a case of Aguna, when a woman is bound to her husband who may or may not be dead.

This week we will learn about the consequences of the case of a woman who goes abroad, it is said that she died and her husband marries her sister, and then she returns. We will also learn about a minor, a boy over nine who does Yibum, and whether it works or not. We will begin the eleventh chapter of Yevamot and learn about converts and their relatives.

This week we continue discussing cases of children who were mixed at birth and what happens when they grow up and their brothers need to do yibum for them.  We will also learn about a woman who doesn’t know if her child is from her first or second marriage, and how we relate to his lineage.  We will then learn the entire twelfth chapter and learn all the laws of the Chalitza ceremony.

This week we will learn the entire thirteenth chapter of Yevamot. We will be learning about the orphaned minor girl whose mother or brother married her off. She has the ability to annul the marriage. This is called Mi’un and she has the right to do this as long as she is a minor.

This week we will finish the Masechet by discussing who’s testimony is valid and acceptable to allow a woman to remarry. The Mishna and Gemara discuss one witness, where typically only two witnesses are believed. We will also learn if the wife can testify, her co-wife, or her mother-in-law. We will also learn how the deceased needs to be identified in order to accept the testimony.

Kol Hakavod to everyone for finishing this very challenging Masechet!

Hadran Alach Masechet Yevamot (We will return to you Masechet Yevamot)