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Kiddushin 14a

קידושין י״ד ע״א

Learn Kiddushin 14a step by step: Aramaic beside English, every question, answer and proof colour-coded.

Open Kiddushin 14a in Gemara Clarity

Topic

How a יבמה is acquired and released: ביאה only, חליצה, the יבם's death, and why a גט and חליצה cannot replace each other

Overview

The גמרא brings the פסוק showing that ביאה makes the יבמה the יבם's wife. Using the word 'וְיִבְּמָהּ', it shows that only ביאה completes her acquisition (not כסף or שטר), and that the יבום can happen even against her will. Next comes the source that חליצה frees her to all of ישראל. This is learned from 'בישראל', which is written twice, while the public announcement 'חלוץ הנעל' comes from 'ונקרא שמו'. The גמרא then proves by a קל וחומר from an אשת איש that the יבם's death frees the יבמה, and רב אשי defends it against challenges. It asks why a married woman can't leave through חליצה ('ספר כריתת' blocks it), and why a יבמה can't leave through a גט. The answer 'ככה' is challenged from the goats of יום הכפורים. The גמרא then tries 'לה', and finally settles on 'נעל'. The amud ends with a ברייתא suggesting 'נעל' is needed to include anyone's shoe and to require a shoe that fits. The challenge continues on the next amud.

Opening lines

״יְבָמָהּ יָבֹא עָלֶיהָ

"Her brother-in-law shall come upon her

וּלְקָחָהּ לוֹ לְאִשָּׁה״.

and take her to him as a wife."

וְאֵימָא, לְכוּלַּהּ מִילְּתָא כְּאִשָּׁה!

But say: she is like a wife in every matter!

לָא סָלְקָא דַּעְתָּךְ, דְּתַנְיָא:

It cannot enter your mind, as it is taught:

The steps (33)

  1. ProofThe verse that makes the יבמה a wife through ביאה
  2. ChallengeMaybe she is like a regular wife in every way
  3. ResolutionA ברייתא: only ביאה completes her acquisition
  4. ChallengeMaybe 'וְיִבְּמָהּ' teaches that her consent is not needed
  5. ResolutionThe extra word teaches both laws
  6. QuestionWhere do we learn release through חליצה?
  7. ResponseThe verse 'בית חלוץ הנעל' frees her to all of ישראל
  8. Challenge'בישראל' is already used for a different teaching
  9. Resolution'בישראל' appears twice
  10. ChallengeThe word 'In Israel' seems needed for another teaching too
  11. ResolutionThe announcement comes from 'and his name shall be called'
  12. QuestionSource for the יבמה going free when the יבם dies
  13. ResponseA קל וחומר from a married woman
  14. ChallengeA married woman can also leave with a גט
  15. ResolutionA יבמה also has a way out: חליצה
  16. ChallengeFor a married woman, the one who forbids her is the one who frees her
  17. Resolutionרב אשי: the יבם also forbids her and frees her
  18. ChallengeWhy can't a married woman be freed through חליצה?
  19. ResolutionOnly a written document cuts the marriage
  20. ChallengeWhy can't a יבמה be freed through a גט?
  21. ResolutionThe word 'ככה' makes חליצה essential
  22. ChallengeDoes an essential requirement always block a קל וחומר?
  23. ProofThe ברייתא: only the lottery makes the goat a חטאת
  24. ProofThe ברייתא's logical argument: naming should work where a lottery works
  25. ProofThe verse blocks the logic: only the lottery makes it a חטאת
  26. ChallengeEssential wording does not block a קל וחומר
  27. Resolution'לה' in the גט verse: for her, not for a יבמה
  28. ChallengeMaybe 'לה' means 'for her sake'
  29. Resolution'לה' is written twice
  30. ChallengeThe second 'לה' is also needed: one גט cannot serve two women
  31. ResolutionOnly a shoe releases a יבמה
  32. ChallengeThe word 'shoe' is already needed elsewhere
  33. Statement'His shoe' means a shoe that fits him