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Yevamos 27b

יבמות כ״ז ע״ב

Yevamot 27b

Learn Yevamos 27b step by step: Aramaic beside English, every question, answer and proof colour-coded.

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Topic

Comparing a גט with a מאמר, and the מחלוקת of רב and רבי יוחנן about two sister יבמות

Overview

The גמרא asks which is stronger: a יבמה who received a גט from the יבם, or one who received a מאמר. רב אשי proves from רבן גמליאל that each act still works after the other, so the two must be equal. Then a new topic begins: two sisters who fall to one יבם. רב rules that if either sister dies, the other becomes permitted for יבום. רבי יוחנן agrees about the first sister but says the second stays forbidden. His reason is that a woman who could not have יבום at the moment she fell is forbidden forever. The גמרא explains that רב limits this rule to a Torah איסור, while a זיקה is only דרבנן. רבי יוסי בר חנינא then challenges רבי יוחנן from a משנה about four brothers. רבי יוחנן answers that he doubts its wording, and the גמרא tests easier readings he could have given, with the last answer continuing on the next amud.

Opening lines

בַּעֲלַת הַגֵּט וּבַעֲלַת מַאֲמָר,

A woman who received a bill of divorce and a woman who received levirate betrothal,

אֵיזוֹ מֵהֶן קוֹדֶמֶת?

which of them has precedence?

בַּעֲלַת הַגֵּט עֲדִיפָא,

Is the woman who received a bill of divorce preferred,

מִשּׁוּם דְּאַתְחֵיל בַּהּ בַּחֲלִיצָה,

because he began the process of חליצה with her,

The steps (19)

  1. QuestionWhich comes first: the woman with the גט or the woman with the מאמר?
  2. Proofרב אשי brings רבן גמליאל's admission
  3. ProofWhy the source shows neither is stronger
  4. ConclusionConclusion: the גט and the מאמר are equal
  5. Statementרב: two sister יבמות before one יבם
  6. Statementרב: Whichever sister dies, the other one is permitted
  7. Statementרבי יוחנן: Only the first sister can become permitted
  8. Responseרבי יוחנן's reason: what counts is the moment she falls
  9. ChallengeDoesn't רב himself say the same principle?
  10. Resolutionרב's rule applies only to a Torah-level prohibition
  11. Challengeרבי יוסי בר חנינא cites a משנה against רבי יוחנן
  12. ChallengeWhy not do חליצה with one sister and יבום with the other?
  13. Resolutionרבי יוחנן Doubts the Wording of the משנה
  14. ChallengeWhy Not Say Only One Sister Does חליצה?
  15. RejectionThe משנה Says Plural
  16. ChallengeMaybe the משנה Means חליצה in General
  17. Rejection'These Women' Points to Both Sisters
  18. ChallengeMaybe He Did חליצה with the First Sister First
  19. RejectionPushing Back Again from the Word 'חולצות'