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Yevamos 28a

יבמות כ״ח ע״א

Yevamot 28a

Learn Yevamos 28a step by step: Aramaic beside English, every question, answer and proof colour-coded.

Open Yevamos 28a in Gemara Clarity

Topic

Explaining the משנה of two sisters who fall to two brothers for יבום: רבי יוחנן's difficulty, the order of falling, the מחלוקת about brothers who married first, and why the משנה repeats earlier rules

Overview

The גמרא continues discussing a משנה about two brothers married to two sisters who die, so that the sisters fall for יבום to the surviving brothers. רבי יוחנן had said, 'Sisters, I do not know who taught it,' because he could not explain why both sisters must do חליצה and not יבום. The גמרא offers him five possible explanations: two kinds of rabbinic decree, the view of רבי אלעזר, the view of רבי יוסי הגלילי, and a case of doubt about which sister fell first. Each is turned down, either from the wording of the משנה, from רבי יוחנן's own position, or from how the משנה is written. Next, רב פפא explains the order of falling in the case where one sister is an ערוה to one brother. The גמרא then brings a ברייתא with three reports about brothers who married before asking בית דין, and explains that רבי שמעון holds בית שמאי and בית הלל did not argue at all. Finally, the גמרא asks why the משנה repeats rules already taught elsewhere and answers with a צריכא. It then begins the same question about איסור מצוה, which continues on the next amud.

Opening lines

לְכַתְּחִלָּה קָתָנֵי.

It teaches the case of what is done from the outset.

וְלֵימָא לֵיהּ: גְּזֵירָה

And let him say to him: it is a decree,

דִּלְמָא קְדֵים וַחֲלֵיץ

lest he go ahead and perform חליצה

לְרִאשׁוֹנָה בְּרֵישָׁא!

with the first sister first!

The steps (21)

  1. ResolutionThe משנה teaches what is done from the start
  2. ChallengeMaybe the ban on levirate marriage is only a rabbinic decree
  3. Resolution'They may not do levirate marriage' means none at all
  4. ChallengeMaybe the decree is out of fear a brother might die
  5. Resolutionרבי יוחנן is not concerned about death
  6. ChallengeMaybe the משנה follows רבי אלעזר
  7. ResolutionThe later clause names רבי אלעזר, so the first clause is not his
  8. ChallengeMaybe both sisters fell at the exact same moment
  9. ResolutionAn unnamed משנה does not follow רבי יוסי הגלילי
  10. ChallengeMaybe we just don't know which sister fell first
  11. ResolutionThe rule 'they must divorce' does not fit a case of doubt
  12. ConclusionThis is why רבי יוחנן said he doesn't know who taught 'sisters'
  13. ChallengeTesting the משנה's case of a sister who is an ערוה to one brother
  14. ChallengeWhy can't the mother-in-law become permitted again?
  15. Resolutionרב פפא: The other sister fell first
  16. StatementThree opinions on brothers who married before asking
  17. ChallengeWhose side is רבי שמעון on?
  18. Resolutionרבי שמעון: There was no dispute at all
  19. ChallengeDidn't we already learn this rule?
  20. ResolutionBoth places are needed because of the second brother
  21. ChallengeIsn't the case of איסור מצוה also already taught?