Yevamos 41a

יבמות מ״א ע״א

Yevamot 41a

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Topic

Sisters of a חלוצה, divorcée, or יבמה who fall to יבום; whether a יבמה forbidden for a time becomes permitted again; and the three-month wait before remarriage

Overview

The amud opens by finishing an earlier question. The Rabbis forbade the צרה of a חלוצה's relative, because a relative comes to court with the חלוצה and people could mix them up. A צרה never comes along, so her relatives were not forbidden. A new משנה then teaches that a חלוצה's sister who falls to the same יבם needs חליצה. A divorcée's sister is fully exempt. ריש לקיש explains why: the first is forbidden only מדרבנן, the second מדאורייתא. The משנה also says that a brother who betrothed the sister of a שומרת יבם must wait until the יבמה is freed, and שמואל rules this way. The גמרא then asks: if the betrothed wife dies, may he do יבום with her sister? רב and רבי חנינא say yes. שמואל and רב אסי say no. רבא explains רב: a יבמה who was permitted, then forbidden, then permitted again returns to her first permission. רב המנונא challenges this from a ברייתא. רבא answers that the ברייתא follows רבי אלעזר, and the גמרא shows that even רבנן could agree with שמואל, since the ban began after נפילה. Finally, a new משנה requires a three-month wait before a יבמה or any woman remarries. רבי יהודה and רבי יוסי give exceptions, and רבי יוסי's reason continues on the next amud.

Opening lines

The steps (24)

1. ResolutionA relative goes with her to court, a co-wife does not
2. StatementBrother marries the sister of a חלוצה and dies
3. StatementBrother marries the sister of a divorcée and dies
4. StatementBetrothing the sister of a שומרת יבם — wait
5. StatementWhen the bond ends, he may marry his betrothed
6. StatementIf the other יבם dies, he loses both women
7. ChallengeWhy does the משנה say 'and similarly'?
8. ResolutionRead it as 'but one who divorces'
9. StatementA divorcee's sister is forbidden by Torah law, a חלוצה's sister by rabbinic law
10. StatementThe הלכה follows רבי יהודה בן בתירא
11. QuestionIf his wife died, may he do יבום with her sister?
12. Responseרב and רבי חנינא: he is permitted
13. Responseשמואל and רב אסי: he is forbidden
14. Statementרבא Explains רב's Reasoning
15. Challengeרב המנונא Quotes a Case of Three Brothers
16. ChallengeWhy Doesn't She Return to Her First Permission?
17. Resolutionרבא's late answer: the ברייתא follows רבי אלעזר
18. Challengeרבא doubts his own answer
19. ProofA ברייתא proves רבי אלעזר rules this way even here
20. QuestionDo שמואל and רב אסי follow רבי אלעזר?
21. RejectionEven the Rabbis would agree in this case
22. StatementNew משנה: three-month wait before remarrying
23. Statementרבי יהודה's exceptions to the three-month wait
24. Statementרבי יוסי: every woman may get engaged, except a widow