Yevamot
Yevamot (יבמות, "Brother's Widow") is a tractate of the Talmud that deals with, among other concepts, the laws of Yibbum, loosely translated in English as the levirate marriage, and, briefly, with conversion to Judaism. This tractate is the first in the order of Nashim (נשים, "Women"). In summary, Yibbum is the Torah law (Deuteronomy 25:5-10) where the brother of a man who died without children has an obligation to marry the widow. This law only applies to paternal brothers, i.e., brothers by the same father; whether they have the same mother or different mothers is irrelevant. There is likewise a restriction on the deceased's widow(s) against marrying anyone else while waiting for one of the brothers to marry her, or release her by performing a ceremony known as Chalitza. In any case where Yibbum applies, Chalitza may be performed as an alternative. There are numerous cases discussed in this tractate where Yibbum does not apply, and therefore Chalitza does not apply either.
Yevamot, along with Eruvin and Niddah, is considered one of the three hardest tractates in the Talmud. A mnemonic for the 3 is Ani (poverty).
Chapter headings
- Chamesh Esreh Nashim חמש עשרה נשים
- Keytzad Eshet Achiv כיצד אשת אחיו
- (Arba'ah Achim) (ארבעה אחים)
- Hacholetz Livamto החולץ ליבמתו
- Rabban Gamli'el רבן גמליאל
- Habba Al Yevimto הבא על יבמתו
- Almanah Lekhohen Gadol אלמנה לכהן גדול
- He'arel הערל
- Yesh Muttarot יש מותרות
- (Ha'ishah Shehalakh Balah Limdinat Hayam) (האישה שהלך בעלה למדינת הים)
- Nose'in Al Ha'anusah נושאין על האנוסה
- Mitzvat Chalitzah מצות חליצה
- Beit Shamay Omrim Eyn Mema'anin בית שמאי אומרים אין ממאנין
- Cheresh Shennasa חרש שנשא
- Ha'ishah Shehalekhah Hi האשה שהלכה היא | Ha'ishah ... Shalom האשה ... שלום
- Ha'ishah Batra האשה בתרא | Ha'ishah Shehalekhah Balah Vetzaratah האשה שהלכה בעלה וצרתה