Topics covered: Chapter 1, Mishna 1 In debating whether our mishna was formulated correctly, our Sages posit some extreme cases of fathers, brothers and sisters that lead to rare combinations of permitted sisters, prohibited sister-in-law and other liminal examples of …

Chapter 1, Mishna 1 What is the connection between co-wives prohibited in a yibum situation and unwitting idolatry? Why did Rabbi Yehuda HaNasi (Rebbi) snap at the sage who asked why our mishna was not written a different way? The …

Topics covered: Chapter 1, Mishna 1 Three different rationales for when and why we exclude a widow from yibum, and likewise her co-wife. What if yibum does not apply? Does a co-wife then become permitted even if her co-wife is …

Topics covered: Chapter 1, Mishna 1 The Gemara challenges one proof after another for the principle that a positive commandment overrides a negative commandment, even in the case of negative commandment bearing a kares penalty (death at the hands of …

Topics covered: Chapter 1, Mishna 1 The Gemara challenges one proof after another for the principle that a positive commandment overrides a negative commandment. The Ramban – Rabbi Nachmanides – ties this to the idea that loving God should (just …

Topics covered: Chapter 1, Mishna 1 How do we know that the mitzvah of yibum overrides the prohibition on marrying your brother’s wife/widow, but doesn’t override the prohibition on marrying your wife’s sister? When does a positive mitzvah override a …

Topics covered: Chapter 1, Mishna 1 How did the Sages derive that wives prohibited in levirate marriage do not require the chalitzah ceremony? And that they exempt their co-wives? Why did Abba Shaul state that we discourage yibum and encourage …

Topics covered: Chapter 1, Mishna 1 When a man dies married but childless, and he has a brother, the brother must either marry the widow (yibum) or perform a ceremony releasing them (chalitzah). If the deceased had two or more …

Topics covered: Chapter 3, Mishna 3-7 Who is deemed credible when he says his earthenware vessels have not contracted ritual impurity, and who is not? Why does the answer change during pilgrimage festivals? How would the priests serving in the …