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Yevamot 21a

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Yevamot 21a

Yevamot 21a. The full printed text of this folio side — 21 numbered segments, about 455 words — with the classic commentaries printed on the page.

Original text

Segment 1

בְּאַלְמָנָה מִן הַנִּשּׂוּאִין — כּוּלֵּי עָלְמָא לָא פְּלִיגִי דְּלָא פָּטְרָה, דְּאֵין עֲשֵׂה דּוֹחֶה לֹא תַעֲשֶׂה וַעֲשֵׂה. כִּי פְּלִיגִי בְּאַלְמָנָה מִן הָאֵרוּסִין. מַאן דְּאָמַר פּוֹטֶרֶת — אָתֵי עֲשֵׂה וְדָחֵי אֶת לֹא תַעֲשֶׂה. וּמַאן דְּאָמַר אֵינָהּ פּוֹטֶרֶת — לָא אָתֵי עֲשֵׂה וְדָחֵי אֶת לֹא תַעֲשֶׂה, כֵּיוָן דְּאֶפְשָׁר בַּחֲלִיצָה.

As for a widow from marriage, everyone agrees that this does not exempt the rival wife, as a positive mitzva does not override a prohibition and a positive mitzva together. When they disagree, it is in the case of a widow from betrothal. The one who said that it exempts the rival wife holds that the positive mitzva of levirate marriage comes and overrides the prohibition against a High Priest marrying a widow. And the one who said that it does not exempt the rival wife held that a positive mitzva does not come and override a prohibition, since it is possible to perform ḥalitza .

Segment 2

מֵיתִיבִי: וְאִם בָּעֲלוּ קָנוּ! תְּיוּבְתָּא.

The Gemara raises an objection to the opinion that the rival wife would not be exempt, from the previously cited baraita : If one of those yevamin engaged in intercourse, he acquired her as a wife. This shows that the act of levirate marriage is valid, even when prohibited. If so, in the case of the High Priest and a widow as well, her rival wife should be exempt. This is a conclusive refutation, and that opinion is rejected.

Segment 3

לֵימָא תִּיהְוֵי נָמֵי תְּיוּבְתָּא דְּרֵישׁ לָקִישׁ?! אָמַר לָךְ רֵישׁ לָקִישׁ: כִּי אָמֵינָא אֲנָא — הֵיכָא דִּמְקַיְּימִי מִצְוָה, אֲבָל הָכָא, חֲלִיצָה בִּמְקוֹם יִיבּוּם — לָאו מִצְוָה הִיא.

The Gemara asks: Shall we say that this is also a conclusive refutation of the opinion of Reish Lakish and therefore reject his principle? The Gemara answers: Reish Lakish could have said to you: When I say that in every place that you find a positive mitzva and a prohibition applying to the same matter, if you can fulfill both of them together without transgressing the prohibition, this is best, and the positive mitzva does not override the prohibition, this is applicable only when the mitzva is fulfilled properly; but here, ḥalitza in place of levirate marriage is not considered a proper fulfillment of the mitzva.

Segment 4

אָמַר רָבָא: רֶמֶז לִשְׁנִיּוֹת מִן הַתּוֹרָה מִנַּיִן — שֶׁנֶּאֱמַר: ״כִּי אֶת כׇּל הַתּוֹעֵבוֹת הָאֵל עָשׂוּ אַנְשֵׁי הָאָרֶץ״, ״הָאֵל״ — קָשׁוֹת, מִכְּלָל דְּאִיכָּא רַכּוֹת, וּמַאי נִינְהוּ — שְׁנִיּוֹת.

§ Rava said: Where is the prohibition against secondary forbidden relationships hinted at in the Torah? As it is stated at the end of the portion discussing forbidden incestuous relations: “For all these abominations have the men of the land done” (Leviticus 18:27). “These” must be understood to mean the harsh ones, i.e., the severe transgressions. This proves by inference that there are also lesser transgressions that are, as it were, soft ones. And what are those soft ones? They are secondary forbidden relationships.

Segment 5

וּמַאי מַשְׁמַע דְּ״הָאֵל״ לִישָּׁנָא דְקָשֶׁה הוּא — דִּכְתִיב: ״וְאֶת אֵילֵי הָאָרֶץ לָקָח״.

The Gemara asks: From where may it be inferred that the word “these” [ ha’el ] is an expression meaning harsh? As it is written: “And the mighty [ eilei ] of the land he took away” (Ezekiel 17:13). The similarity of these words implies that “these” also has connotations of mighty or harsh.

Segment 6

לֵימָא פְּלִיגָא דְּרַבִּי לֵוִי, דְּאָמַר רַבִּי לֵוִי: קָשֶׁה עוֹנְשָׁן שֶׁל מִדּוֹת יוֹתֵר מֵעוֹנְשָׁן שֶׁל עֲרָיוֹת, שֶׁזֶּה נֶאֱמַר בָּהֶן ״אֵל״, וְזֶה נֶאֱמַר בָּהֶן ״אֵלֶּה״! ״אֵל״ קָשֶׁה, וְ״אֵלֶּה״ קָשֶׁה מֵ״אֵל״.

The Gemara asks: Shall we say that this statement contradicts the opinion of Rabbi Levi? As Rabbi Levi said: The harshness of the punishment for using dishonest measures is more than the punishment for transgressing the prohibition of forbidden relationships, as with regard to this, forbidden relations, it is stated only: “These [ el ],” whereas with regard to that, dishonest measures, it is stated: “These [ eleh ]” with an additional letter heh as a suffix: “For all that do these [ eleh ] things, even all that do unrighteously, are an abomination unto the Lord your God” (Deuteronomy 25:16). This implies that the word eleh indicates harshness and not the word el . The Gemara answers: This does not contradict his opinion. The word el has the connotation of harsh, but eleh has the connotation of even harsher than el .

Segment 7

גַּבֵּי עֲרָיוֹת נָמֵי הָא כְּתִיב ״אֵלֶּה״! הָהוּא לְמַעוֹטֵי מִדּוֹת מִכָּרֵת.

The Gemara asks: With regard to forbidden relationships the word eleh is also written: “For whosoever shall do any of these [ eleh ] abominations, even the souls that do them shall be cut off from among their people” (Leviticus 18:29). If so, why is the punishment for using dishonest measures considered harsher? The Gemara answers: That expression meaning these [ eleh ] in the context of forbidden relations does not emphasize their severity; rather, it comes to exclude one who uses deception in measures from the penalty of karet .

Segment 8

אֶלָּא מַאי חוּמְרַיְיהוּ? הָנֵי — אֶפְשָׁר בִּתְשׁוּבָה, הָנֵי — לָא אֶפְשָׁר בִּתְשׁוּבָה.

The Gemara asks: Rather, in what way is deception in measurements more severe than forbidden relations? The Gemara answers: Those who engage in forbidden relations have the possibility of repentance. If one engaged in relations with a forbidden relative he can rectify the sin through repentance. In the case of those who deceive the public with dishonest measures, it is not possible to repent fully because, having deceived the general public, they have no way of returning the money. Whereas generally a thief can return stolen property to its rightful owner, one who used dishonest measures with multiple customers has no way to track them all down in order to return the money.

Segment 9

רַב יְהוּדָה אָמַר מֵהָכָא: ״וְאִזֵּן וְחִקֵּר תִּקֵּן מְשָׁלִים הַרְבֵּה״, וְאָמַר עוּלָּא אָמַר רַבִּי אֶלְעָזָר: קוֹדֶם שֶׁבָּא שְׁלֹמֹה, הָיְתָה תּוֹרָה דּוֹמָה לִכְפִיפָה שֶׁאֵין לָהּ אׇזְנַיִם, עַד שֶׁבָּא שְׁלֹמֹה וְעָשָׂה לָהּ אׇזְנַיִם.

Rav Yehuda said that the prohibition of secondary forbidden relationships is learned from here: As it says with regard to King Solomon: “He weighed [ izzen ] and sought out, and set in order many proverbs” (Ecclesiastes 12:9), and Ulla said that Rabbi Elazar said: Before Solomon came, the Torah was like a basket [ kefifa ] without handles [ oznayim ], until Solomon came and made handles for it. By means of his explanation and proverbs he enabled each person to understand and take hold of the Torah, fulfill its mitzvot, and distance himself from transgressions.

Segment 10

רַבִּי אוֹשַׁעְיָא אָמַר מֵהָכָא: ״פְּרָעֵהוּ אַל תַּעֲבׇר בּוֹ שְׂטֵה מֵעָלָיו וַעֲבוֹר״.

Rabbi Oshaya said that the prohibition of secondary forbidden relationships is learned from here: “Avoid it, pass not by it; turn from it, and pass on” (Proverbs 4:15). One must distance oneself from any prohibited act and not pass near a place of forbidden objects or situations.

Segment 11

אָמַר רַב אָשֵׁי: מָשָׁל דְּרַבִּי אוֹשַׁעְיָא לְמָה הַדָּבָר דּוֹמֶה — לְאָדָם מְשַׁמֵּר פַּרְדֵּס, מְשַׁמְּרוֹ מִבַּחוּץ — כּוּלּוֹ מִשְׁתַּמֵּר. מְשַׁמְּרוֹ מִבִּפְנִים, שֶׁלְּפָנָיו — מִשְׁתַּמֵּר, שֶׁלְּאַחֲרָיו — אֵינוֹ מִשְׁתַּמֵּר. וְהָא דְּרַב אָשֵׁי בְּדוּתָא הִיא. הָתָם, שֶׁלְּפָנָיו מִיהָא מִשְׁתַּמֵּר. הָכָא, אִי לָאו שְׁנִיּוֹת, פָּגַע בְּעֶרְוָה גּוּפַהּ.

Rav Ashi said a parable: To what is this matter, the opinion of Rabbi Oshaya, comparable? It is comparable to a man guarding an orchard; if he guards it from the outside, all of it is guarded. But if he guards it from the inside, only that which is in front of him that he can see is guarded, while that which is behind him is unguarded. The Gemara comments: And this parable of Rav Ashi is a mistake [ beduta ] and is not accurate. There, in his metaphor, that which is in front of him at least is guarded; here, in the case of forbidden relationships, were it not for the rabbinic decree against secondary forbidden relationships one would eventually encounter and transgress the biblically forbidden relationship itself. Guarding from the outside is not only preferable, it is essential.

Segment 12

רַב כָּהֲנָא אָמַר מֵהָכָא: ״וּשְׁמַרְתֶּם אֶת מִשְׁמַרְתִּי״ — עֲשׂוּ מִשְׁמֶרֶת לְמִשְׁמַרְתִּי.

Rav Kahana said that the prohibition of secondary forbidden relationships is alluded to from here, in the verse stated at the conclusion of the verses discussing the halakhot of forbidden relationships: “Therefore shall you protect [ ushmartem ] My prized possession [ mishmarti ], that you do not any of these abominable customs” (Leviticus 18:30). This means: Establish a safeguard [ mishmeret ] for My prized possession.

Segment 13

אֲמַר לֵיהּ אַבָּיֵי לְרַב יוֹסֵף: הָא דְּאוֹרָיְיתָא הִיא! דְּאוֹרָיְיתָא, וּפֵירְשׁוּ רַבָּנַן. כׇּל הַתּוֹרָה נָמֵי פֵּירְשׁוּ רַבָּנַן! אֶלָּא: מִדְּרַבָּנַן, וּקְרָא אַסְמַכְתָּא בְּעָלְמָא.

Abaye said to Rav Yosef: If the prohibition against secondary forbidden relationships is learned from here then it would be by Torah law, yet the prohibition against secondary forbidden relationships is by rabbinic law. He answered him: The requirement to add an additional safeguard itself is in fact by Torah law, and the Sages interpreted and defined where and when to apply this law. Abaye objected: But isn’t all of the Torah also interpreted by the Sages and yet has the force of Torah law? In that case, why are these laws considered to be rabbinic? Rather, the prohibition of secondary forbidden relationships was decreed by rabbinic law, and the verse is a mere support but does not indicate a Torah law.

Segment 14

תָּנוּ רַבָּנַן, מָה הֵם שְׁנִיּוֹת: אֵם אִמּוֹ, וְאֵם אָבִיו, וְאֵשֶׁת אֲבִי אָבִיו, וְאֵשֶׁת אֲבִי אִמּוֹ, וְאֵשֶׁת אֲחִי הָאָב מִן הָאֵם, וְאֵשֶׁת אֲחִי הָאֵם מִן הָאָב, וְכַלַּת בְּנוֹ, וְכַלַּת בִּתּוֹ. וּמוּתָּר אָדָם בְּאֵשֶׁת חָמִיו וּבְאֵשֶׁת חוֹרְגוֹ, וְאָסוּר בְּבַת חוֹרְגוֹ. וְחוֹרְגוֹ מוּתָּר בְּאִשְׁתּוֹ וּבִתּוֹ.

§ The Sages taught in a baraita : What are the secondary forbidden relationships that were prohibited? His mother’s mother, and his father’s mother, and his father’s father’s wife, and his mother’s father’s wife, and the wife of his father’s maternal half brother, and the wife of his mother’s paternal half brother, and his son’s daughter-in-law, and his daughter’s daughter-in-law. A man is permitted to take his father-in-law’s former wife, provided she is not the mother of his wife, and his stepson’s wife, if the stepson died or divorced her. And he is prohibited from marrying the daughter of his stepson. And it is permitted for one’s stepson to marry the stepfather’s wife or daughter.

Segment 15

וְאֵשֶׁת חוֹרְגוֹ אוֹמֶרֶת לוֹ: אֲנִי מוּתֶּרֶת לְךָ, וּבִתִּי אֲסוּרָה לָךְ.

Due to these rabbinic decrees concerning stepsons, unusual situations might arise. For example: And his stepson’s wife says to him, i.e., her husband’s stepfather, I am permitted to you, but my daughter is forbidden to you, since she is your stepson’s daughter.

Segment 16

בַּת חוֹרְגוֹ דְּאוֹרָיְיתָא הִיא, דִּכְתִיב: ״אֶת בַּת בְּנָהּ וְאֶת בַּת בִּתָּהּ״! מִשּׁוּם דְּקָבָעֵי לְמִיתְנֵי סֵיפָא: אֵשֶׁת חוֹרְגוֹ אוֹמֶרֶת לוֹ: ״אֲנִי מוּתֶּרֶת לְךָ וּבִתִּי אֲסוּרָה לְךָ״, וְאַף עַל גַּב דְּבִתִּי אֲסוּרָה לְךָ מִדְּאוֹרָיְיתָא, בְּדִידִי לָא גְּזוּר בִּיה רַבָּנַן — תְּנָא רֵישָׁא נָמֵי בַּת חוֹרְגוֹ.

The Gemara challenges that which is stated in the baraita : His stepson’s daughter is not a secondary relation by rabbinic law. She is forbidden by Torah law, since the daughter of his stepson is the daughter of his wife’s son, as it is written: “You shall not take her son’s daughter or her daughter’s daughter” (Leviticus 18:17). The Gemara answers: This case was included because the baraita wanted to teach the latter clause, which states: His stepson’s wife says to him: I am permitted to you, but my daughter is forbidden to you. And although my daughter is forbidden to you by Torah law, nevertheless the Sages did not issue a decree forbidding me. Therefore, the case of his stepson’s daughter was also taught in the first clause, even though she is forbidden by Torah law and is not a secondary relation.

Segment 17

אִי הָכִי, אֵשֶׁת חָמִיו נָמֵי תֵּימָא: אֲנִי מוּתֶּרֶת לְךָ וּבִתִּי אֲסוּרָה לָךְ, דְּהָוְיָא אֲחוֹת אִשְׁתּוֹ! הָא פְּסִיקָא לֵיהּ, הָא לָא פְּסִיקָא לֵיהּ.

The Gemara raises an objection: If so, that the baraita wished to teach this peculiarity, then why did it not teach: His father-in-law’s wife also says: I am permitted to you and my daughter is forbidden to you, as she is his wife’s sister. The Gemara answers: This matter is conclusive for him. In other words, his stepson’s wife is forever permitted and his stepson’s daughter is always forbidden to him. But as for the matter of his father-in-law’s wife’s daughter, this is not conclusive for him. This ruling is not final and might change, since if his wife dies her sister is permitted to him.

Segment 18

אָמַר רַב, אַרְבַּע נָשִׁים יֵשׁ לָהֶן הֶפְסֵק. נָקֵיט רַב בִּידֵיהּ תְּלָת: אֵשֶׁת אֲחִי הָאֵם מִן הָאָב, וְאֵשֶׁת אֲחִי הָאָב מִן הָאֵם, וְכַלָּתוֹ. וּזְעֵירִי מוֹסִיף אַף אֵשֶׁת אֲבִי אִמּוֹ. אָמַר רַב נַחְמָן בַּר יִצְחָק, וְסִימָנָיךְ: דְּעִילַּאי, דְּרַב.

Rav said that he received a tradition with regard to secondary forbidden relationships that four women have a conclusion; i.e., the prohibition does not continue to later generations but applies only to those women who were mentioned explicitly. Rav held three of them in his hand; he knew with certainty three of the four categories. They were: The wife of his mother’s paternal half brother, and the wife of his father’s maternal half brother, and his daughter-in-law. And Ze’eiri adds: Also the wife of his mother’s father. Rav Naḥman bar Yitzḥak said: And your mnemonic for remembering who said what is as follows: Ze’eiri adds an extra generation on top of the prohibitions of Rav, i.e., the wife of his mother’s father, which Rav did not mention.

Segment 19

וְרַב מַאי טַעְמָא לָא חָשֵׁיב לֵיהּ? מִיחַלְּפָא לֵיהּ בְּאֵשֶׁת אֲבִי אָבִיו.

The Gemara asks: And what is the reason that Rav did not reckon this category mentioned by Ze’eiri to be among those who have a conclusion? The Gemara answers: In his opinion, this category might be mistakenly switched with the category of the wife of his father’s father, which does not have a conclusion. With regard to the wife of his father, the prohibition applies equally to the wife of all ancestors in the father’s line. Therefore, according to Rav, the Sages also included the ancestors of the mother’s father’s wife as secondary forbidden relationships.

Segment 20

וּזְעֵירִי? לְהָתָם שְׁכִיחַ וְאָזֵיל, לְהָכָא לָא שְׁכִיחַ וְאָזֵיל.

The Gemara asks: And why is Ze’eiri not concerned that the two categories will become confused? The Gemara answers: He is often found there, in his father’s father’s home, and goes there frequently, but here, to his mother’s household, he is not commonly found to go. Since he goes to his father’s home frequently, he knows that his father’s relatives are forbidden to him, and he will not confuse them with his mother’s relatives.

Segment 21

כַּלָּתוֹ

Among the women enumerated by Rav is his daughter-in-law.

Yevamot 21a

Yevamot 21a

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