Yevamot 27 - April 3, 2 Nissan

Study Guide Yevamot 27 Presentation in PDF format.  Today's daf is dedicated by Natasha Shabat in memory of Miriam Chaya bat R'fael, taken from us too soon, on March 24th. "From St. Paul Academy, to Harvard, to my many trips back to Minneapolis over the years, I always looked up to you as a model of yirat shamayim and pure love of HaShem." Two explanations are brought to explain Shmuel's position of what is done when three sisters fall to yibum to two brothers. The first explanation is that one brother can do chalitza for all three. A question is raised on this as Shmuel does not think that a weak chalitza will work - if so, how does he permit one brother to do chalitza for all the sisters when there is another brother who can do a better chalitza to the second sister. As a result of this difficulty, the first explanation is modified. Once Shmuel's second explanation is brought, the Gemara delves into the statement of Shmuel regarding a weakened chalitza and discusses various statements of Shmuel regarding situations where it is preferable to do chalitza with one wife over the other. Again, there are two different explanations brought to explain one of the cases that Shmuel brings. One assumes Shmuel doesn't hold by zika and the other assumes he does. Another question regarding preferences for chalitza is asked and answered. If two sisters fall to one brother, what is done? What if one of them dies? Does it matter which one? Rav and Rabbi Yochanan disagree on this matter. A question is raised on each opinion.