Study Yevamot folio 41B with parallel Hebrew-English text, traditional commentary, and modern study tools. Free access to Babylonian Talmud online.
due to the mourning period she must observe for her deceased husband.
Talmud: The Talmud questions the Mishnah’s opening clause: Granted, she should not enter into levirate marriage, as she might already be pregnant, which would still not be noticeable during the first 3 months, and perhaps the baby will be viable. In that case it would emerge that she was never su
The Talmud suggests: Let us say that this Mishnah, which states that a pregnant woman should not perform ḥalitza, is a conclusive refutation of the opinion of R' Yoḥanan, who said that a ḥalitza performed with a pregnant woman who later miscarries is considered a valid ḥalitza. The Talmud asks: But
The Talmud deflects this suggestion: No, it is possible that in the Mishnah here, this is the reason that she may not perform ḥalitza: Perhaps the offspring will be viable, in which case although she performed the act of ḥalitza, it is entirely meaningless since it was completely unnecessary, and
The Talmud wonders why this poses a problem: But why not let her perform ḥalitza even though it is possible she is pregnant, and then, if it becomes necessary, require a public announcement to be made for her? The Talmud explains why one should avoid having to rely on a public announcement: Perhaps