Pisqa’ 291⁴⁷³

1. “Then, his widowed sister-in-law shall approach him before the eyes of the elders, loosen his shoe from his foot, and spit before him” (Dt. 25:9)— the spittle must be visible to the elders. “Before the eyes” (Dt. 25:9)— this teaches that she must be together with him in the presence of the elders.⁴⁷⁴ 291.2.

footnotes: ⁴⁷³ H:282-283: JN2:254-256 ⁴⁷⁴ Repeated below at Pisqa’

2. “Loosen his shoe” (Dt. 25:9)— I infer only that his shoe is loosened. How do I know that **the shoe can belong to others?**⁴⁷⁵

“The House-of-Loose-Shoes” (Dt. 25:10)— any [shoe can be loosened].

“She shall loosen his shoe (Dt. 25:9)?”— this excludes a shoe too big to walk in, and one too small to cover most of his foot, or slippers without a heel-piece— for the loosening of any of these **disqualifies the release.**⁴⁷⁶

footnotes: ⁴⁷⁵ Cf. M.Yev.12:2. ⁴⁷⁶ cf. M.Yev.12:1-2.

“From his foot” (Dt. 25:9)— here, foot (Dt. 25:9) is specified, and elsewhere, foot (Lv. 14:14) is specified. Just as foot mentioned elsewhere refers to his right foot (Lv. 14:14), so, too, foot mentioned here refers to his right foot. “From his foot” (Dt. 25:9)— on this basis you can teach: [If she unlaced the shoe] from the knee downward, her loosening is valid. From the knee upward, her loosening is disqualified **[since the shoe will remain on the foot].**⁴⁷⁷

footnotes: ⁴⁷⁷ //M. Yev. 12:1.

“And spit before him” (Dt. 25:9)— is it possible to say that she spits directly into his face?

“Before the eyes of the elders” (Dt. 25:9)— **actually, the spittle must be visible to the elders.**⁴⁷⁸ 291.1. On this basis they taught: If she released the shoe, spat, but didn’t declaim⁴⁷⁹; literally, “read out loud” [from a prepared text]. Root: q-r-‘. — her act of loosening is valid [for release from the levirate bond is accomplished by actions, not words alone]. Had she declaimed and spat, but didn’t loosened the shoe— her act of release would be disqualified [since she has not completed it]. Had she released the shoe, declaimed, but not spit—

Her act of loosening would be disqualified [since she has not performed all its elements].

**Her act of loosening is valid.**⁴⁸⁰

footnotes: ⁴⁷⁸ Cf. Pisqa’ ⁴⁷⁹ Heb: qar’a ⁴⁸⁰ =M.Yev.12:3.

“Then she shall respond, saying” (Dt. 25:9)— here, response **(**Dt. 25:9) is specified, and elsewhere, response (Dt. 27:15) is specified. Just as response mentioned elsewhere refers to response in the sacral tongue (Dt. 27:15), so, too, response ****mentioned here **refers to response in the sacral tongue.**⁴⁸¹ refers to the proclamation of biblical texts in the course of a ritual act. See also Pisqa’ 301.1.

footnotes: ⁴⁸¹ =Cf. M.Sot.7:2. The Hebrew term, leshon hadodesh,

3. “Thus shall be done to the man who will not build his brother’s household!” (Dt. 27:9)— R. Eliezer says: He hasn’t built it yet, nor is he about to build it.

“Thus shall be done to the man” (Dt. 27:9)— thus implies that the release is ineffective, if the act [of spitting] is omitted.

From this [exegesis you claim] proof? “Thus shall be done to the man” (Dt. 27:9— the man implies that any action affecting the man must be carried out.

Her failure to release the shoe or to spit disqualify the release. ⁴⁸² “And his name will be called . . . the House-of-Loose-Shoes” (Dt. 25:10)— R. Ishmael says: loosening the shoe [indicates his refusal] to bed her, while spitting [indicates his denial to her of his] semen.

footnotes: ⁴⁸² =M/Yev.12:3; cf. T.Yev.12:15.

4. “And his name will be called in Israel” (Dt. 25:10)— here, in Israel (Dt. 25:10) is specified, and elsewhere, in Israel (Dt. 25:7) is specified. Just as in Israel mentioned elsewhere (Dt. 25:7) excludes the [rite of] loosening the shoe from the jurisdiction of a court of proselytes, so, too, in Israel mentioned here excludes a court of proselytes from presiding.

“The House-of-Loose-Shoes” (Dt. 25:10)— this requirement falls upon the judges, but not upon the disciples.

**“Loose Shoes!”, “Loose shoes!”**⁴⁸³

One time we were sitting in study before R. Tarfon,

**“Loose shoes!”, “Loose shoes!”**⁴⁸⁴

footnotes: ⁴⁸³ //M.Yev.12:10. ⁴⁸⁴ =T.Yev.12:15.