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Kiddushin 3:8-9

Kiddushin 3:8

If a father claims to have given his daughter in betrothal, or to have given her in betrothal and accepted a divorce for her, while she was a minor and she is still a minor, he is believed. If he says that he gave her in betrothal and accepted a divorce for her while she was a minor but she is now an adult, he is not believed. If he says that she had been taken captive and he ransomed her (which would keep her from being able to marry a kohein), he is not believed whether she is a minor or an adult. If a person says on his deathbed that he has sons (which would keep his wife from requiring yibum), he is believed; if he says that he has brothers (which would require his wife to undergo yibum), he is not believed. If a man gives his daughter in betrothal without specifying which daughter, any daughter who is a bogeres (i.e., age 12 ½ and up) is not included.

Kiddushin 3:9

If a man has two sets of daughters from two different wives and he says that he gave the eldest in betrothal but he doesn’t remember whether it was the eldest of his older daughters or the eldest of his younger daughters – or maybe it was the youngest of his older daughters who is older than the eldest of his younger daughters – in such a case, all of the girls are prohibited (to marry without first obtaining a get because they are doubtfully betrothed) except for the youngest of his younger daughters; this is the opinion of Rabbi Meir. Rabbi Yosi says that all of the daughters are permitted (to marry without a get) except for the eldest of the older daughters. If he says that he gave the youngest in betrothal but he doesn’t remember whether it was the youngest of his younger daughters or the youngest of his older daughters – or maybe it was the eldest of his younger daughters who is younger than the youngest of his older daughters – in such a case, all of the girls are prohibited except for the eldest of his older daughters; this is the opinion of Rabbi Meir. Rabbi Yosi says that all of the daughters are permitted except for the youngest of the younger daughters.

Author: Rabbi Jack Abramowitz