1,904. A Meaningless Chalitzah vs. an Invalid Chalitzah

Yibum v’Chalitzah 4:25

If the yavam raises an objection regarding chalitzah, it is invalid. Therefore, the judges should tell him to nullify all of his objections, the same as they do when it comes to a get. What if Jews physically coerce a yavam to perform chalitzah? If they’re acting under the law, the chalitzah is valid; if they’re not acting under the law, such as if they’re unlearned or they made a mistake, then the chalitzah is invalid. What if non-Jews physically coerce a yavam to perform chalitzah? If they acted on their own in a case where the law would require chalitzah, it is invalid. If they act not according to law, then the chalitzah is altogether meaningless.

Yibum v’Chalitzah 4:26

When we say that an act of chalitzah is meaningless or no chalitzah at all, the meaning is that it’s as if chalitzah had never been performed. The yavam doesn’t become prohibited to the yevama’s relatives, nor is she disqualified from marrying a kohein, and yibum can still be performed. When we say that the chalitzah is invalid, the yavam becomes prohibited to the yevama’s relatives and she is disqualified from marrying a kohein. She also becomes prohibited to all of her husband’s surviving brothers and yibum may no longer be performed. Nevertheless, the yevama may not marry another man until she performs a valid chalitzah.