1,914. A Better Chalitzah vs. a Lesser Chalitzah

Yibum v’Chalitzah 5:10

If a yavam simply performs chalitzah with the yevama without any other action preceding it, it is known as “a better chalitzah.” If chalitzah was preceded by a get or maamar, either from this yavam or from one of the other brothers, to either this yevama or one of the other widows, it is known as “a lesser chalitzah.”

Yibum v’Chalitzah 5:11

If there are many yevamos in one household, once any of them has engaged in valid relations or performed a better chalitzah, then all the widows become permitted to remarry and their levirate bonds are severed. If one of them engaged in invalid relations or was given an invalid maamar, then none of the widows are permitted to perform yibum. Rather, the one who participated in the relations or received the maamar must be given a get and one of them [some say: each of them] must perform chalitzah in order to be permitted to remarry. This is because invalid relations do not sever the levirate bond.