The Ritual of Yibum and the Reluctant Brother

Sifrei Devarim 291:1

Curated by Arthur·Told by Maggid·March 24, 2026

(Devarim 25:9) "Then his yevamah shall draw near to him before the eyes of the elders": We are hereby taught that she goes after him to the elders. "before the eyes of the elders … and she shall spit": spittle that is visible to the eyes of the elders.

Themes

Continue Reading

Sifrei DevarimMamzerim and the Ancient Ban on Ammonites and MoabitesThat makes you think, "Wait, what's really going on here?" to one of those tricky bits from Sifrei Devarim 249. It's a fascinating little puzzle concerning mamz Sifrei DevarimRabbi Akiva on Grounds for DivorceIt’s far more than just signing some papers. Rabbi Akiva, a towering figure of Jewish law, weighs in on the matter. He states a husband can divorce his wife "ev Sifrei DevarimConditional Divorce and the Proper Delivery of a GetHand to hand, transaction complete. But as with so much in Jewish law, scratching the surface reveals layers of fascinating complexity. to a passage from Sifrei Letter of AristeasSeptuagint Studies TorahOur tale begins with a letter – the Letter of Aristeas, to be precise. It purports to be from a courtier named Aristeas to his brother Philocrates, recounting t Letter of AristeasEleazar Studies TorahThe Letter of Aristeas, a fascinating peek into the world of 3rd-century BCE Alexandria, gives us a clue. It's framed as a letter from Aristeas, an official in Letter of AristeasHow the Septuagint Translators Spent Their DaysLetter of Aristeas turns to How the Septuagint Translators Spent Their Days. So, what was a typical day like for these luminaries? Well, according to the Letter