Halacha2goThe one minute halacha

252. Yibbum vs. Chalitzah 

If a married man dies childless, chas v’sholom, according to halachah the widow’s brother must choose between two possible options in order to remarry. One is the mitzvah of yibbum: The brother of the deceased husband marries the widow, and the other is the mitzvah of chalitzah, so named because as part of the procedure the widow removes the shoe of her deceased husband’s brother. There is a difference of opinion among poskim as to which of the two is preferred. Amongst Ashkenazim, the custom is to perform chalitzah, and yibbum is almost never practiced nowadays. Amongst Sephardim, either yibbum or chalitzah are legitimate options, with a preference for yibbum; however, in our time the prevalent custom among Sephardim as well is to perform chalitzah. Years ago, the rabbinate in Eretz Yisroel instituted the performance of chalitzah, to the exclusion of yibum. Nonetheless, there are rare cases in the Sephardi community even these days, that if both parties are in agreement, yibbum is practiced. #252^?1