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Our Daf deals with the relationship between the yavam (the brother upon whom the commandment of yibum falls) and the yevama (the widow) prior to their fulfilling the commandment of yibum or, alternatively, their decision to perform halitza, which will effectively end their familial connection?
Could the brother choose to marry one of the yevama’s immediate relatives (e.g. her mother or her sister), or would that be tantamount to marrying a forbidden woman to whom he is related through marriage?
To deal with this question, the Gemara introduces the concept of zika and teaches that there is an argument whether zika exists between the yavam and the yevama.
Our daf records a dispute with regard to whether "Yesh Zikah" or "Ein Zikah" -- is the bond of Zikah between the Yevamah and the Yavam comparable to the bond of marriage?
Rav Huna in the name of Rav maintains "Ein Zikah," and Rav Yehudah maintains "Yesh Zikah.”
How strong is it? Do we say that it is almost like marriage that already exists?
In a related t'shuvah regarding zikuk, the Chasam Sofer, cites the Zohar which emphasizes that the niftar suffers until yibum or chalizah is performed…
which leads us to explore the relative weight the zohar plays in halachic decision making and instances where halacha differs from the zohar.