Julian Ungar-Sargon

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Daf Ditty

A wide-ranging commentary on the daily page of Talmud.

Yevamot 28: Marrying Two sisters...Yaakov a Model for Polygamy

jyungar April 4, 2022

For the source text click/tap here: Yevamot 28

To download, click/tap here: PDF

The Mishna on our daf teaches that although the Tanna Kamma requires that both widows receive halitza, there is an opinion – Rabbi Shimon – that rules that these two sisters are permitted to marry whoever they want without a need for halitza (the brother certainly cannot marry both sisters, a relationship that is forbidden by the Torah).

The Gemara  suggests that Rabbi Shimon does not require halitza for these sisters because of his reading of the passage in Vayikra (18:18) that forbids marrying two sisters. He understands that the pasuk teaches that when sisters somehow gain the status of tzarot (rival wives), as they do in our case, neither of them will be permitted. 

We explore the biblical origin of polygamy and the way chazal explain Yaakov Avinu’s marrying two sisters. from a halachic standpoint.We then examine a modern society (Mormons) who used the biblical narrative of Jacob to rationalize their practice.

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Julian Ungar-Sargon

This is Julian Ungar-Sargon's personal website. It contains poems, essays, and podcasts for the spiritual seeker and interdisciplinary aficionado.​