Reb Moishe By A Chalitza

Before the Chalitza shoe is put on

the Yavam, they wash his foot and dry it.

This is done so to make sure there is no 

Chatziza between the foot and the shoe

(E.H. 169:37)

Mori V’rabi Harav Hagaon R.S.Miller Shlita 

said, he had attended a Chalitza where 

R.Moishe Feinstein zt”l. was the Mesader.

It was a fascinating scene to watch  

R. Moishe the Poisek Hador bent over with 

a washcloth and a bowl of water

washing & drying the foot of the Yavam.

Rabbi playing ball

Rabbi playing ball

At a Chalitza  ceremony I had once  attended, the

Rosh Bais Din (head of the 5* Rabonim)

said to the Yavam he had a ball and wanted to practice 

playing soccer (football) with him**.

It was very odd watching a Rav with a long beard

wearing a hat and a long kaftan, playing goalie and 

then switch with the Yavam and play offense.

After 5 minutes of playing, all Rabonim agreed

the need to repeat the Chalitza twice. Once on the 

right foot and a second time  on the left foot.

They observed the Yavam used mostly his left

foot to kick the ball.

There is a Machlokes ( Shulchan Aruch E.H. 169: 24) 

if the Yavam who is left footed can do Chalitza altogether. 

The Rema Paskens they can do Chalitza but it needs to 

be done on both feet. 

*Chalitza requires a Bais Din of 3+2

** I think he had no idea why he was asked to play

Chalitza Ceremony Part II

A cousin of mine- Dr. Rosenbaum shlita from Riverdale, told me that his great great grandfather,  was appointed as a Dayan  at the age of 5 yrs by the Chasam Sofer zt”l.

There was a Chalitza ceremony in the Shulhauf of Pressburg. The Shamash noticed two 5 year old children playing. He chased them away.

The Chasam Sofer who was  there, asked the Shamash to allow the two children to remain there and observe the Chalitza procedure. The Chasam Sofer. explained, “one day these two children will grow up and become Dayanim. They might need to perform a Chalitza. By allowing them to observe, they will be familiar with it".  Both children became Dayanim. His great great grandfather was Dayan in Pressburg as predicted by the Chasam Sofer., when he was only a 5 year old child..  

continuation of excerpts Teshuvas Maharshal #90

After the foot is washed then it is dried with a towel

They  check the shoe to make sure there is no mud or

foreign matter inside the shoe (Chatziza)

He puts on the shoe and ties the straps on his foot (knot & bow)

He walks a few steps , Dayanim observe, that the shoe fits.

He goes to the wall to lean on it lightly so he can forcefully

push down his foot on the ground.

They teach her to say by heart, these two words  לא אבה (he doesn’t want)

They teach him theses two words   לא חפצתי (I don’t want)

Dayan reads and she repeats word for word  the Pasuk of  מאן יבמי להקים

When she reaches to the two words לא אבה she says them in single breadth..

The Yavam answers in single breadth  לא חפצתי

The Yavam pushes his heel to the ground

She bends down (must remain standing)

and undoes the bow knots etc. with her right hand.

(stronger arm,lefty uses left hand)

She holds his foot with her left hand  (so he wouldn’t move it)

She raises his foot with her right hand

she removes the shoe starting from the heel.

The left hand may not assist the right hand.

She stands up with the shoe and throws it

forcefully in front the Yavam.

The Rosh asks her to gather saliva in her mouth.

She spits in front of the Yavam.

All five Dayanim must see the complete removal

of the shoe and the saliva  leaving her mouth till

It hits the ground.

The Rosh reads and she repeats the Pasuk of

ככה יעשה לאיש

All 5 Dayanim callout  three times in loud voices,"חלוץ הנעל   "

They tell her she may now marry whoever she desires.