We present here a general overview of the practical laws of chalitza. There are many details involved. For this reason, in addition to the laws of chalitza in Shulchan Aruch, the Beis Yosef found it necessary to write a “Seder Chalitza B'Ktzara - Concise Order of Chalitza." Even this “concise" version includes 57 paragraphs.
Preparing the location: The day before the chalitza takes place, a location must be arranged. Three judges tell two other people, “Tomorrow we will go to sit in that place, to oversee a chalitza" (Seder Chalitza, 67). We learn this obligation from the possuk, “His yavama must ascend to the gate [of Beis Din]" (Devarim 25:7). “The gate" imply a known and prearranged place (Rashi 101b).
The yavama must fast: The day before the chalitza, Beis Din sends messengers to the yavama, informing her that she must not eat on the day of the chalitza before the chalitza takes place. The morning of the chalitza, they return to remind her. This is because when she spits on the floor at the yavam's feet, she must spit voluntarily, and not as a reaction to a sharp taste in her mouth (see 106a). Theoretically, it would be enough to refrain from eating spicy foods. However, the custom developed to refrain from eating entirely.
The yavam must wash his foot: The day before the chalitza, it is customary for the yavam to wash his foot, in order to make it easier for him to wash again before the chalitza. The foot from which the shoe is removed must be perfectly clean, in order that there be no chatzitza between it and the shoe.
Reciting the pesukim: The day before the chalitza, Beis Din must ascertain that both the yavam and the yavama are old enough and halachically eligible for chalitza. They are taught the pesukim that they must recite during the chalitza. The yavama recites, “My yavam has refused to establish for his brother a name in Israel. He does not wish (lo ava) to do yibum with me." The words lo ava must be recited in one breath. Otherwise, the yavama's proclamation might be misinterpreted to mean, “My yavam has refused to establish for his brother a name in Israel. He does not," – meaning he does not refuse, but rather “he wishes to do yibum with me" (Beis Shmuel, Shulchan Aruch E.H. 169:29, s.k. 27; based on Yevamos 106b, Rashi).
Publicizing the chalitza: Present at the chalitza, there must be three judges, the two others mentioned above, and at least another five people, to complete a minyan. From the group of people present, Beis Din chooses two kosher witnesses, who must verify that the husband died without children, that this woman is his widow, that the man is his brother, and other similar questions. It is then announced before the entire congregation that the age and eligibility of the yavam and yavama have already been established. All this information was already known to Beis Din, but it must be announced again before all those assembled, to publicize and give credence to the chalitza.
Purchasing the shoe: The yavam then washes his foot, acquires the shoe through a legally valid purchase, and places it on his right foot. A left footed yavam must wear two shoes, to perform chalitza with them both (Shulchan Aruch E.H. 169:25). Beis Din explains to the yavam and yavama the significance of the chalitza, and then they both recite their pesukim.
Untying the shoe: The yavama unties the shoe, removes it (with no one helping her), and then spits on the floor at the feet of the yavam. She then recites the possuk, “So shall be done to the man who does not build his brother's house. His name in Israel shall be called, ‘The House of the Removed Shoe.'" All those present respond three times, “Removed shoe" (ibid, 42).
The beracha for chalitza: After the chalitza is completed, Beis Din offers a short prayer, “May it be Your will that the daughters of Israel never require chalitza or yibum" (Seder Chalitza, 56). The Beis Yosef concludes his Kuntrus HaChalitza by stating that he found in an Ashkenazic siddur a beracha for chalitza, “Blessed are You HaShem... Who has sanctified us with His commandments and commanded us in the mitzvos and statues of Avraham Avinu." This refers to the Midrash that Avraham Avinu was given the mitzva of chalitza, which involves untying a shoe, as reward for refusing to take any reward for his war against the four kings: “From string to shoe strap, I will not take anything that is yours. You will not say, ‘I have made Avraham rich'" (Bereishis 14:23). Rashi explains that Avraham wanted everyone to know that it was HaShem alone who had granted him wealth.
Not going near water: The Sdei Chemed (V, 125) cites an interesting Ashkenazic custom to impose a cheirum forbidding the yavam and yavama from going near a source of water from the time of the chalitza until the end of the day. The Sdei Chemed investigated the source of this custom, and discovered that people once entertained the false notion that chalitza is dangerous for the yavam and yavama. Whichever of them would reach water first would live, and the other would die. (A similar thing is said of the arad snake. After it bites its victim, it rushes to water. If it reaches water first, the victim dies. If the victim reaches first, the snake dies.) As a result of this notion, the yavam and yavama would endanger each other’s lives, in their mad rush to reach water first. Therefore, the custom developed to forbid them both from going near water.
