To do Chalitzah (freeing a widow from yibum)

This mitzvah commands performing chalitzah when the surviving brother does not wish to marry his childless brother’s widow. The chalitzah ceremony formally severs the bond of levirate marriage, allowing the widow to remarry freely. It involves the widow removing the brother-in-law’s shoe before the elders and declaring the release of obligation. Though the Torah presents yibbum as the primary mitzvah, rabbinic tradition emphasized chalitzah to ensure that marriages are founded on pure intentions and not ulterior motives.

Commentary & Classical Explanation:

• Rambam (Hilchot Yibbum v’Chalitzah 4:1): Describes the detailed process of chalitzah and establishes its validity as a Torah mitzvah.
• Sefer HaChinuch (Mitzvah 599): The root is to uphold family dignity, freeing both the widow and the brother-in-law from forced connection, while preserving respect for the deceased.
• Talmud (Yevamot 39b–40a): Explains that chalitzah is preferable in most cases to ensure the mitzvah is fulfilled without improper intention.