Yevamot II 103: Chalitza and Shoe Trivia

We learn numerous interesting facts regarding the removal of the yavam's shoe in chalitza in today's daf.  Amputeeism, club foot, euphemisms regarding feet and genitals, size and materials of shoes, placement of shoes, Yael and benefits to those who are wicked, and contact with ritual impurity.

Because chalitza requires that the yavam 'stands', amputeeism is at issue.  Certainly one need to be able to stand to perform chalitza.  If he is missing a leg, does the wooden prosthesis stand in for his foot?  What if the prosthesis extends past his knee?  And what about those who cannot stand on their feet due to a condition like club foot?  Their feet, including their heels, should be flat on the floor, the rabbis have determined.  Do those who cannot put their feet on the ground forego the ritual of chalitza?

An interesting conversation teaches us about ways that feet are used as euphemisms for genitals.  The Gemara provides us with a number of examples, from a baby being born from a woman's feet (which might refer to women squatting while birthing) to poetic language where one "falls at her feet", or has intercourse with her.  In fact, the rabbis note that Yael had intercourse seven times with Sisera over the course of one day.  They know this because of such euphemisms.  

And this takes us on a short but fascinating tangent.  How could Yael do such a thing, even in the name of a heroic effort?  This is licentious sexual behaviour.  The Gemara tells us that even if Yael had reason to sin in this way, she would be experiencing pleasure through these sexual acts.  Who benefits from a righteous act?  This question could open a lengthy exploration about whether or not one must suffer while fighting against wickedness.  Is there any pleasure to be enjoyed along the way?  Or does that take away from the righteous act?

Another glaring point is the rabbi's assumption that Yael would have enjoyed each of these sexual encounters with Sisera.  Do the rabbis believe that women always enjoy intercourse?  Certainly many women did not find intercourse particularly pleasurable, especially when procreation and the proper dissemination of semen (I'm noticing that choice of words) was of primary concern.  Women's pleasure was of course part of their obligation, of course, but was pleasure assumed to always accompany intercourse?  I can't imagine enjoying intercourse with an enemy I was preparing to murder... but maybe that's just me.

The shoes for chalitza were kept aside, where the judges would witness this act, but they had to fit the yavam - not too tight, not too loose.  They had to have a heel at the back of the shoe and they had to be hard enough to protect the foot, perhaps leather or wood or both.   The yevam would walk in those shoes to make them 'his', and then stand while the yevama knelt and removed his foot from the shoe.  If that shoe had come into contact with ritual impurity, it would have to be 'treated' in the same way a leper would be treated.  But the rabbis seem to have worked hard to ensure that chalitza was as easy as possible to perform.