halitzah

plural halitzot · alternative chalitza · alternative chalitzah · alternative chalizah · alternative halizah · alternative halisah · alternative khalitzah

1. JudaismA rite by which a widow absolves herself of the duty of levirate marriage. It involves making a declaration, removing a shoe, and spitting on the floor.

   To discourage sexual attraction between brothers and sisters-in-law, later Jewish law expressed a clear preference for ḥalitzah (the ritual of the sandal) rather than levirate marriage.

   2001, David L. Lieber, Jules Harlow, Etz Hayim: Torah and Commentary, page 1134

   1 more example

   Halitzah carries with it the implication of shame on the male who by refusing to marry his sister-in-law is guilty of not fulfilling his obligation to his dead brother and his dead brother's estate.

   1995 January 15, AB...@aol.com, “Levirate Marriage”, in soc.genealogy.jewish (Usenet)