Yevamos 102a: The Great Chalitzah Crisis — The Heter

A Chalitzah crisis in the 20th century ignited a major controversy across the Torah world: could a Yevamah who could not appear personally appoint a shaliach to perform her role in Chalitzah? We explore the lomdus behind the remarkable heter — perhaps the Yavam and Yevamah are fundamentally different. The Yevamah performs a maaseh Chalitzah, an action that may be transferable through shlichus, while the Yavam’s physical presence is itself an indispensable part of the Chalitzah. What exactly does the Torah require from each side, and can shlichus accomplish an act when the person herself cannot be there?