Do the halachos of Yibum and Chalitzah apply (Rachmana Li'tzlan, Hashem Yishmor) to the widow/ brother(s) of a person who died via suicide?
(ie is this type of death different than other types of deaths)
Mi Yodeya is a question and answer site for those who base their lives on Jewish law and tradition and anyone interested in learning more. It only takes a minute to sign up.
Sign up to join this communityDo the halachos of Yibum and Chalitzah apply (Rachmana Li'tzlan, Hashem Yishmor) to the widow/ brother(s) of a person who died via suicide?
(ie is this type of death different than other types of deaths)
It appears there is no difference between suicide and other forms of death as pertains to yibum and chalitza. Rabbi Moshe Rozin, a 20th century posek (Lithuania and New York) was asked to rule on the case of a widow whose husband had committed suicide and the whereabouts of the brother-in-law were unknown. (See footnote 71 herein 1). He found room for leniency and allowed her to remarry without chalitzah, but the manner in which her husband died was not germane to the ruling.