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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)

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    I don't understand what is the question, is it because he didn't want children?
    – kouty
    Sep 4, 2019 at 3:59
  • @kouty does he receive a "penalty" (of sorts) for this and not have this mitzvah be applicable in this instance
    – alicht
    Sep 4, 2019 at 4:00
  • 2
    Similar question about another random method of death also prompting yibbum judaism.stackexchange.com/q/16479/759
    – Double AA
    Sep 4, 2019 at 13:48

1 Answer 1

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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.

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