Kiddushin: Difference between revisions

While today's engagement's only correspond to dating in a halachic sense<ref>See Mishna Brurah 493:3</ref>, there is a process called Kiddushin which is the halachic act of engagement.<ref>Kiddushin 2a, Rambam (Ishut 1:2). Rav Hershel Schachter in B’ikvei Hatzon p. 195 writes that Kiddushin establishes a woman as a married woman not yet in her husband’s domain (eshet ish shelo b’bet habaal), while Nesuin give her the status of a married woman living in her husband’s domain (eshet ish b’bet habaal).</ref> Once a woman is halachically engaged (''mekudeshet''), she may not marry anyone else unless she receives a halachic divorce (''get'') or if her husband dies.<ref>Mishna Kiddushin 2a, Rambam (Gerushin 1:1)</ref> If the husband dies without children, in certain cases, there is a mitzvah of Chalitza prior to remarrying.<ref>Rambam (Yibum 1:2)</ref>