Midrash · Halachah
Sifrei Devarim 290/ספרי דברים ר״צ
א(דברים כה ח) וְקָרְאוּ לוֹ זִקְנֵי עִירוֹ, מִצְוָה בְּזִקְנֵי עִירוֹ.
1Pisqa’ 2904701. “Then the elders of his city shall summon him” (Dt. 25:8).A proper summons must be issued by the elders of his city.
בוְדִבְּרוּ אֵלָיו, בְּהוֹגֶנֶת לוֹ, שֶׁאִם הָיָה הוּא יֶלֶד וְהִיא זְקֵנָה, הוּא זָקֵן וְהִיא יַלְדָּה, אוֹמְרִים לוֹ כַּלֵּךְ אֵצֶל כְּמוֹתְךָ וְלָמָּה לְךָ לְהַכְנִיס קְטָטָה לְבֵיתְךָ.
2“And shall speak with him” (Dt. 25:8)—about whether [the woman[is a suitable match.471For if he was a youngsterand she was much older,or if he was olderand she was much younger,they would say:find one your own age!why should you bring discord into your home?
גוְעָמַד וְאָמַר, מְלַמֵּד שֶׁאֵין אוֹמֵר דְּבָרָיו אֶלָּא בַּעֲמִידָה.
3“And he shall stand and declare” (Dt. 25:8)—this teaches that he does notrecite his declaration unless he is standing.472
דלֹא חָפַצְתִּי לְקַחְתָּהּ, וְלֹא שֶׁלֹּא חָפֵץ בָּהּ הַמָּקוֹם.
4“I have no desire to take her” (Dt. 25:8)—but not because the All-Presentdoes not desire that she remarry.