1.
Joshua Lipman asked:
I know it is probably a silly question but why does it matter whether a kohen gadol's wife can do chalitza when he dies. Surely as he is now dead it is no longer a problem as she is no longer the wife of a Kohen Gadol?
Joshua Lipman, London, Edgware
2.
The Kollel replies:
If you honestly don't know and truly want to know, there is no such thing as a silly question!
The Mishnah's intention is to contrast the wife of a Kohen Gadol the the wife of a Melech, who does not do Chalitzah (since the wife of the Melech may not remarry; Kli she'Nishtamesh Bah Kodesh Al Yishtamesh Bah Chol, see Rashi). Therefore the Mishnah tells us that by the Kohen Gadol such is not the case.
D. Zupnik