TT #738 · Parashas Ki Seitzei · Seventh Aliyah · Passuk 25:09
Then his yevamah shall approach him in the presence of the elders, and draw his shoe off his foot, and spit in his face, and respond and say: “Thus shall be done to the man who will not build up his brother’s house.”
Torah Temimah points to Yevamot / Sifrei.
TT lemma: וְיָרְקָה בְּפָנָיו.
וְיָרְקָה בְּפָנָיו – יָכוֹל בְּפָנָיו מַמָּשׁ? תַּלְמוּד לוֹמַר לְעֵינֵי הַזְּקֵנִים.
English: “And she shall spit in his face” — might this mean literally in his face? Scripture says “before the eyes of the elders.”
On the daf / in context: The spittle is directed toward the ground in front of him, visible to the judges, not necessarily onto his face itself.
Derash moderating the literal reading of “in his face.”
The spitting is performed in his presence and before the eyes of the judges, not necessarily onto his face.