Yevamot 244

<big><strong>גמ׳</strong></big> מאי גריעותא דפונדקית אמר רב כהנא פונדקית עובדת כוכבים היתה ומסיחה לפי תומה היתה זה מקלו וזה תרמילו וזה קבר שקברתיו בו וכן תני אבא בריה דרב מניומי בר חייא פונדקית עובדת כוכבים היתה ומסיחה לפי תומה היתה זה מקלו וזה תרמילו וזה קבר שקברתיו בו

<b><i>GEMARA</i></b>. What was the inferiority of the innkeeper?<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Implied by the argument of the Sages, 'SHOULD NOT THEN A PRIEST'S WIFE etc.' ');">¹</span> R. Kahana replied: She was an innkeeper who was an idolatress and she said at random,<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' V. supra p. 861, n. 14. ');">²</span> 'This is his staff, and this is his bag and this is the grave wherein I buried him'. So it was also recited by Abba the son of R. Manyumi b. Hiyya: She was an innkeeper who was an idolatress and she said at random,<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' V. supra p. 861, n. 14. ');">²</span>

והא איה חברנו קאמרי לה כיון דחזיתינהו בכיא אמרו לה איה חברנו אמרה להם מת וקברתיו

'This is his staff, and this is his bag and this is the grave wherein I buried him'. But, surely, they had asked her, 'Where is our friend?'<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' How then could it be said that she spoke at random? ');">³</span> — When she saw them she began to cry, and when they asked her, 'Where is our friend?' she replied, 'He died and I buried him',<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' It was thus obvious that she had no ulterior motive in making her statement and that she was merely answering their enquiry. Such evidence may be regarded as given in all innocence (cf. supra p. 861, n. 14) and may be relied upon. ');">⁴</span> Our Rabbis taught: It once occurred that a man came to give evidence on behalf of a woman<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Testifying that her husband was dead. ');">⁵</span>

תנו רבנן מעשה באדם אחד שבא להעיד על האשה לפני רבי טרפון אמר לו בני היאך אתה יודע בעדות אשה זו אמר אני והוא היינו הולכים בדרך ורדף אחרינו גייס ונתלה בייחור של זית ופשחו והחזיר את הגייס לאחוריו

before R. Tarfon. 'My son', [the Master] said to him, 'what<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Lit., 'how'. ');">⁶</span> do you know concerning the evidence for this woman?' — 'I and he', the other replied, 'were going on the same road and when a raiding gang pursued us he grasped<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Lit., 'and suspended himself'. ');">⁷</span> the branch of an olive tree, pulled it down, and made the gang turn back. "Lion", I said to him, "I thank you".<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' [H] lit., 'may thy strength be right (or firm)'. ');">⁸</span>

אמרתי לו אריה יישר כחך אמר לי מנין אתה יודע שאריה שמי כך קורין אותי בעירי יוחנן ברבי יהונתן אריה דמכפר שיחיא לימים חלה ומת והשיא רבי טרפון את אשתו

"Whence did you know [he asked] that my name was Lion? So in fact I am called in my home town: Johanan son of R. Jonathan, the Lion of Kefar Shihaya",<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' [H], Klein S. (v. E.J. Col. 1139) reads [H] Kefar Shihlayim, a village in Idumaea, Saallis (Chaalis) mentioned in Joseph. Wars III, 2.2. ');">⁹</span> and after some time he fell ill and died'. And [on this evidence] R. Tarfon permitted his<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' The dead man's. ');">¹⁰</span> wife to marry again.

ורבי טרפון לא בעי דרישה וחקירה והתניא מעשה באדם אחד שבא לפני רבי טרפון להעיד עדות אשה אמר לו בני היאך אתה יודע עדות זו אמר לו אני והוא היינו הולכין בדרך ורדף אחרינו גייס ונתלה בייחור תאנה ופשחו והחזיר את הגייס לאחוריו אמרתי לו יישר כחך אריה אמר לי יפה כוונת לשמי שכך קורין אותי בעירי יוחנן בן יונתן אריה דמכפר שיחיא לימים חלה ומת

Does not R. Tarfon, however, hold that inquiry and examination<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' [H]. Cf. Deut. XIII, 15: Then shalt thou inquire and make search ([H]). Before the evidence is accepted, witnesses are to be questioned and cross-examined as to the day, hour, and attendant circumstances, in order to test thereby the veracity of their statements. V. Sanh. 32a and 40a. ');">¹¹</span> are necessary? Surely it was taught: It once happened that a man came before R. Tarfon to give evidence on behalf of a woman.<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Testifying that her husband was dead. ');">⁵</span> My son', he said to him, 'What<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Lit., 'how'. ');">⁶</span>

אמר לו לא כך אמרת לי יוחנן בן יונתן דמכפר שיחיא אריה אמר ליה לא אלא כך אמרתי לך יוחנן בן יונתן אריה דמכפר שיחיא ודקדק עליו שנים ושלשה פעמים וכיון את דבריו והשיא רבי טרפון את אשתו

do you know concerning this evidence?' 'I and he', the other replied, 'were going on the same road, and when a raiding gang pursued us he grasped the branch of a fig tree, pulled it down, and drove<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Lit., 'and caused to return'. ');">¹²</span> the gang back. "I thank you,<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' V. supra note 4. ');">¹³</span> Lion", I said to him, and he replied, "You have correctly guessed my name, for so I am called in my home town: Johanan son of Jonathan, the Lion of Kefar Shihaya", and after some time he died'. The Master said to him: Did you not tell me thus, 'Johanan son of Jonathan of Kefar Shihaya the Lion'?<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' R. Tarfon changed the order of the words to test the man's accuracy. ');">¹⁴</span>

תנאי היא דתניא אין בודקין עדי נשים בדרישה וחקירה דברי ר"ע רבי טרפון אומר בודקין

— 'No', the other replied, 'but it is this that I told you: Johanan son of Jonathan, the Lion of Kefar Shihaya'. Having examined him closely<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' [H] rt. [H] (Pilpel) 'to crush'. ');">¹⁵</span> two or three times and the man's replies invariably agreeing, R. Tarfon permitted his<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' The dead man's. ');">¹⁶</span> wife to marry again!<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Which shews that R. Tarfon holds that 'inquiry and examination' are necessary! ');">¹⁷</span>

וקמיפלגי בדר' חנינא דאמר רבי חנינא דבר תורה אחד דיני ממונות ואחד דיני נפשות בדרישה וחקירה שנאמר (ויקרא כד, כב) משפט אחד יהיה לכם

— This [is a point in dispute between] Tannaim. For it was taught: Witnesses on matrimonial matters<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' I.e., evidence on the death of a husband. ');">¹⁸</span> are not to be subjected<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' [H] rt. [H] Kal., 'to search', investigate'. ');">¹⁹</span> to enquiry and examination.<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' V. supra p. 869, n. 7. ');">²⁰</span>

ומה טעם אמרו דיני ממונות אין צריכין דרישה וחקירה שלא תנעול דלת בפני לוין

These are the words of R. Akiba;<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Eben ha-Ezer XVIII, 79, Wilna Gaon Glosses and others read: 'R. Akiba and p. Tarfon however etc'. ');">²¹</span> R. Tarfon, however, ruled: They are to be subjected.<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Cf. supra note 5. ');">²²</span> And they<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' R. Akiba and R. Tarfon. ');">²³</span>

ובמאי קמיפלגי מר סבר כיון דאיכא כתובה למשקל כדיני ממונות דמי ומר סבר כיון דקא שרינן אשת איש לעלמא כדיני נפשות דמי

differ [in respect of a ruling] of R. Hanina. For R. Hanina stated: Pentateuchally both monetary, and capital cases must be conducted with enquiry and examination,<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' V. supra p. 869, n. 7. ');">²⁰</span> for it is said, <i>Ye shall have one manner of law</i>,<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Lev. XXIV, 22. As capital cases are subject to such enquiry (v. Deut. XIII, is) so are also monetary cases. ');">²⁴</span> what then is the reason why they have ordained that monetary cases do not require enquiry and examination?<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' V. supra p. 869, n. 7. ');">²⁰</span>

אמר רבי אלעזר אמר רבי חנינא תלמידי חכמים מרבים שלום בעולם שנאמר (ישעיהו נד, יג) וכל בניך למודי ה' ורב שלום בניך:

In order that you should not lock the door in the face of borrowers — 25 And it is on this principle that<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Lit., 'and in what'. ');">²⁶</span> they<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' R. Akiba and R. Tarfon. ');">²³</span> differ: One Master is of the opinion that since the woman has<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Lit., 'there is'. ');">²⁷</span>

<br><br><big><strong>הדרן עלך האשה בתרא וסליקא לה מסכת יבמות</strong></big><br><br>

a <i>kethubah</i> to receive<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' From the estate of her dead husband. The terms of the marriage contract entitle a woman to her kethubah when she lawfully marries again. ');">²⁸</span> [such cases<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' I.e., evidence on the death of a husband. ');">²⁹</span> are] on a par with those of monetary matters,<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Hence his opinion that no enquiry and examination of the witnesses is necessary. ');">³⁰</span> while the other Master is of the opinion that since we are thereby permitting a married woman to marry a stranger<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Lit., 'to the world'. ');">³¹</span> [such cases<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Since intercourse with a married woman is punishable by strangulation. ');">³²</span> are] on a par with capital cases.<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Where full enquiry and examination is required. ');">³³</span> R. Eleazar said in the name of R. Hanna: Scholars<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' [H] v. Glos s.v. Talmid Hakam. ');">³⁴</span> increase peace in the world, for it is said in the Scriptures, <i>And all thy children shall be to taught of the Lord; and great shall be the peace of thy children</i>.<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' Isa. LIV, 13. Children = [H] (rt. [H] 'to build'). The conclusion of the passage in Ber. 64a is as follows: Read not, thy children [H] (banayik) but thy builders (bonayik). Scholars are the builders of the world and it is their dissemination of true knowledge and enlightenment that preserves and promotes the ideals and blessings of peace. ');">³⁵</span>