May 162016
 

Abaye holds that if one witness testifies and the person himself is silent, we accept the testimony of the witness.  In a case of a woman sleeping with another man, Abaye thinks it would be the same and Rava says that since it is a matter relating to sexual relations, and any matter like that needs two witnesses, one witness is not sufficient.  Both Abaye and Rava bring proofs from tannaitic sources and each contests the other’s proofs.  The story of the king Yannai killing all the sages except for Shimon ben Shetach is brought as the issue revolved around a suspicion relating to his mother – whether or not she had been forbidden to marry a kohen, his father and whether or not Yannai was fit to be a practicing kohen.

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