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The bulk of the tractate of Yevamos deals with the laws of yibbum (levirate marriage) and chalitzah (the ceremony which absolves a woman from yibbum). The tractate concludes with the threshold of evidence required for a Jewish court to establish a man's demise in order to allow his wife to remarry—or, if necessary, to perform yibbum or chalitzah.

The rabbis taught: It once happened that a man came to testify before Rabbi Tarfon on behalf of a woman (i.e. regarding the death of her husband). Rabbi Tarfon asked him, "My son, what is your knowledge regarding this testimony (i.e., how do you know this man about whom you are testifying)?"

He responded: "He and I were traveling together when we were pursued by a gang. He grabbed the branch of an olive tree and fought off the attackers. So I told him, 'Aryeh (lion), thank you!' He responded: 'How did you know that my name is Aryeh—that is what I am called in my hometown, "Yochanan the son of Yehonasan the Lion of the village of Sichaya."' And after some time this individual fell ill and died."

Rabbi Tarfon accepted this testimony and permitted the woman to remarry.

Is this implying that Rabbi Tarfon does not require extensive investigation of a witness before permitting a woman to remarry?

Did we not learn (the same story, albeit a slightly different version):

It once happened that a man came to testify before Rabbi Tarfon on behalf of a woman. Rabbi Tarfon asked, "My son, what is your knowledge regarding this testimony?"

He responded: "He and I were traveling together when we were pursued by a gang. He grabbed the branch of an olive tree and fought off the attackers. So I told him, 'Aryeh (lion), thank you!' He responded: 'You have indeed guessed correctly: my name is Aryeh—that is what I am called in my hometown, "Yochanan the son of Yehonasan the Lion of the village of Sichaya."' And after some time this individual fell ill and died."

Rabbi Tarfon asked him, "Did you not say "Yochanan the son of Yehonasan of the village of Sichaya the Lion?" (Rabbi Tarfon was investigating, reversing the witness's words, to see whether he would become confused.)

He responded, "No, I said 'Yochanan the son of Yehonasan the Lion of the village of Sichaya.'"

Rabbi Tarfon examined him two-three times, until he was convinced of the accuracy of the testimony, and he then allowed the woman to remarry.

(So does or does not Rabbi Tarfon require the interrogation of witnesses who testify regarding a husband's death?)

The Talmud answers that these two variant versions of the story follow two differing tannaic opinions. As we learned in a beraisa:

"We do not overly investigate witnesses who testify regarding matrimonial matters—this is the opinion of Rabbi Akiva. Rabbi Tarfon says, we do investigate."

The basis for this argument is a variant understanding of a statement by Rabbi Chaninah:

"Rabbi Chaninah said: According to the Scriptures, we interrogate the witnesses for both monetary and capital cases, for the verse says (Leviticus 24:22), 'One manner of law shall be for you.' (And since the Torah explicitly requires interrogation for capital witnesses [Deuteronomy 13:15], the same would apply for monetary cases.) For what reason, then, did the Sages say that monetary cases do not require the witnesses's interrogation? In order not to 'close the door' before borrowers. (Witnesses will be reluctant to sign on loans if they know they will be subjected to interrogation by the court.)"

Based on this principle, the two disagree: One says, that since the money of the kesubah is at stake (if the husband is established as dead, the wife is entitled to this money), this is treated as a monetary case (and no interrogation is called for). The other contends that since we are allowing a hitherto married woman to remarry (and adultery is punishable with death), this is treated as a capital case (and we interrogate the witnesses).

Rabbi Elazar said in the name of Rabbi Chaninah: Torah scholars increase peace in the world, as it is said (Isaiah 54:13), "And all your children shall be learners of G‑d, and great will be the peace of your children."