A single witness testifies that a woman's husband died overseas. May she remarry on the basis of his testimony?
By Rabbinic enactment, one witness is sufficient to testify that a husband died, thereby permitting his wife to remarry. This is a special leniency for agunot.
Question 2
Five witnesses are present, all intending to testify. One is discovered to be a relative of the defendant. What is the ruling?
When all witnesses intend to testify and one is disqualified, the entire testimony is nullified — regardless of how many others are acceptable.
Question 3
Two brothers are standing in a crowd when they witness a murder. The crowd did not intend to testify. What should the court do?
The court asks each person in the crowd: did you come to testify or merely to watch? Those who say they observed as bystanders are set aside; only those who intended to testify are evaluated — and if relatives or disqualified persons are among those, the testimony fails.
Question 4
A document has 6 signatories. The witnesses have died and it is unclear if they all sat together to sign. One signature is recognized as a relative. Is the document valid?
If there is no definitive evidence they all sat together with intent to sign, the acceptable signatures may be relied upon. The relative may have signed without the others' knowledge.
Question 5
In the rule 'three witnesses are like two,' what is the practical consequence when one of the three is disqualified?
The Torah equates groups of three with two. Just as if one of two witnesses is disqualified the entire testimony fails, so too with three — or even a hundred. Finding one disqualified person among those who intended to testify nullifies all.