Identifying Decomposed Drowning Victim to Permit Agunah to Remarry

Date: 1818

From: Rabbi Yitzchak Eizik Greishaber

To: Unknown recipient

Description

The Beis Din of Paks submitted an evidentiary record to the Chasam Sofer documenting the drowning of three Jewish men in the Danube and the subsequent identification challenges. The body of Berel son of Pinchas was recovered over two weeks after drowning in a severely decomposed state, making facial recognition impossible, but corroborating evidence included a missing left eye, matching clothing testimony, and wound marks on the foot. The Beis Din deferred to the Chasam Sofer for a ruling on whether the wife Hendel could be permitted to remarry.

Source: Shu"t Chasam Sofer EH I §91

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