Permitting Agunah to Remarry Based on Identified Body from River

Date: 20 Teves 5575

From: Rabbi Moshe Sofer

To: Unknown recipient

Description

The Chasam Sofer, together with the Pressburg beis din, ruled that the wife of R' Aharon Verboya may remarry after her husband's body was pulled from the Danube and identified by facial recognition, clothing, a silver engraved seal, and distinctive physical marks. The body's preservation in winter cold reinforced the reliability of identification, and every potential objection — including bididmi, miya marzei makah, she'eilah, and timing concerns — was systematically dismissed. The beis din unanimously concurred.

Source: Shu"t Chasam Sofer EH II §143

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