For the source text click/tap here: Ketubot 19
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As we learned in the Mishna (18b), when a signed document needs to be authenticated, under certain circumstances the original witnesses who are brought in are believed if they say: “anusim hayinu – we were coerced,” “ketanim hayinu – at the time we were minors” or “pesulim hayinu – we were disqualified witnesses.”
Our daf presents a baraita in which Rabbi Meir disagrees with this ruling, and argues that even with these explanations, we can never allow witnesses to deny their original testimony.
When arguing over the validity of a legal document, two witnesses must agree that a handwritten signature was not forged, coerced, or in any way invalidating the document. Those signatures were often signatures of witnesses - the rabbis use the example of a contract describing money lent from the lender to the borrower.
We review the illustrious history of Volozhyn and the reign of the Netziv.
The Netziv used to sign his name connecting the words Zvi and Yehuda using the letter Yud for both names.
This custom once saved his life. People who were opposed to his yeshiva informed on him to the secret police and presented forged letters as evidence that he received counterfeit coins from England and distributed them in the local market. They brought a letter all in the Netziv's handwriting. The forgery was so superior that even the Netziv admitted that it was his handwriting but that he did not write the content.
The Netziv used to sign his name connecting the words Zvi and Yehuda using the letter Yud for both names. This custom once saved his life. People who were opposed to his yeshiva informed on him to the secret police and presented forged letters as evidence that he received counterfeit coins from England and distributed them in the local market. They brought a letter all in the Netziv's handwriting. The forgery was so superior that even the Netziv admitted that it was his handwriting but that he did not write the content.
After an investigation, it became clear that the signature of the Netziv in the forgery had the letter Yud written twice and the Netziv always signed Zvi Yehuda with one Yud connecting both words, and this was how the falsehood came to light.
We describe the interaction between Reb Itsele Volyzhiner and the maskil Max Lillianthal in attempts to bringing secular studies into the yeshivah world and specifically Volzhyn, leading eventually to its closing.