Mishnayos Yevamos Perek 15 Mishnah 2
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יבמות פרק ט"ו משנה ב׳
Beit Hillel say: We heard that one may accept the testimony of a woman concerning the death of her husband only when she comes from the grain harvest, and when she testified in the same country where he died, and in circumstances similar to the incident that occurred, in which a lenient ruling was issued, as will be explained. Beit Shammai said to Beit Hillel: The same halakha applies to a wife who comes from the grain harvest, and one who comes from the olive harvest, and also one who comes from the grape harvest, and even one who comes from one country to another country. Although the incident in question took place during the grain harvest, the Sages spoke of the grain harvest only because it was the present occurrence, i.e., that is what happened in practice, but this is no proof that she is deemed credible only when she arrived specifically from the grain harvest. The mishna comments: Beit Hillel retracted their opinion, and decided to teach in accordance with the opinion of Beit Shammai on this issue.
בֵּית הִלֵּל אוֹמְרִים, לֹא שָׁמַעְנוּ אֶלָּא בְּבָאָה מִן הַקָּצִיר, וּבְאוֹתָהּ מְדִינָה, וּכְמַעֲשֶׂה שֶׁהָיָה. אָמְרוּ לָהֶן בֵּית שַׁמַּאי, אַחַת הַבָּאָה מִן הַקָּצִיר, וְאַחַת הַבָּאָה מִן הַזֵּיתִים, וְאַחַת הַבָּאָה מִן הַבָּצִיר, וְאַחַת הַבָּאָה מִמְּדִינָה לִמְדִינָה. לֹא דִבְּרוּ חֲכָמִים בַּקָּצִיר אֶלָּא בַהֹוֶה. חָזְרוּ בֵית הִלֵּל לְהוֹרוֹת כְּבֵית שַׁמָּאי:
Bartenura
בבאה מן הקציר. כמעשה שהיה שהלכו בני אדם לקצור חטין ונשכו נחש לאחד מהם ומת, ובאה והודיעה בבית דין ושלחו ומצאו כדבריה. ולא התירו חכמים אלא דוגמתו שיהא הדבר קרוב, אבל ממדינת הים אינה נאמנת:
אלא בהוה. מעשה שהיה כך היה, והוא הדין לשאר מקומות:
בבאה מן הקציר – like a case that took place where the people of the city went to reap wheat and a snake bit one of them and he died, and she came and announced it to the Jewish court and they sent forth and found that it (i.e., the case that took place) was like her words. But the Sages did not permit [her to get remarried] but rather it was an illustration that the matter should be something nearby. But she is not believed regarding something taking place abroad.
אלא בהוה – the case that took place, such it was and the same law applies to other places.