When Witnesses Admit that they Lied: Sanhedrin 44b describe the tragic situation in which a defendant is put to death despite the fact that the condemning witnesses reneged (too late!) on their testimony. This brings up the question: are we perverting the truth simply to maintain the institution of beit din? Are we perverting this local truth in order to maintain beit din in the long run? How are the protection of institutions and of truth itself related or at odds with each other sometimes?

Sanhedrin 44b

Dr. Elana Stein Hain – [email protected]

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