Question: Does Jewish Law permit a Cohen to marry a convert to Judaism?
Dear Rabbi Simmons,
According to Jewish Law, can a Cohen marry a convert?
Thank you.
Answer: A Cohen is not allowed to marry a convert, a divorcee, or a "zonah." (see Leviticus 21:14, Maimonides' Laws of Forbidden Relations 18:3, and Talmud Kiddushin 78a)
A "zonah" is defined as a woman who had relations with a man whom she was forbidden to have married according to Jewish law -- e.g. a close relative, a non-Jew, or with another man if she is already married.
A Cohen is forbidden to marry these women, not because she is a bad person, but because there is metaphysical reality that is created which prevents a Cohen from being able to create the proper bond. Imagine that H2O is water, and H2O2 is Hydrogen Peroxide. On one hand, the difference seems negligible. On the other hand, the difference is between life and death.
On a practical level, the Kohanim, who are charged with being the spiritual leaders and role models for all of Jewry, must therefore preserve a more scrutinizing level of holiness. The fact that a particular Cohen today may not see himself in such a lofty role does not diminish his obligation to live up to that.
* * *
There is another issue, however. It is important to check if the "Cohen" is a real "Cohen." How reliable is the Kohanic tradition in the family?
Also, it may be that the Cohen is really a "chalal" -- i.e. his mother, paternal grandmother, etc., may have been someone forbidden to marry a Cohen, in which case the resulting son would be a chalal, not a Cohen -- thereby disqualifying the "Cohen" (and his subsequent descendents) from the regular Kohanic rights and obligations.
Bottom Line: You need to go speak with a reliable authority in Jewish law, someone who is personally observant of the Torah's commandments.
With blessings from Jerusalem,
Rabbi Shraga Simmons
Aish.com
A "zonah" is defined as a woman who had relations with a man whom she was forbidden to have married according to Jewish law -- e.g. a close relative, a non-Jew, or with another man if she is already married.
A Cohen is forbidden to marry these women, not because she is a bad person, but because there is metaphysical reality that is created which prevents a Cohen from being able to create the proper bond. Imagine that H2O is water, and H2O2 is Hydrogen Peroxide. On one hand, the difference seems negligible. On the other hand, the difference is between life and death.
On a practical level, the Kohanim, who are charged with being the spiritual leaders and role models for all of Jewry, must therefore preserve a more scrutinizing level of holiness. The fact that a particular Cohen today may not see himself in such a lofty role does not diminish his obligation to live up to that.
* * *
There is another issue, however. It is important to check if the "Cohen" is a real "Cohen." How reliable is the Kohanic tradition in the family?
Also, it may be that the Cohen is really a "chalal" -- i.e. his mother, paternal grandmother, etc., may have been someone forbidden to marry a Cohen, in which case the resulting son would be a chalal, not a Cohen -- thereby disqualifying the "Cohen" (and his subsequent descendents) from the regular Kohanic rights and obligations.
Bottom Line: You need to go speak with a reliable authority in Jewish law, someone who is personally observant of the Torah's commandments.
With blessings from Jerusalem,
Rabbi Shraga Simmons
Aish.com
