Question: What should a Kohen do if he discovers he is married to a whore?
Dear Rabbi,
What happens if a Kohen has married a woman who is considered a "zonah" (whore) and this is found out after the wedding? Is the Kohen’s status taken away? Is he obligated to divorce his wife?
Marc
Answer: Dear Marc,
The Torah prohibits a Kohen from marrying certain women such as a convert, divorcee, and others. A Kohen who marries such a woman is in violation of the Torah and is obligated to divorce his wife. While married to her he looses his status as a Kohen.
Allow me to emphasize, however, that there are many minutiae to these laws which are beyond the scope of an email. A rabbi must be consulted to determine what is to be done on a case by case basis.
Rabbi Ari Enkin
Ramat Beit Shemesh, Israel
The Torah prohibits a Kohen from marrying certain women such as a convert, divorcee, and others. A Kohen who marries such a woman is in violation of the Torah and is obligated to divorce his wife. While married to her he looses his status as a Kohen.
Allow me to emphasize, however, that there are many minutiae to these laws which are beyond the scope of an email. A rabbi must be consulted to determine what is to be done on a case by case basis.
Rabbi Ari Enkin
Ramat Beit Shemesh, Israel
