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In a recent conversation with several friends regarding ba'alei teshuva marrying Kohanim (specifically college students), one person present said that a Kohen can only marry a virgin. I contested this point based on the first Aliyah of Parshat Emor. Plus, I remember at least one explanation that said a regular Kohen can marry a widow, but cannot marry a divorcee. However, that same person says the prohibition for a regular Kohen is derived from the Kohen Gadol.

So, is a regular Kohen allowed to marry a widow or is he - like the Kohen Gadol - required to only marry a virgin?

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+1. Only a Kohen Gadol, IIRC. +1 to Avrohom Yitzchok's answer. – Adam Mosheh Jul 23 '12 at 13:46
Although Avrohom Yitzchok is right in theory (and therefore +1), many rabbis will make regular exceptions for actual cases of kohanim. – Charles Koppelman Jul 23 '12 at 14:20

2 Answers

up vote 11 down vote accepted

From this Chabad article the restrictions on whom a Kohen can marry are:

A kohen may not marry a ge’rusha (divorcee), chalalah (woman of defective kohen status), zonah (woman who previously violated certain sexual prohibitions), giyoret (convert) or chalutzah (a Levirate widow). If he does marry any of them, their children likewise become chalalim. Sons born do not have priestly status, and daughter may not marry kohanim.

The categories are explained in more detail on the site. A widow is not excluded as you thought; thus the answer to the question is “No”.

Obviously CYLOR for a real case.

ADDITION For @Zvi, who in the comment below asks for a non-Chabad source, this on Marital defilement is from Wikipedia.

A male Kohen may not marry a divorcee, a prostitute, a convert, or a dishonored woman (חללה) (Leviticus 21:7) A Kohen who enters into such a marriage loses the entitlements of his priestly status while in that marriage. The Kohen is not permitted to forgo his status and marry a woman prohibited to him (Leviticus 21:6-7). However, in the event that a Kohen transgresses a marital restriction, upon termination of the marriage the Kohen is allowed to re-assume his function and duties as a full Kohen.[citation needed]

Modern-day kohanim are also prohibited from marrying a divorcee (even their own divorced wife); a woman who has committed adultery, had been involved in incest, or had relations with a non-Jew; a convert; or the child of two converts. A born-Jewish woman who has had premarital relations may marry a kohen only if all of her partners were Jewish.

This at Jewish Answers.com explains the “zona. prostitute” prohibition;

“Zona” means a prostitute and refers to a Jewish woman who had sex with a non-Jew. A Kohen is designated by G’d to serve Him in a more intimate capacity that other Jews and, as such, he is required to maintain a higher spiritual level. He is not required to marry a virgin but he cannot marry a convert, a divorcee or a prostitute.

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What is the reason for not marrying a convert? Couldn't some of the same issues be involved as a baal teshuva? – Daniel Jul 23 '12 at 13:57
@Daniel There might be similar issues, but not necessarily. – Double AA Jul 23 '12 at 14:08
@Daniel As I remember it, (male) kohanim can't marry (female) converts because we assume they've had sex since age 3 (or before, but before doesn't count). We don't make that assumption about non-religious Jews. – Charles Koppelman Jul 23 '12 at 14:17
@CharlesKoppelman: But what if we know that to be the case about non-religious Jews? Isn't that exactly what this question is about? – Daniel Jul 23 '12 at 14:44
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Can anyone provide me with Halachik sources other than a Chabad article? – Zvi Jul 24 '12 at 8:29
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A Kohen cannot marry the people mentioned above. But that is only if he is 'still' a kohen and not himself a 'chollol'. Many BT Kohanim are themselves challolim that would allow them to marry anybody.

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This seems more like a comment on the question, as it doesn't actually address the question, which was about "regular kohanim". – Double AA Apr 21 at 17:00
@DoubleAA "regular Kohen" in the question is clearly meant in contrast to "the Kohen Gadol". – msh210 Apr 22 at 5:41
@msh210 and also clearly implies both the regular kohen and the kohen gadol are kohanim. – Double AA Apr 22 at 16:32
@DoubleAA, yes but I think in common speech a chalal is called a kohen. (I'm really not sure, though.) – msh210 Apr 22 at 16:37
Many BT kohanim have this problem that they find it difficult to find anyone except another BT who could possibly be classified a zonah. If they were a chalal which is very possible it would help them. – meir Apr 22 at 18:21

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