marriage, marrying, the state of being married; more specific tags are `wedding` and `intermarriage`
18
votes
2answers
929 views
Questions about Polygamy in Jewish Law and Culture
I've recently been looking into polygamy (having more than 1 wife), and had a few cultural questions.
Was polygamy accepted at the time of David and Solomon? Were there any laws about it?
Was ...
31
votes
5answers
2k views
What is the halachic source for objection to gay (civil) marriage?
New York State is considering legalizing gay (civil) marriages, so tonight on our answering machine we received a message urging us to pray that it doesn't pass because gay civil marriages were, you ...
12
votes
3answers
1k views
Taking a concubine (pilegesh) today
Moderator's note: As with all discussions of Jewish law on this site, any information included in this question or its answers is presented only for the purpose of understanding the relevant ideas, ...
10
votes
6answers
426 views
40 Days Before Conception
It is written somewhere (I don't remember exactly where) that 40 days before conception, it is called out in Heaven who that person will marry. However, if the person gets married multiple times how ...
10
votes
3answers
361 views
Talis Gadol for Unmarried Individuals
In my minhag (and I believe it's minhag Ashkenaz), unmarried men do not wear a Talis Gadol (only a Talis Katan).
Why is this so?
7
votes
1answer
261 views
Prohibition of a Kohen marrying a Zonah
In the prohibition of a Kohen marrying a Zonah (cf. Vayikra 21:7), what defines a woman as a Zonah? Is it just having had relations with a non-Jew, or does it also include having relations out of ...
7
votes
1answer
211 views
Do married men stop saying a bracha on their *tallit katan*?
This question concerns the Ashkenazic practice.
I was always told that the tallit katan (worn under clothing, every day, starting in preschool years) got the bracha of al mitzvat tzitzit, but the ...
13
votes
4answers
395 views
Gezeira of Rabbeinu Gershom text
Does anyone know where I can find the actual text of the Gezeira of Rabbeinu Gershom? It keeps popping up in my learning, but only as being referenced, I would like to read that actual text.
9
votes
2answers
409 views
Can the child of two converts marry a Cohen?
Can the child of two converts marry a Cohen? How does the situation differ if only the mother, or only the father, is a convert?
(I have read that "ideally" the child of two converts should not ...
8
votes
1answer
376 views
Daughter of a Jewish woman and non-Jewish man
Is a Kohen allowed to marry a woman who is the daughter of a Jewish woman and non-Jewish man?
6
votes
1answer
130 views
Why only 100 zuz to a widow/divorcee?
In a Ketubah, the Rabbis instituted that a man should obligate himself to pay his wife, should he chose to divorce her (or he dies). If she had never been married before, he obligates himself to pay ...
8
votes
1answer
323 views
Married woman covering hair
Is it strictly necessary for a married woman to keep her hair covered in the following situations? If not, how important is it?
1) When alone in the house
2) When alone (or with husband) in the ...
10
votes
2answers
302 views
What happens to the family of a Kohen today if his wife is a victim of rape?
What happens to the family of a Kohen today if his wife is a victim of rape?
What are the steps taken and how does this come to be resolved according to halachah and in the most constructive way for ...
9
votes
0answers
185 views
(How) was Tu B'Av observed as a matchmaking/singles-meeting event through history?
I know the Talmud describes how the fifteenth day of the month of Av (Tu b'Av) was a day of ... I'd say "matchmaking", but I think "marriage-minded-singles-meeting" is more like it:
אמר רבן שמעון ...
8
votes
2answers
174 views
What's the role of the state in halacha's recognition of marriage for Bnai Noach (non-Jews)?
If I understand correctly (I think this was in R' Aaron Lichtenstein's book on the Seven Noahide Laws), halacha recognizes a marriage between a non-Jewish man and woman if they've gone through ...
15
votes
2answers
604 views
Apologetics for marriage at 3 years old
Are there contemporary apologetics for the Mishnah (Niddah 44b) that a girl of the age of 3 can be married by sexual relations? (It seems difficult to accept that such a thing is even allowed in ...
12
votes
8answers
335 views
Yaakov Marrying Two Sisters
According to those that say the Avos kept the Torah beforehand (here), how was Yaakov allowed to marry two sisters?
(Yes, I'm aware that there are many answers)
10
votes
2answers
296 views
Would a baalat teshuva need a get from each previous sexual relationship?
Would a baalat teshuva need a get from each previous sexual relationship? In light of the idea that marriage can be contracted solely through bi'ah/public knowledge of the couple's relationship (as ...
6
votes
2answers
185 views
Is Cohen who had a vasectomy allowed to Bless?
Is Cohen who had a vasectomy allowed to Bless the congregation? Also marry? What happens if he does marry?
4
votes
1answer
191 views
Mamzer from non-Jew
If a Jewess married to a Jew has a child from a non-Jew is that child a mamzer?
Is there agreement amongst the poskim about this?
1
vote
1answer
159 views
Many mamzerim today?
In modern times, we go out of our way to make sure that we never find out that someone is a mamzer. For example, courts in Israel are very reluctant to order paternity tests for children for fear of ...
3
votes
1answer
223 views
Correct procedures for Shidduchim
What are the correct Jewish procedures for finding someone to marry? Like does "dating" have any Jewish connection?
10
votes
1answer
730 views
Can you see your wife unclothed?
I think someone in another question here (or on another site?) said he was told by his "chassan teacher" not to look at his wife unclothed. It seems like this is not the real halacha to me, or at ...
9
votes
2answers
392 views
Can only the husband in a gentile married couple convert?
We are a gentile married couple and my husband wants to convert orthodox and im still not sure if i want to convert at all. i found out that the conservative would let my husband convert and stay with ...
7
votes
2answers
195 views
Having children when both parents are Tay-Sachs carriers
This is an obvious CYLOR question, but I am interested in whatever halachic information is available out there.
Suppose a couple got married without ever getting genetically tested for Tay-Sachs. ...
6
votes
1answer
120 views
Is the ketuba enforceable in American law?
The Ketuba is written in Aramaic, so it might not be easily understood by an English-speaking judge; however, it is still a contract. On the other hand, the ketuba is not (necessarily?) signed by ...
6
votes
1answer
115 views
Are marriages on yom tov recognized if all other halacha is observed?
I attended a reform Jewish wedding on Shavuot and was wondering if the marriage is acknowledged and what the status of the children of that union are?
5
votes
1answer
162 views
Are cholim obligated to please their wives?
To me it is clear that if (G-d forbid) a person is sick to the point that it will kill them, or that (G-d forbid) they will get their wife sick, there's obviously no obligation to please their wife ...
20
votes
2answers
1k views
What is the point of having a rapist marry the woman he raped?
Deuteronomy 22:28-29 (JPS)
28 If a man find a damsel that is a virgin, that is not betrothed, and lay hold on her, and lie with her, and they be found; 29 then the man that lay ...
12
votes
2answers
231 views
Marital Prenups
In 1993 Rabbi Mordechai Willig, a Rosh Yeshiva at YU and a member of the Beth Din of America, drafted a prenup for use at Jewish weddings to avoid future Aguna/Mesorevet Get problems. The agreement ...
11
votes
2answers
137 views
Promised to name son Shimon - now husband is Shimon!?
A woman who desperately wanted to get married traveled to Meron, the burial place of Rebbi Shimon bar Yochai, and vowed that if she found her match, she would name her first son Shimon in his merit. ...
10
votes
3answers
215 views
Why did Achashveirosh take Esther if she was already married?
According to the opinion that Queen Esther was married to Mordechai.
Achashveirosh was looking for unmarried girls (Esther 2:2–4). Why did he take a married woman? Especially considering that Queen ...
8
votes
2answers
462 views
Are Jewish women permitted to use birth control that stops menstruation?
Is there any reason that a Jewish woman who has permission from her Rabbi to use birth control could not choose a pill that stops her from menstruating? Although certain birth control pills are ...
8
votes
1answer
198 views
If a Jewish couple is married through a civil ceremony alone, do Jewish marriage laws apply to them thereafter?
If a Jewish couple is married through a civil ceremony alone, do Jewish marriage laws apply to them thereafter? Assume no ketubah; perhaps a ring, but not necessarily 2 witnesses. Could one say that ...
7
votes
1answer
148 views
Chamisha Asar B'Av - when did the Minhag stop?
The Gemara Taanis 31. says אמר רבן שמעון בן גמליאל לא היו ימים טובים לישראל כחמשה עשר באב וכיוה"כ שבהן בנות ירושלים יוצאות ... וחולות בכרמים ומה היו אומרות בחור שא נא עיניך וראה מה אתה בורר לך אל תתן ...
7
votes
1answer
437 views
How do those rabbis opposed to the RCA (“Rabbi Willig's”) prenup feel about the Nachlas Shiva document?
Many American rabbis will refuse to perform a wedding unless the couple has a specialized prenup regarding halachic divorce. This is known as "The RCA prenup" or "Rabbi Willig's prenup." From what I ...
7
votes
1answer
132 views
Kohen Gadol Yibum
Is it ever possible for a Kohen Gadol to perform the Mitzvah of Yibum. After all, every case of Yibum involves a widow which the Kohen Gadol is not allowed to marry?
6
votes
3answers
269 views
Can a man and woman with the same name marry each other?
Suppose you have a man named Simcha. May he marry a woman named Simcha? (sources)
6
votes
1answer
124 views
What is the status of a married woman without a kesuba?
If a married woman loses her kesuba, may she continue to sleep with her husband? Is she still legally considered married? If she sleeps with someone else, has she committed adultery?
6
votes
2answers
244 views
Ceremony to take a woman as a concubine (pilegesh)?
This question sparked a lively discussion and debate on this rather sensitive issue.
One piece of the original question was:
What ceremony / ritual must be performed (if any) to formally ...
6
votes
3answers
297 views
How does an engaged person find a chosson/kallah (pre-marriage) class teacher?
How does an engaged person find a chosson/kallah (pre-marriage) class teacher? Preferably a good one?
Is it "just ask around"? Ask a rabbi? Is there any good way to compare different people, or is ...
5
votes
1answer
64 views
Why was Hosea acceptable to the people if he took his adulterous wife back?
Hosea is described by Rabbi Yochanan in Pesachim 87a as the greatest of the four major prophets. At G-d's command (Hosea 1:2), he married a prostitute, Gomer, and fathered children, although there ...
5
votes
2answers
345 views
Sources for Hassidic views on marital celibacy/asceticism?
My understanding is the traditional view of Ger Hassidism was that marital celibacy was a good idea, once all procreative needs had been met.
My impression is that Chabad-Lubavitch never advocated an ...
5
votes
2answers
456 views
what percentage of Reform Jews are halachically Jewish?
Was there ever a study done on the percentage of Reform Jews who would be considered Jewish according to Halacha?
5
votes
1answer
163 views
What is the value of a (Kesuba) marriage contract?
In a regular Kesuba we give total 200 Zekukim Kesef. What is the value of that currently in US dollars? Also do you pay the value when you got married or the value at either death/divorce?
5
votes
1answer
182 views
Can a 9 year old do Yibbum?
Back then was a 9 year old and 1 day boy allowed to do yebam to his dead brothers wife?
4
votes
1answer
218 views
Is marriage without ketubah considered marriage, concubinage, or kiddushin she’einah re’uyah le’biah (marriage that cannot be consummated)?
Is marriage without ketubah considered marriage, concubinage, or kiddushin she’einah re’uyah le’biah (marriage that cannot be consummated)? I have read a number of different things suggesting each of ...
3
votes
2answers
233 views
Halachic permissibility of a vasectomy
What are the halachic concerns surrounding vasectomies? Are vasectomies permitted by halacha under any circumstances?
The issues that I could see as possibly being connected would be chavala ...
2
votes
0answers
76 views
Did Tamar marry a third time, and if so whom?
B'reishit 38:26 says:
וַיַּכֵּר יְהוּדָה וַיֹּאמֶר צָדְקָה מִמֶּנִּי כִּי עַל כֵּן לֹא נְתַתִּיהָ לְשֵׁלָה בְנִי וְלֹא יָסַף עוֹד לְדַעְתָּהּ:
Then Judah recognized [them], and he said, "She ...
1
vote
3answers
98 views
What's so special about Leah?
The torah documents the positive attributes of Sarah, Rifka and Rochel. Chazal then expound in greater detail about these righteous women. But from the torah and chazal there doesn't appear to be any ...
