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Is Cohen who had a vasectomy allowed to Bless the congregation? Also marry? What happens if he does marry?

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    – Isaac Moses
    Dec 30, 2012 at 6:38
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    Also, please don't forget that for practical halachic advice you need to consult a halachic authority.
    – HodofHod
    Dec 30, 2012 at 6:52
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    related judaism.stackexchange.com/q/15555/759
    – Double AA
    Dec 30, 2012 at 7:05
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    This surely begs the question of whether a vasectomy is permitted at all, and if so, under what conditions? The marriage situation is not restricted to Cohanim either.
    – Epicentre
    Dec 30, 2012 at 7:24
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    @Epicentre, what can be done once a vasectomy's been performed is a reasonable question IMO no matter the propriety of performing the vasectomy in the first place.
    – msh210
    Dec 30, 2012 at 7:42

2 Answers 2

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A man who has undergone a vasectomy is most likely in the category of Petzua Daka (crushed testicles) who is forbidden to marry a regular Jewess per Devarim 23:2 (although this might depend on the specific medical technique used). (See Shulchan Aruch EH 5:8,10.)

The Talmud (Yevamot 76a) discusses whether a Kohein who is a Petzua Dakah can marry a convert. (Note that generally a Petzua Daka can marry a convert, while a Kohein cannot.) It hinges the question on whether בקדושתיה קאי he retains his holy status. The Rambam (Issurei Biah 16:1-2) rules that he may marry a convert because he has lost his holy status, but he still may not marry a Mamzer. The Raavad argues on the Rambam and permits a Petzua Dakah to marry even a Mamzer. The Shulchan Aruch (EH 5:1) rules like the Rambam, while the Rama and Gra rule like the Raavad.

Chelkat Mechokek (EH 5:1) explains that when the Kohein loses his holy status by becoming a Petzua Daka, he loses it entirely and can now visit cemeteries but can no longer bless the people. Keren Orah (Yevamot 76a sv Hen) rejects this thesis and suggests that they only lose their holy status with respect to forbidden relationships. It would seem Bet Shemuel (EH 5:1) agrees, because he maintains that a Kohein Petzua Dakah retains the prohibition to divorcees and Zonot.

I'll note that the fact that he has a physical deformity does not alone prevent him from blessing the people as the Shulchan Aruch (OC 128:30) rules that only external visible deformities are problematic in this regard.


Ariel correctly points out that many vasectomies are reversible. The Shulchan Aruch (EH 5:4) is clear that if a Petzua Daka's problem is reversed, he reverts back to being a Kosher Jew. That said some (see Shu"t Chatam Sofer EH 1:14) argue that were this to be possible in a given man, then it will turn out he has always been a Kosher Jew. Accordingly, if there is a chance of reversal of the vasectomy, the Kohein Petzua Dakah shouldn't marry a convert or Mamzer lest it be reversible, nor should he marry a regular Jewess lest it not be reversible.

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  • Just a note for the reader: Many vasectomies are reversible, but to make things complicated, some are only partially reversible, i.e. the man can father children, but it is less likely than it would be otherwise. To make things even more complicated, even with a failed reversal, it may still be possible to collect sufficient sperm for IUI or IVF.
    – Ariel
    Dec 30, 2012 at 8:09
  • @Ariel If he does get fixed then he reverts to being Kosher. See EH 5:4
    – Double AA
    Dec 30, 2012 at 8:10
  • Does he have to get fixed, given that even without doing so it's possible to collect sperm surgically? I.e. does he have to be naturally fertile, or does medically fertile (if that's a real term) count too?
    – Ariel
    Dec 30, 2012 at 8:14
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    @Ariel שולחן ערוך אה"ע סימן ה : ד ניקב למטה מהעטרה, כשר. ניקבה עטרה עצמה, אם כשיראה קרי תצא שכבת זרע מהנקב, פסול. ואם נסתם הנקב, חזר להכשירו. So we see there are structural things that need to be in place too. It's not just about ability to collect/produce sperm.
    – Double AA
    Dec 30, 2012 at 8:20
  • @Ariel See recent edit.
    – Double AA
    Dec 30, 2012 at 9:10
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This is what the Rabbis Answeredabout Marrying with a Vasectomy The vasectomy procedure is done on the vas deferens (many, if not most times) inside the body cavity (as opposed to the sexual organ extremities). The person is therefore not considered a “Petzuah Dakah” of the Torah, and may marrry or remain with his wife if they had a proper orthodox marriage – (source: “Chazon Ish” E.H. 12:7). If the vasectomy was done on the outer organs, then if reconstruction surgery repairs the vasectomy damage, he may marry or remain with his wife (if he was married). If the reconstruction surgery is not successful, but the majority of the people who have the reconstruction surgery are able to procreate, then even the person who did not have successful reconstruction surgery is still allowed to marry, or remain with his wife (if they had a proper orthodox marriage) – (source: “Igrot Moshe” by R’ M.Feinstein, E.H. IV 30).

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    Which Rabbis answered?
    – Double AA
    Jan 20, 2013 at 18:42
  • IAE we'd have to check with a medical professional, but I think most vasectomies are performed much lower on the vas deferens than the Chazon Ish contends, and would make the patient a Petzua Daka. Perhaps medical SOP has changed in the last 80 years.
    – Double AA
    Jan 20, 2013 at 19:01

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