5

Is there any way for the descendants of a mamzer to ever become Jews with full rights, or are they stuck with mamzerus forever? For example, if a man who is a mamzer marries a non-Jew, and then their children convert to Judaism, are the children mamzerim?

3

1 Answer 1

8

As discussed previously:

1800 years ago, it sounds like the Mishnah would permit a mamzer to marry a non-Jewish (actually, more like quasi-Jewish) slave woman; when that woman is freed she (and her unborn children) become full Jews. A (male) mamzer would thus be allowed to father a non-mamzer child this way.

In contemporary times you can't just go out and buy a quasi-Jewish slave woman (at least not legally in the US; and we don't condone breaking the law). One suggestion has been to find a woman interested in converting to Judaism, but instead of going through full conversion, declare it "conversion to quasi-Jewish slave status"; many rabbis feel this doesn't work as there is no such thing in our location and age.

If a mamzer married a non-Jewish woman, and she and the children then converted, the child(ren) would not be labeled a mamzer, though we generally don't allow a Jewish man to go marry a non-Jewish woman (even if she has plans to later convert). There are rumors that certain rabbis have actually recommended this in certain cases, though. (Again, ask your local rabbi!)

Lastly, Rabbi Moshe Feinstein had the fascinating opinion that mamzer status is transmitted only through normal procreation; a mamzer could choose to marry a normal Jewess and have children only via artificial insemination. I don't think Rabbi Feinstein's opinion on this is commonly accepted. (As heard from a yutorah shiur by Rabbi Willig.)

4
  • 1
    I've heard of at least one recent case arranged in accordance with your first proposed solution.
    – Seth J
    Apr 22, 2013 at 17:29
  • 1
    It's not just that we don't condone breaking the law. It's that if the law prohibits it, the status of slave-woman might not come into effect at all even if we tried. This I understand is R Willig's personal position.
    – Double AA
    Apr 22, 2013 at 18:04
  • @DoubleAA judaism.stackexchange.com/questions/50620/… Mar 15, 2015 at 23:10
  • 1
    My Rosh Yeshivah tells the story of a man many years ago who was a Mamzer. This man was advised to fulfill this Mishnah by going to a country where slavery is legal.
    – DonielF
    Feb 28, 2019 at 19:21

You must log in to answer this question.

Not the answer you're looking for? Browse other questions tagged .