0

Rambam isurai bia 21:13 (Chabad , sefaria , Hebrewbooks , mechon-mamre)

Whenever...a man seduces a woman for the sake of marriage...all of the children born in these situations will be rebellious and sinful. (Chabad translation)

Is this true that that a man should not seduce a woman for the sake of marriage?

  1. Are there groups of Jews careful with this?
  2. Do later rabbis bring this law?
  3. What is the source of this law?
  4. What is the definition of seduce in this case does it include persuasion (warning YouTube link)?
    If not, is persuasion permitted/preferred/ avoided?

Sources on subject will be greatly appreciated

4
  • And how does it fit with sefaria.org/Genesis.24.22 (see Rashi of the next pasuk)?
    – hazoriz
    Jul 25, 2017 at 0:41
  • 3
    Consider a link to something other than a Youtube video to clarify what you mean by persuasion.
    – mevaqesh
    Jul 25, 2017 at 2:31
  • Kiryat Melekh was cited in R. Qafih's Beiur, and cited all the other sources except for the Mishneh Halakhot. The Mishneh Halakhot I found on the Bar Ilan database.
    – mevaqesh
    Jul 26, 2017 at 5:03
  • Is the dictionary definition of seduction not good enough that you must resort to a YouTube video?
    – DonielF
    Jul 26, 2017 at 6:53

2 Answers 2

1

The Gemara gives a different list, and it didn't have בני מפותה. This is the same list as דרכי טהרה from Harav Eliyahu zt"l who omits בני מפותה. I would assume that the Rambam is talking about the "seducing" in the Torah where she is a minor. It doesn't make sense to say that courtship is illegal.

The list from the Gemara are as follows:א) בני אנוסה. ב) בני שנואה. ג) בני נידוי. ד) בני תמורה. ה) בני מורדת. ו) בני שכרות. ז) בני גרושת הלב. ח) בני ערבוביה. ט) בני חצופה. י) ויש אומרים אף בני ישנה.

Translation: 1) forced (meaning spousal rape) 2) hated (husband hates his wife; even if he is just mad, he needs to make up first) 3) excommunicated (he declares that he will not receive benefit from his wife) 4) he has two wives and thinks of his other wife 5) when the wife is angry with her husband 6) drunk 7) has in mind to divorce her 8) thinks of a totally different woman 9) when she actually asks with words instead of hinting 10) some say while she is asleep

3
  • +1 for effort, but your list is brought by the Rambam in the previous halacha
    – hazoriz
    Jul 26, 2017 at 12:41
  • The Gemara: sefaria.org/Nedarim.20b.9
    – hazoriz
    Jul 26, 2017 at 12:46
  • 1
    Welcome to Mi Yodeya Avi! Sourcing " I would assume that the Rambam is talking about the "seducing" in the Torah where she is a minor. It doesn't make sense to say that courtship is illegal" would greatly improve the post, as it is the only line that really answers the question.
    – mevaqesh
    Jul 26, 2017 at 16:23
0

@mevaqesh brought a few sources on the subject

Rav Shmaryahu Yosef Chaim Kanievsky brings the sources of this part of the Rambam's halacha in his book Kiryas Melech:
Mesehta Kala Rabisi chapter 1

ברייתא מכאן אמרו עשרה כממזרים ואינם ממזרים ... בני מפותה
...גמ'] בני מפותה סופן שמפתין לבן
~:
part of the list of 10 who are similar to mamzerim, are the sons of a seduced woman, the gemorah explains what will happen to them is that they will be seduced by a boy (man)

the list of the "10 mamzerim" is also brought in Pirkei Rabbeinu HaKadosh 10:3

and in mishnas Rabbi Elazar 18 in the list of the children of the nine midos (which is different then the list in the Shulchan Arch 240.3
but there sons of a seduced woman are defined as: when a man has relations with his engaged (kedushin) wife to be while she was still in her father's house and without a kesuba.


this Rambam is also brought by the Ungvarer Rebbe Menashe Klein (about him in hebrew (chabad)) in the book Mishneh Halachos part 12:301 (text version) in his answer about ~ "what is the problem with walking with a girl and talking to her to check if she is good for him to marry"
where he brings this Rambam and proves that the "seducing" in this Halacha does not mean that the man had relations with her but only that he convinced the girl to marry him.
it seems his option on Jewish dating is that
1. the man can look on the girl if he wants to check if she is disgusting to him, once he checked he can not look again, 2. it is good if the girl is shy from the man like Rivka did when she fell of the camel (http://www.sefaria.org/Genesis.24.64),
3. no convincing of the girl is permitted, only we ask her if she wants as they did by Rivka (http://www.sefaria.org/Genesis.24.57)
and not (the nonjewish way), as shechem did to Dina (Rashi Beraishis 34.3)

7
  • 2
    Since what shechem did to Dinah got him and his city executed, that's not the standard non Jewish way
    – Heshy
    Jul 25, 2017 at 22:19
  • @Heshy I guess rape, kidnapping and not having a court (which got them killed) is not the standard non Jewish way. but "speaking to her heart" did not get them killed and might be (just see non Jewish dating advice for men)
    – hazoriz
    Jul 26, 2017 at 1:50
  • 1
    "no convincing of the girl is permitted" He does not say that. He says not to be mefateh, but does not define what is included. If anything it would mean seduce which is more about removing the choice from her, rather than convince which leaves the choice up to her, but attempts to influence it.
    – mevaqesh
    Jul 26, 2017 at 5:07
  • @mevaqesh please clarify, I do not see a difference, (there is no keddushin without the will of the girl (when she is older then 12.5years)) is not the choice aways up to her? Is not seduction an attempt to influence it? (How do you understand his quote about shehem?, B"n I will try to find his kuntres on haish Mekadesh , maybe it will be explained there) the raavad that he says to see is here hebrewbooks.org/rambam.aspx?rid=3982 , do you know what ישוע''י is reffuring to?
    – hazoriz
    Jul 26, 2017 at 10:06
  • @mevaqesh i think i found the kuntras hebrewbooks.org/53674 see mishna halochos 9:267 tshuvos.com/… where he seems to say no talking is necessary
    – hazoriz
    Jul 26, 2017 at 20:41

You must log in to answer this question.

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