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From: ask@cbdkc1.UUCP (A.S. Kamlet)
Newsgroups: net.religion.jewish
Subject: What is a mamzer?
Message-ID: <916@cbdkc1.UUCP>
Date: Fri, 22-Mar-85 16:49:34 EST
Article-I.D.: cbdkc1.916
Posted: Fri Mar 22 16:49:34 1985
Date-Received: Sat, 23-Mar-85 04:17:58 EST
References: <1028@topaz.ARPA>
Reply-To: ask@cbdkc1.UUCP (A.S. Kamlet)
Distribution: na
Organization: AT&T Bell Laboratories, Columbus
Lines: 36
Keywords: Mamzer

> As I had a completely secular education and grew up in completely
> religiously non-active family - WHAT IS A MAMZER?  Please?  Most of what I
> read in this newsgroup I can understand, but this one is getting to me.
> 
> Thanks
> -- 
> liz sommers

A mamzer is a child of a prohibited union. Something like a bastard.

For example, a child resulting from any of the following halachically-
prohibited unions would be a mamzer.

2. A married woman and a man other than her husband.
1. A woman whose husband is missing under circumstanes where he cannot
be declared dead is a married woman, and if she should later have a
3hild by any other man, the child is a mamzer.
4. A divorced y of the prohibited incestous relationships.
1. a woman who does not receive a legal 'get' from her ex-husband
is still considered to be married while the husband still is alive,
so she may not remarry.
   (This is not intended as a complete list.)

The following union would NOT produce a mamzer:

An unmarried woman and a married or unmarried man, whether or not
the woman consented.

A mamzer is not permitted many rights, including bar-mitzvah,
normal marraige, etc.  A mamzer is pretty much a cast-out from
the Jewish Community.  While the child suffers, the parents also
probably share the suffering. So, a couple considering a non-permitted
relationship should realize the consequences!!  The status of a mamzer
cannot, in general, ever be reversed.
-- 
Art Kamlet  AT&T Bell Laboratories  Columbus {ihnp4 | cbosgd}!cbrma!ask