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From: dsg@mhuxi.UUCP
Newsgroups: net.religion.jewish
Subject: Re: What is a mamzer? (DAYENU!!!!)
Message-ID: <301@mhuxi.UUCP>
Date: Mon, 1-Apr-85 13:41:23 EST
Article-I.D.: mhuxi.301
Posted: Mon Apr  1 13:41:23 1985
Date-Received: Tue, 2-Apr-85 00:46:25 EST
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[Golem]

	This is a slight flame.  When the question of "mamzer"
first came up, I went home and looked through Rabbi Lamm's book
"The Jewish Way in Love and Marriage" ( I think that is the correct
title) and found about two to three pages on the subject.  I didn't
feel that I could do justice to the subject by condensing the definition
into a few lines, so I waited for someone else to answer.  I saw a reasonable
definition on the net and left it at that.  The only problem was that the
person who asked seemed to want just a translation of the Hebrew word
"mamzer" which, in English, is "bastard".  Enough said.
	Now, to "What|Who is a mamzer".   I read the talmud  Kiddushin
at least once, and that was no easy chore.  Kiddushin explains the rules
for valid betrothals, among other things.  The sentance that opens up
Kiddushin says:
"A woman is acquired by writ, intercourse or money".
The quote is from memory, but the keyword is acquired which means
betrothed which means engaged NOT married!
	As for my flame, I am getting sick and tired of seeing postings
which sound like the author really knows what s/he is talking about but
is factually wrong.  Everyone is entitled to their opinions but how about
doing a little reading, i.e., looking up the facts, before posting something
that sounds like the emmis ( truth ).  Debate all you want but at least
get the basic facts straight first!
Hag Sameach,
David HaMelech