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From: de@moscom.UUCP (Dave Esan)
Newsgroups: net.religion.jewish
Subject: Re: What is a mamzer?
Message-ID: <523@moscom.UUCP>
Date: Wed, 3-Apr-85 21:21:32 EST
Article-I.D.: moscom.523
Posted: Wed Apr  3 21:21:32 1985
Date-Received: Sun, 7-Apr-85 05:12:54 EST
References: <1028@topaz.ARPA> <530@sfmag.UUCP>
Organization: MOSCOM Corp, E Rochester, NY, USA
Lines: 16

> A mamzer is only permitted to marry another mamzer or a  convert.
> In  either  case,  the progeny will be mamzerim. 

It had been my understanding that the children of a mamzer and a convert were
accepted back into the Jewish community, that the special "yichus" of a
convert was enough to overcome mamzerut.

Let me also hasten to add that a mamzer was the product of relationships
that violated the most sacred of taboos, sex that destroyed the family.
Children born out of wedlock were considered no better or worse than those
born to married parents, something that the Christian world never did seem
to learn.

A good and kosher Pesach.

			    David Esan (!moscom!de)