- Halacha
- Cohen's Marriage
Zonah marrying a kohen
Question
Who is considered a zonah -- forbidden to marry a Cohen? Is a girl who had premarital relations with a jew considered a zonah? If yes, what if she was raped?
Answer
In general, if a woman has sexual relations with a man she is Halachicly prohibited to marry; she becomes a Zonah and can't marry a Cohen.
If she had even multiple sexual relations, but none, with which she can't halachicly marry – she is not a Zonah.
Therefore for instance, if a woman had relations even once with a non-Jew, since they can't marry him, she is a Zonah; on the other hand, even a prostitute that had only Jews - is not a Zonah.
For this matter even forced relations count.
(See Shulchan Aruch EH 6; 8)