- Halacha
- Cohen's Marriage
cohen marry the child of a convert
Question
why is it that if one parent is a convert it is permitted but if both are it is forbidden
Answer
ב"ה
Shalom
The law in the Shulchan Aruch is derived from the Talmud in Kiddushin 78a. The Rabbis in the Talmud there, expound the verse {Yechezkel 44:22) which says that
Cohanim should not take for themselves as wives a widowed or divorced woman , however they make take for a wife a woman "Mezera Yisraael", which means that the woman descended from Jewish seed.
Rav Yehuda, explains that the meaning of the verse is that the woman must descend from both parents who were born Jewish, while Rav Eliezer b. Yakov expounded the verse that "Mezera Yisraael" means even if one parent was born Jewish, a Cohen may marry her.
The Shulchan Aruch followed the opinion of Rav Eliezer b. Yakov, whose opinion was that even if one parent was born Jewish, a cohen may marry her.
But according to both, if both parents were not born Jewish a cohen may not marry her because this is what is indicated in the verse. And as I have explained in previous answers to similar questions, the Torah restricted who a cohen may marry in order to preserve the special status of the cohen within the Jewish people.
All the best

Children of Cohen married to convert
Various Rabbis | Shevat 20, 5768

Casting Doubt on the Cohen
Rabbi Elchanan Lewis | Iyyar 15, 5768

Children of a Kohen and an invalid giyoret
Rabbi Ari Shvat | Adar 7, 5773

why is both parents convert?
Rabbi Yoel Lieberman | Sivan 14, 5773

Rabbi Yoel Lieberman

L’Dovid Hashem Ori
Elul 11, 5769

Human skull in office
Elul 6, 5769

Swimming together with siblings
Av 29, 5769

Modern laws vs Shulchan Orach
Av 28, 5769

Fire on Shabbat
Rabbi Jonathan Blass | 26 Cheshvan 5767

Prayer before and after Tehillim
Rabbi David Sperling | Sivan 23, 5781

Mezzuzah for Non Jew
Rabbi David Sperling | Iyyar 18, 5773

The Theory of Jewish Inherent Superiority
Rabbi Yoel Lieberman | Adar I 25, 5771

Livelihood Prayer for Women
Rabbi Yoel Lieberman | Kislev 6, 5784

Shema
Rabbi Yoel Lieberman | Kislev 13, 5784

Must I Delete Photos About Other Religions?
Rabbi Yoel Lieberman | Kislev 8, 5784
