Ask the Rabbi
- Halacha
- Cohanim
- Cohen's Marriage
Question
A Kohen marries a woman who did not have a halachically valid geirus. Neither of them knew of the prohibition of marriage to a giyores nor that she wasn’t actually a giyores. If, after learning of this, the children undergo geirus, what is their tribal affiliation? Are they Kohanim, Chalallim, Leviim, Yisraelim with known or unknown lineage, or something else? Would there be any differences from regular geirim?
Thank you.
Answer
The mother’s non-kosher conversion is totally worthless, and accordingly the children are regular converts regarding all issues, and called to the Torah as Yisraelim.
With Love of Israel,
Rav Ari Shvat

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