166

Not to let a Mamzer ("bastard") marry into the Jewish people

The Luchos - Ten Commandments
לֹא־יָבֹ֥א מַמְזֵ֖ר בִּקְהַ֣ל יְהֹוָ֑ה גַּ֚ם דּ֣וֹר עֲשִׂירִ֔י לֹא־יָ֥בֹא ל֖וֹ בִּקְהַ֥ל יְהֹוָֽה׃ - פָּרָשַׁת כִּי־תֵצֵא
Deuteronomy 23:3 - "A bastard shall not enter the assembly of the Lord; even the tenth generation shall not enter the assembly of the Lord."

This Mitzvah's Summary

מִצְוָה עֲשֵׂה - Positive Commandment
מִצְוָה לֹא תַעֲשֶׂה - Negative Commandment
Family – מִשְׁפָּחָה

Forbidden for a mamzer to marry into the Jewish people.

This mitzvah prohibits a mamzer (a child born from certain forbidden relationships, such as adultery or incest) from marrying into the congregation of Israel. This prohibition is permanent and extends to all descendants of the mamzer. The Torah establishes this law to uphold the sanctity of marriage and to deter grave sexual sins that result in such offspring. However, a mamzer is still fully Jewish and bound to all mitzvot, but marriage is restricted to others of similar status or to converts.

Commentary & Classical Explanation:

  • Rambam (Hilchot Issurei Bi’ah 15:1): Defines a mamzer as one born from relations forbidden under karet (spiritual excision) or capital punishment, and codifies their permanent exclusion from marrying into the congregation.
  • Sefer HaChinuch (Mitzvah 566): The root is to distance Israel from the outcomes of severe sexual immorality, reinforcing the gravity of the prohibitions that create such lineage.
  • Talmud (Yevamot 49a): Discusses the definition of a mamzer and emphasizes that while the individual is restricted in marriage, they remain fully Jewish in every other respect.
(Source: Chabad.org)

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