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A mamzer is a child who is the product of an adulterous or incestuous relationship. For most purposes, a mamzer has the same status as any other Jew. If he grows up to be righteous and knowledgeable in Torah, his status is higher than that of a High Priest who is not as righteous and knowledgeable. However, one terrifying law applies to mamzerim. Mamzerim are not allowed to marry an ordinary Jew. If they do so and have a child, the child is also a mamzer. Although mamzerim are permitted to marry other mamzerim or converts, their children will still be mamzerim.
This law is one of the most difficult and painful in the Torah. Even though God’s laws are beyond our comprehension and we can never fully understand their purpose, here it is clear that this drastic law has the important effect of protecting the holiness of marriage and the institution of the family. In certain cases, a rabbinic court can find ways to avoid declaring a child a mamzer. Therefore, someone dealing with a possible case of mamzerut should not make any decision before consulting a rabbinic judge with expertise in this area.
