(Mishnah): Any relationship where kidushin takes effect and there is no transgression involved, the child follows the lineage of the father. What are these? The daughter of a Kohen, a Levi or Yisrael to a Kohen, a Levi or a Yisrael.

Any relationship where kidushin takes effect but a transgression is involved, the child follows the lineage of the (more) blemished parent. What are these? A widow to a Kohen Gadol; a divorcee or chalitzah to a regular Kohen; a Mamzeres or Nasinah to a Yisrael; a daughter of a Yisrael to a Nasin or Mamzer.

Any relationship where kidushin does not take effect, but for others kidushin does take effect, the child is a Mamzer. What are these? One who has relations with one of the Arayos of the Torah (e.g. with his sister, his aunt, or a married woman).

Any relationship where kidushin does not take effect, neither for him nor for any man, the child follows the status of the mother. What are these? The child of a slave woman or a gentile woman.

(Gemara) - Question (R. Shimon ben Lakish to R. Yochanan): If a convert marries a Mamzeres, kidushin takes effect and there is no transgression, but the child follows the more blemished parent (i.e. it is a Mamzer)?

Answer (R. Yochanan): Rebbi clarified the statement at the beginning of the Mishnah by specifying, "What are these? The daughter of a Kohen, a Levi or Yisrael to a Kohen, a Levi or a Yisrael.''

R. Avin heard this discussion about the second case of the Mishnah - Any relationship where kidushin takes effect but a transgression is involved, the child follows the lineage of the (more) blemished parent.

Question (R. Shimon ben Lakish to R. Yochanan): If a convert marries a Mamzeres, kidushin takes effect and there is no transgression, but the child follows the more blemished parent (i.e. it is a Mamzer)?!

Answer (R. Yochanan): Rebbi clarified this statement by specifying, "What are these? A widow to a Kohen Gadol; a divorcee or chalitzah to a regular Kohen; a Mamzeres or Nasinah to a Yisrael; a daughter of a Yisrael to a Nasin or Mamzer.

Question: If a chalal married the daughter of a Yisrael, the kidushin takes effect and there is no transgression involved, but the child follows the more blemished parent (i.e. it is a chalal)?!

Question: If a person remarried his ex-wife (after she had married someone else), the kidushin takes effect and there is a transgression involved, but the child is kasher?

Proof - R. Chiya citing R.Yochanan: One who remarried his ex-wife after she married someone else, their daughter may marry a Kohen. Why is this? The pasuk states that "she is an abomination'' meaning that her children are not (so their daughter may marry a Kohen).

R. Yosi bei R. Bun citing Rav: A convert, a freed slave and a chalal may marry the daughter of a Kohen. Why is this? Kasher men are warned against Pasul women and Pasul women are warned against Kasher men, but Kasher women are not warned against Pasul men, nor are Pasul men warned against Kasher women.

Question - Beraisa: The pasuk states (Vayikra 21, 7), "They shall not take (a zonah or a chalalah and they shall not take a divorcee'' - why did the pasuk repeat the phrase (when the list could have been combined)? To teach that the woman is also commanded against having such a relationship.

Conclusion of question against R. Yosi: They assumed that the pasuk is warning Kasher women against Pasul men...?

Answer: The pasuk is actually warning the Pasul women against marrying Kasher men (like the actual cases of the Pasuk).

A convert once asked R. Yosi if he may marry a Mamzeres. R. Yosi permitted it. The convert then asked the same question to R. Yudah who said that it was permitted, but that the child would be a Mamzer. He returned to R. Yosi and asked him why he did not inform him of this. R. Yosi replied that he merely answered the question that was asked of him.

R. Yosi commented: This convert is like cotton wool - if you wish to connect him to wool it is permitted; if you wish to connect him to linen, it is permitted (and there is no prohibition of shaatnez involved).

We understand that a daughter of a Yisrael cannot marry a Mamzer or a Nasin, as the pasuk states (Devarim 23, 3), "A Mamzer shall not enter the congregation of Israel''. But if a Yisrael married a Mamzeres, how do we know that the child follows its mother's blemish (i.e. and is a Mamzer)?

Question: But what is the purpose of the words (ibid), "(even) his (10th generation) shall not enter (the congregation of Hash-m)''? To make the child Pasul i.e. a Mamzer (even if only the mother is a Mamzeres).

R. Abahu: What is the meaning of the word Mamzer? 'Moom Zar' - a strange blemish (that continues for all future generations). (Note: This entry follows the explanation of the Pnei Moshe.)

This disagrees with the teaching of R.Yudah bar Pazi - the pasuk states (Tehilim 68, 7), "Hash-m settles the individuals into a family''; even if a Mamzer is on one side of the world and a Mamzeres is on the other, Hash-m brings them together in marriage.

Rav Huna: A Mamzer does not live more than 30 days.

In the days of R. Berachya, a Babylonian came here who was known to be a Mamzer. (This would indicate that a Mamzer could live more than 30 days.) He said to R. Berachya - Rebbi, give me charity.

R. Berachya replied: Tomorrow when I give my Torah class, I will decide on an amount.

The Mamzer came when R. Berachya was speaking. When he finished, he told the people, "Give charity to this Mamzer''.

When everyone left, the Mamzer said to R. Berachya, "Rebbi, I asked you for 'temporary life' (i.e. to sustain me) and (by announcing that I am a Mamzer), you have taken from me eternal life (as nobody will give me their daughter in marriage)''.

R. Berachya replied: On the contrary, I have given you eternal life, as R. Ba/ Rav Huna in the name of Rav that a Mamzer does not live more than 30 days (in order to prevent him from mixing into the people and contaminating all of them). This only applies when his status is not known but if it is, he can live longer.

When R. Zeira came to Eretz Yisrael, he heard a rumor that a certain man and a certain woman were Mamzerim. He said, "How could this be? It contradicts the teaching of Rav Huna who said that a Mamzer does not live more than 30 days (and these people are old!)

Answer: It only applies when his status is not known but if it is, he can live longer.