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much more significant blemish would disqualify a Kohen from serv- 4 Therefore, there is no real statistical data about the combination of all
ing in the Temple. The loss of teeth is not viewed as a blemish because the issues in our case.
this is a phenomenon that is a natural part of aging. [We see from this I explained to the woman about the complications that lie ahead.
Tosfos that even if it something of this sort happens at a young age, She answered that she is willing to take all the risks. I suggested to her
this is the way of the world and therefore we do no see it as a true that she come back with her husband in order to decide. She refused,
blemish.] claiming she is willing to take upon herself any risk because she des-
We learn in Tractate Kesubos (72b) that “all blemishes which dis- perately wants a child. She is not prepared to share all this with her
qualify a Kohen also disqualify women.” Therefore, since a Kohen husband since she did not tell him before their marriage about the
whose teeth have fallen out is not disqualified from serving in the medical problems she had. He, on the other hand, is the father of the
Temple, it is not a blemish subject to deception. (We can also add children from a previous marriage, and they live together in harmony.
that since her insertion and removal of the dentures can disgust her My questions are:
husband, she should keep the whole thing hidden from him.) 1. Are we allowed to do these things without the husband’s knowl-
[It is also explained in the Tosfos (Bechoros, above) that a Kohen edge?
whose molars have fallen out is not viewed as having a blemish and
he does not violate a negative precept if he serves in the Temple, but 2. Is the woman allowed to take this risk?
he does violate the positive precept since he is not “equal to a descen- Dr. A. Pinchas
dent of Ahron the High Priest,” and he is not like all his brethren Dept. of Cardiac Rehabilitation
Kohanim, as explained in the Gemara there (43b). My father-in-law Beilinson Hospital, Petach Tikvah
said that if the Kohen has false teeth made for him, then he no longer
violates the positive precept and is considered to be a descendent of 1 AnsweR
Ahron the High Priest since his external appearance is equal to all
other Kohanim.] It says in the Shulchan Aruch (Even Ha’ezer #83:1):
In Responsa Chavas Ya’ir (#220) there is a case of a person who If one wounds a married woman, the payment for unem-
became engaged to a woman far away, and he learned that his father- ployment and medical bills go to the husband, but the
in-law was not a man of means as he had thought. Therefore, he payment for pain and suffering goes to her. Regarding the
wanted to cancel the engagement, which was subject to a fine and payment for shame and damage, if the wound is visible,
excommunication. Heeding the advice of wicked people, he spread a such as if he wounded her on her face, neck or her hands
rumor that the bride was blemished with a longer-than-average nose, and forearms, then one third goes to her and two thirds
the size of her little finger, as explained in Tractate Bechoros (44a) to the husband. If the damage is hidden, one third of the
regarding blemishes of Kohanim. And the halachic ruling is that all payment goes to the husband and two thirds to her.
blemishes which disqualify Kohanim also disqualify women.
The Chavas Yair responded that if her nose was not long enough to We learn from here that the husband is the one who receives that
cause most people to laugh at her, then her groom’s assertion is worth- which relates to the damage and the illnesses of his wife.
less. When it comes to Kohanim, who are messengers of Hashem, [The Rabbenu Bachya (Bamidbar 30:14) also explains that the To-
something like this is considered a blemish, and likewise for women rah’s permission for a husband to nullify the vows of his wife does not
102 1 Medical-HalacHic Responsa of Rav ZilbeRstein Risks of Procreation due to his Wife’s Medical Condition 2 95
