Q&A: A Convert Who Converted
A Convert Who Converted
Question
The Shakh on Yoreh De'ah, section 269, paragraph 1, writes that by Torah law, a brother and sister who converted would be permitted to marry one another (and it is forbidden only rabbinically because of desecration of God's name, etc.), because we have a general principle: “a convert who converted is like a newborn child.” In other words, the Shakh applied a real, concrete interpretation with halakhic force to this principle; he does not see it as merely a figure of speech or just a nice metaphor.
It is a bit hard to digest—do you accept his interpretation?
Answer
This is not just the Shakh; it is agreed Jewish law by all. See the Shulchan Arukh, Yoreh De'ah 269:1.
Discussion on Answer
Indeed. And that is exactly the questioner's point—that there is something morally problematic here. That is why the Sages prohibited it. But Jewish law is usually not troubled by moral questions, in line with my approach. Though I also think that marriage between a brother and sister is not morally problematic (except perhaps humanly. I don't know). But that is a different discussion.
I didn't understand.
Forgive me.
But
what is the difference between a moral problem and a human problem?
If I'm not mistaken, a human problem = an aesthetic problem (and not an ethical one).
See for example here: https://mikyab.net/posts/8154
A nice example of the distinction you make between the Torah and morality. The Torah permits it, but the Sages come in, in the name of morality, and prohibit it.