daf bit: Kiddushin 78

[cellio]

Kohanim face restrictions in whom they can marry. Among others, converts are forbidden to them; they must marry Israelites. What about the daughter of a convert? Is she considered Yisrael for this purpose? Rabbi Yosi says yes, even the daughter of two converts is permitted. Rabbi bar bar Chanah says this is the halacha, but that since the destruction of the temple kohanim are stringent and do not marry daughters of converts. Rav Nachman says that if a kohein asks we tell him the halacha is stringent, but if he has already married the daughter of converts he may stay married per Rabbi Yosi. (78b)

(The difference between what is permitted up front and what is permitted after the fact is not new here -- usually, in my limited experience, the halacha is strict but a leniency is permitted. This goes the other way; it seems to be saying that the halacha is lenient but we add a stringency and give it the force of law. Stringencies sometimes take on the force of "quasi-law", e.g., glatt kosher versus plain old kosher, but I thought everyone involved agreed that such things are stringencies and not, strictly speaking, law. But Rav Nachman here asserts that the stringency is the law, which surprises me. Perhaps this would be clearer in the Aramaic.)

Comments

[cellio]

I know a kohein who married a convert (note: not daughter of convert, but actual convert) on condition that he give up his kohein privileges. I don't know if that's commonly done or if this was a special case, but I mention it in case that helps you at all.