Klausenberger Rebbe: Can Cousins Get Married Despite Warnings From Doctors?
The Klausenberger Rebbe was asked (Divrei Yatziv EH 8) if two cousins can marry each other in light of the health risks to the offspring raised by contemporary medical research.
Firstly said the Klausenberger Rebbe, even though the Tzava'as Rebbi Yehuda HaChasid warns against marrying one's niece, we are not makpid on these things. Even if we were, he specifically speaks of nieces and not cousins.
We regard to the opinion of the doctors, the Klausenberger Rebbe said that we need not worry about it. He bases this on the Chasam Sofer (YD 158) who says that while non-Jewish doctors have Ne'emanus, nevertheless all their research is based on the biology of non-Jews, which the gemara says is not like ours because of the different dietary habits.
Furthermore says the Klausenberger Rebbe, there is another very important factor when considering conception of a Jewish child that is not accounted for by the medical establishment. Non-Jews are not careful to refrain from having relations during the menstrual cycle whereas Jews are.
On the contrary says the Klausenberger Rebbe. There is a mitzva for a person to marry within his family as the Rabbeinu Bachaye says in Parshas Chayei Sara by Yitzchok and Rivka, and the Ibn Ezra says in parshas Shemos by Amram and Yocheved.
To be on the safe side concludes the Klausenberger Rebbe, the young pair could take all the necessary blood tests and if they come back okay it will be a wonderful shidduch!
Important Note: We bring this tshuvah as a starting point for discussion and not to convey any halacha. We try to convey the Tshuva to the best of our ability. We admit that our understanding may not be accurate. One should learn the tshuva to verify the accuracy of our interpretation. Please understand that this Tshuva may not be the final word on this topic. One should consult a Rav before drawing any conclusions.
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