gershon wynschenk asked:
Dear Kollel Staff,
What are Shutukim and Asufim, and,why are they asur to marry Jews?
gershon wynschenk, london,u.k
The Kollel replies:
Dear Gershon,
Hello there and thanks for your query. The Mishnah explains that a Shesuki is a child who has a mother but the identity of the father is unknown. An Asufi is a child who can identify neither his father nor his mother (e.g. an abandon child discovered). The basic reason why they are not permitted to marry into Kehal is that they may descend from parent/s who are also forbidden to marry into Kehal or be a result of an illicit relationship. The Gemara on 73a goes into more more detail on the matter.
All the best.
Y. Landy