My chavrusa asked the following questions:
We are learning Kidushin daf 75b regarding a Kusi. According to Rabbi Yishmael they are geri arayos - like ovdei avodah zara (goyim mamish)(Rashi). The question is:
1: can a Kusi "re-convert" if he would move to: e.g. Yerushalayim where there are no lion fears? ei. Can we assume he is emes and the case is he is sincere with no ulterior motives.
2: can the later generations of Kusim, who are - e.g. great grandchildren of the original "convert" - convert to be Yidden?
Who can they marry according to Rabbi Yishmael?
Another Kusi?
Mamzer, etc.?
Can a Kusi sell himself as an eved ivri and therefore have a shifchah as a "wife"?
According to Rabbi Akiva who says geri emes:
1: Is there a general isur to marry them?
2: who can they marry?
3: can they sell themselves as an eved Ivri and "marry" a shifchah?
Yesher Chochachem.
Avraham Peretz Fiddle
1 Whilst there should theoretically be no reason not to accept converts who are Kutim if they now wish to truly convert, problems arise as they may be Mazeirim due to the fact that they do not keep all the laws of Kiddushin and Gittin properly. Therefore the Rema (EH 4:37) says that we may not accept Geirim from Kutim (see Gra ibid.).
2 Later generations are the same for the same reason.
3 If a Kuti is not a Jew he cannot sell himself as an Eved Ivri, so I do not follow this part of your question.
According to Rebbi Akiva:
1 As above 1.
2 The Tur (EH 4) says that a Kuti can only marry a Ger. This follows the opinion of Rebbi Eliezer in Kiddushin 74a. However the Beis Yossef says that the Rambam disagrees (see his explanation ibid.), and although he sides with the Tur, in Shulchan Aruch (EH 4:36, and Beis Shmuel63) he appears to rule like the Rambam.
3 They could sell themselves as an Eved and marry a Shifchah, but since in the time of the Gemara the Chachamim ruled that we treat Kutim as gentiles even according to Rebbi Akiva (Chulin 6a), this option is no longer available.
Dov Freedman