Kiddushin (71a) Rabbi Yehoshua ben Levi says: Money purifies mamzerim. Money causes rich mamzerim to become assimilated with Jews of unflawed lineage, since other families marry them despite their flawed lineage. In the future, God will not single them out as mamzerim, as it is stated: “And he shall sit as a refiner and purifier of silver,” which teaches that money, i.e., silver, purifies them. What, then, is the connection to the next part of the verse: “They that shall offer to the Lord offerings in righteousness”? Rabbi Yitzḥak says: The Holy One, Blessed be He, performed an act of righteousness with the Jewish people by establishing that a family that has become assimilated with Jews of unflawed lineage remains assimilated. They are not removed from their tribe despite their flawed lineage. With regard to the matter itself that was discussed earlier, the lineage of the Jews in various lands,
Koheles (10:19) For laughter bread is made, and wine gladdens life, and money answers all things.
So why does rambam say about moshiach or eliyahu that he will not purify the impure?
ReplyDeleteyou are only quoting part of his statement and that is why you have a question. Rambam is simply following the gemora!
DeleteRambam (Kings and Wars 12:3)
DeleteWhen he defines the lineage of the Israelites, he will make known their tribal lineage alone, stating: 'He is from this tribe and he is from another tribe.' He will not, by contrast, state concerning a person who is presumed to be of unblemished lineage: 'He is illegitimate or he is of slave lineage.' For the law is once a family has become intermingled with the entire Jewish people, they may remain intermingled.
Thank you for correcting me
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