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<DIV><FONT style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: transparent" color=#000000 size=2
face=Arial>From: Micha Berger <A
href="mailto:micha@aishdas.org">micha@aishdas.org</A><BR></FONT></DIV>
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<DIV><FONT style="BACKGROUND-COLOR: transparent" color=#000000 size=2
face=Arial>>>Actually, while we're on the topic of da mah lehashiv, isn't
there<BR>also a kofer's theory that in the era in question, marriage
constituted<BR>conversion? IOW, the reason why patrilineal descent allegedy
worked is<BR>because the father's religion determined the whole household's. For
which<BR>one could point to Tziporah, Asnas, Shimshon's and Shelomo's wives,
etc...<<<BR><BR></DIV></FONT></FONT>
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<DIV>>>>></DIV>
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<DIV>The argument "these marriages show that marriage constitutes
conversion" is a circular argument, or an argument that presumes its
conclusions. "These marriages prove that marriage constitutes conversion"
only if you already assume that marriage constitutes conversion. </DIV>
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<DIV>But one could equally say that these marriages prove that Moshe, Yosef.
Shimshon and Shlomo converted their wives before marrying them. Otherwise
how could these men have married the women they married?!</DIV>
<DIV> </DIV>
<DIV>Bottom line, from the pesukim themselves there is no proof one way or
another. You need TSB'P.</DIV>
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<DIV><FONT lang=0 color=#0000ff size=2 face=Arial FAMILY="SANSSERIF"
PTSIZE="10"><BR><STRONG>--Toby Katz</STRONG></FONT><FONT lang=0 color=#ffffff
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PTSIZE="10"><BR><STRONG>..</STRONG></FONT><FONT lang=0 color=#0000ff size=2
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