Commentary for Kiddushin 7:5
וממאי דדרשינן הכי דתניא (ויקרא כב, יג) וזרע אין לה
And how do you know that such exegesis is permissible?<span class="x" onmousemove="('comment',' I.e., that the yod () may be regarded as superfluous?');"><sup>7</sup></span> - Because it was taught: [If a priest's daughter also be married unto a stranger, she may not eat of an offering of the holy things.
Daf Shevui to Kiddushin
The midrash here teaches that if a daughter of a priest who is married to a non-priest and then the non-priest died had any offspring, even grandchildren or illegitimate offspring (such as mamzerim) she no longer may eat priestly food such as terumah. The midrash uses the letter “yod” in “eyn” as if the word was written “ayen” which means to “search.” Her lineage must be examined to see if she has any offspring. The reason this midrash is cited is to prove that derashot (rabbinic exegesis) may be based on the letter yod.
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