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How is it possible to make a פדיון הבן by giving money to someone who is not a כהן?

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closed as not constructive by Isaac Moses Jun 17 '11 at 21:54

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2 Answers

up vote 3 down vote

the Chasam Sofer says if there is no כהן available and a person, who has never had a Pidyon Haben, has reached old age or if a person just doesn’t want to wait because who knows he will die shortly,then he should give the פדיון to a כהנת who Married a Yisroel without a ברכה and have in mind a תנאי that he really doesn’t want to be יוצא the מצוה with this, should he find a כהן in the future. Then, he should be פודה himself a second time, this time with a ברכה. Rav Yaakov Emden in his "ו( כ אות בכור פדיון הלכות) סדור says the same.

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up vote 2 down vote

There is no halakhic basis to do Pidyon Haben by anyone but a Kohen, as the kohanim have taken the place of the first born.

A more legitimate question would be whether a Kohen today(who is ultimately a sofek Kohen) can actually receive money for Pidyon HaBen?

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