A patrilineal descendant of the biblical Aaron, a male kohen (plural kohanim) could serve in the Temple in Jerusalem when it was standing; various other laws apply to kohanim also, male and female.
11
votes
3answers
365 views
Nose Job in Halacha
Is a nose job allowed Hallachicly? Not all cosmetic surgeries, but rhinoplasty in particular, as I heard that rhinoplasty is allowed because we see by a Kohen that having an abnormally long nose is a ...
3
votes
2answers
219 views
Who says the Ribbono shel Olam in Birkas Kohanim?
I've "seen" many Talmidei Chachamim not saying the Ribbono shel Olams following each bracha of Birkas Kohanim. At least, I hear them chanting with the Kohanim from start to finish. Are these tefilos ...
7
votes
1answer
257 views
Prohibition of a Kohen marrying a Zonah
In the prohibition of a Kohen marrying a Zonah (cf. Vayikra 21:7), what defines a woman as a Zonah? Is it just having had relations with a non-Jew, or does it also include having relations out of ...
5
votes
6answers
688 views
Which surnames are exclusively Kohanim's and why?
It is well known that is a person has a certain surname (last name) they are more likely to be a Kohen.
Examples:
Cohen - for obvious reasons
Kahn
Katz - stands for "Kohen Tzedek"
What are some ...
13
votes
3answers
283 views
Can you become “more tamei”? If not, why do we worry about it today?
Without the temple and access to the ritual of the red heifer, we're all tamei (ritually impure) today with no way to fix it. Yet we work to avoid situations that would make us tamei (e.g. kohanim ...
9
votes
2answers
409 views
Can the child of two converts marry a Cohen?
Can the child of two converts marry a Cohen? How does the situation differ if only the mother, or only the father, is a convert?
(I have read that "ideally" the child of two converts should not ...
8
votes
1answer
376 views
Daughter of a Jewish woman and non-Jewish man
Is a Kohen allowed to marry a woman who is the daughter of a Jewish woman and non-Jewish man?
5
votes
1answer
104 views
Why do the Leviim wash the hands of the Kohanim when they go up to bless the people?
When the Kohanim washed their hands and feet in the Beis HaMikdosh they did not have anyone to help.
Why then do the Kohanim need others to wash their hands when they go up to bless the people?
Why ...
10
votes
2answers
297 views
What happens to the family of a Kohen today if his wife is a victim of rape?
What happens to the family of a Kohen today if his wife is a victim of rape?
What are the steps taken and how does this come to be resolved according to halachah and in the most constructive way for ...
10
votes
2answers
147 views
Preference to Kohanim in repeating situations
Based on this question and answer, it seems that the obligation to honor the kohein is when everyone has equal rights, the kohein gets first pick, but not everything. For instance, if a host serves a ...
7
votes
3answers
185 views
Bimei Matisyahu ben Yochanan Kohen Godol
In "Al Hanisim" we say "Bimei Matisyahu ben Yochanan Kohen Godol", "in the days of Matisyahu the son of Yochanan the Kohen Gadol (=high priest)".
Who was the Kohen Godol: Matisyahu or Yochnan?
6
votes
2answers
185 views
Is Cohen who had a vasectomy allowed to Bless?
Is Cohen who had a vasectomy allowed to Bless the congregation? Also marry? What happens if he does marry?
4
votes
2answers
218 views
Is a Cohen Allowed to Perform CPR?
CPR is performed when the heart has stopped but the brain is still alive. We have a general rule that a Cohen is not allowed to come in contact with a dead body. If so, does this mean that a Kohen ...
6
votes
1answer
135 views
Kohain First questions
1)Is there a Din that a Kohain must be allowed to cut you online in a supermarket because of "Vkidashto"?
2)Do they go first when it comes to Davening when there are two Chiyuvim?
3)When you learn ...
7
votes
2answers
237 views
How are we to understand Malchi-Tzedek, non-Jewish priest of God?
Malchi-Tzedek is a gentile priest who worships God. I initially read this as just saying God is not exclusive (it says somewhere in Nevi'im that God also has covenants with other peoples), but today ...
7
votes
3answers
165 views
relative fractions of Kohanim and Levi'im
Does anyone have reliable statistics (and barring that, reasonable anectdotal evidence) of the fraction of Kohanim, Levi'im, and Yisraelim in various Jewish communities today. By "communities" I don't ...
7
votes
1answer
132 views
Kohen Gadol Yibum
Is it ever possible for a Kohen Gadol to perform the Mitzvah of Yibum. After all, every case of Yibum involves a widow which the Kohen Gadol is not allowed to marry?
6
votes
1answer
274 views
Where did the Levitical priesthood go?
Has the sacrificial system of the Torah been abandoned? Do those in the Tribe of Levi still act as priest?
I have just never seen or heard of anyone making sacrifices of animals or going to a ...
6
votes
4answers
334 views
Etymology of the surname “Katz”
Are there sources for the etymology of the surname Katz being an acronym for Kohen Tzedek?
Is that simply a backronym?
6
votes
1answer
163 views
Washing Kohen's Hands
Following kedusha during mussaf on a day when there is birchas kohanim (duchening), the Leviyim and Kohanim assemble at the sink and a Levi washes each Kohen's hands.
What procedure of hand-washing ...
6
votes
1answer
148 views
Riddle: when do 10 Kohanim equal 1 Yisrael? [closed]
Pretty much what the title says. Where in the Torah do we find something for which we need 10 Kohanim or 1 Yisrael?
5
votes
1answer
168 views
Is a bat kohen allowed to go to cemetery?
Besides the permitted reasons for male kohen, is a bat kohen allowed to go to cemetery for other reason?
5
votes
0answers
109 views
Relations among King David, the Sanhedrin, and the high priest
Do we have any historical source that discusses the relations among King David, the Sanhedrin during his reign, and the high priest during his reign? Were they on friendly terms? Was there a power ...
4
votes
1answer
257 views
Kohen flying over a cemetery?
Is there a problem with a kohen flying in an airplane that may fly over a Jewish cemetery? If so, how can a kohen be sure that a flight does not go over a Jewish cemetery?
4
votes
2answers
176 views
Which Yochanan Kohen Godol is in Al Hanissim?
In Al Hanissim we mention a Yochanan Kohen Gadol. Since there were several kohanim gedolim named Yochanan which one is this, historically?
3
votes
2answers
106 views
Can any kohanim trace all the way back to Aaron?
Can any kohanim alive today trace their lineage all the way back to the High Priest Aaron? If not, who can go the farthest?
3
votes
1answer
68 views
Can a Kohain do Birchas Kohanim if he did not wash his hands?
Suppose a Kohain for some reoson forgot to wash his hands or was unable to, can he still do Birchas Kohanim?
