Who is a Kohen?
The beginning part of this week’s parsha refers to the special laws and
status regarding kohanim – the descendants of Aharon. It is common
knowledge that a study based on the DNA samples of many current day
kohanim revealed a common genetic strain amongst a considerable number of
those who participated in the study. This strain was found to be common
even amongst people who lived in different areas of the world separated by
thousands of miles and centuries of differing ethnicities.
The jury is still out whether these DNA findings have any halachic
validity and as to what exactly these findings prove. Over the centuries
of Jewish life the kohanim have fiercely protected their lineal descent
from Aharon and zealously guarded their status of legitimacy as being
kohanim. Kohanim are held in high regard in the Jewish world and are
entitled to certain special privileges and honors in the Jewish religious
Though it seems that it is permissible for a kohein to waive some of those
privileges if he so wishes, preferred behavior dictates that he not do so.
The status of the kohein is to be preserved as a remembrance of their
special role in the Temple services in Jerusalem. But in a deeper sense it
is to be preserved to remind us of their special mission “to guard with
their lips knowledge and to teach Torah to those who request it.”
They are to be a blessing to the people of Israel and they are commanded
to in turn bless the people of Israel. Blessed are those that are
commanded to bless others. Thus the status of a kohein is representative
of all that is noble and positive in Jewish life and tradition –
knowledge, Torah, grace, security and peace.
The question of ersatz kohanim is discussed widely in connection with
halachic decisions. Not every person who claims to be a kohein is really a
kohein. Since true pedigrees are very difficult to truly ascertain today,
the halacha adopts a position that who is really a kohein is a matter of
doubt. Therefore great rabbinic decisors, especially in the United States,
have oftenm, in cases of dire circumstances, “annulled” the kehuna of an
In the confusion of immigration to the United States at the end of the
nineteenth and the beginning of the twentieth centuries there were people
who disguised themselves as kohanim in order to earn the monies of pidyon
haben – the redemption of the first born son from the kohein. These people
were charlatans, but many other simple Jews assumed that somehow they were
kohanim without any real proof of the matter. Even tombstones that
declared that one’s father was a kohein were not to be accepted as
definitive proof of the matter. Therefore the DNA results are most
interesting and provocative.
The halacha has not yet determined with certainty the trustworthiness of
DNA results in matters that require halachic decision. Therefore it is
premature to speculate whether DNA testing will ever be used as a method
of determining one’s true status as a kohein. But ever is a long time
coming so we will have to see. Meanwhile the kohanim should retain their
tradition of pedigree to the best of their abilities.
Rabbi Berel Wein