The Cohen's Heritage
Kohanim Forever:
From the Sources
God’s promise to
Aharon and his sons of continuity throughout all generations is mentioned repeatedly in
the Written Torah, the Prophets and the Oral Torah.
Torah: “Bring
close Aharon your brother and his sons with him from among the children of Israel to
become Kohanim/Priests to Me.” (Exodus 28:1) (Every use of the Hebrew word
“Li,” “to me” is for all time—Midrash Gadol)
“and they shall
have the Kehuna/Priesthood as a statute forever, and you shall consecrate Aharon and his
sons.” (Exodus 29:9)
“And anoint them
as you anointed their father, that they may serve Me, and it shall be for them an
appointment to an everlasting Kehuna/Priesthood throughout their generations.”
(Exodus 40:15)
“You and your sons
with you shall keep your Kehuna/PriesthoodžI give your Kehuna/Priesthood as a gift of
service.” (Numbers 18:17)
“It is an
everlasting covenant of salt before God with you and with your descendants.” (Numbers
18: 19)
“And it shall be
to him and to his descendants after him a covenant of everlasting Kehuna/Priesthood.”
(Numbers 25:13)
“For God your God
has chosen him of all your tribes to stand and serve with the name of God he and his sons
forever.” (Deuteronomy 18:5)
Prophets “The
Kohanim, the Levites, the sons of Tzadok kept the charge of my Sanctuary when the children
of Israel went astray from Me, they shall come near to Me to serve Me and stand before Me
to offer before Me the fat and the blood, says the L-rd, God.” (Ezekiel 44:15)
“For the
Kohen’s lips shall keep knowledge, and Torah you shall seek from his mouth, for he is
a messenger of God.” (Malachi 2:7)
“Behold I shall
send to you Eliyahu the Prophet before the coming of the great and awesome day of
God.” (Malachi 3:21)
Mishna/Talmud “The
Sanhedrin (high court) sat and judged the Kohanimžif no disqualifications were found,
they made a holiday and proclaimed, “Blessed is God, that no disqualification was
found in the descendants of Aharon, and blessed is He that chose Aharon and his sons to
stand and serve before Him in the holy Temple.” (Mishna Middos 5:4)
“When the Holy
One, blessed be He, will purify the tribes, the tribe of Levi will
be purified first” (Gemara Kiddushin 71a)
Definitions:
Who is a Cohen
What is a Cohen
Privleges &
Responsibilities:
Honoring
Pidyon Haben
Marriage Qualifications
Ritual Purity
The
Blessing of the Kohanim
Description
Procedure
The Blessing (PDF in Hebrew)
The Blessing (PDF in English)
The
Mishmarot
The Cohen Levi Service Groups |
