Cohanim, Leviim, and the Conservative Movement Today

This source sheet will address many of the contemporary issues that Conservative Jews grapple with today on the issues of Cohanim and Leviim. These include the status of Cohanim and Leviim as set apart, Birkat haCohanim, and the role of women as Cohanim and eligibility to perform the duties of Cohanim.

במדבר ח׳:י״ד-י״ט

(יד) וְהִבְדַּלְתָּ֙ אֶת־הַלְוִיִּ֔ם מִתּ֖וֹךְ בְּנֵ֣י יִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל וְהָ֥יוּ לִ֖י הַלְוִיִּֽם׃ (טו) וְאַֽחֲרֵי־כֵן֙ יָבֹ֣אוּ הַלְוִיִּ֔ם לַעֲבֹ֖ד אֶת־אֹ֣הֶל מוֹעֵ֑ד וְטִֽהַרְתָּ֣ אֹתָ֔ם וְהֵנַפְתָּ֥ אֹתָ֖ם תְּנוּפָֽה׃ (טז) כִּי֩ נְתֻנִ֨ים נְתֻנִ֥ים הֵ֙מָּה֙ לִ֔י מִתּ֖וֹךְ בְּנֵ֣י יִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל תַּחַת֩ פִּטְרַ֨ת כָּל־רֶ֜חֶם בְּכ֥וֹר כֹּל֙ מִבְּנֵ֣י יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל לָקַ֥חְתִּי אֹתָ֖ם לִֽי׃ (יז) כִּ֣י לִ֤י כָל־בְּכוֹר֙ בִּבְנֵ֣י יִשְׂרָאֵ֔ל בָּאָדָ֖ם וּבַבְּהֵמָ֑ה בְּי֗וֹם הַכֹּתִ֤י כָל־בְּכוֹר֙ בְּאֶ֣רֶץ מִצְרַ֔יִם הִקְדַּ֥שְׁתִּי אֹתָ֖ם לִֽי׃ (יח) וָאֶקַּח֙ אֶת־הַלְוִיִּ֔ם תַּ֥חַת כָּל־בְּכ֖וֹר בִּבְנֵ֥י יִשְׂרָאֵֽל׃ (יט) וָאֶתְּנָ֨ה אֶת־הַלְוִיִּ֜ם נְתֻנִ֣ים ׀ לְאַהֲרֹ֣ן וּלְבָנָ֗יו מִתּוֹךְ֮ בְּנֵ֣י יִשְׂרָאֵל֒ לַעֲבֹ֞ד אֶת־עֲבֹדַ֤ת בְּנֵֽי־יִשְׂרָאֵל֙ בְּאֹ֣הֶל מוֹעֵ֔ד וּלְכַפֵּ֖ר עַל־בְּנֵ֣י יִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל וְלֹ֨א יִהְיֶ֜ה בִּבְנֵ֤י יִשְׂרָאֵל֙ נֶ֔גֶף בְּגֶ֥שֶׁת בְּנֵֽי־יִשְׂרָאֵ֖ל אֶל־הַקֹּֽדֶשׁ׃

Numbers 8:14-19

(14) Thus you shall set the Levites apart from the Israelites, and the Levites shall be Mine. (15) Thereafter the Levites shall be qualified for the service of the Tent of Meeting, once you have cleansed them and designated them as an elevation offering. (16) For they are formally assigned to Me from among the Israelites: I have taken them for Myself in place of all the first issue of the womb, of all the first-born of the Israelites. (17) For every first-born among the Israelites, man as well as beast, is Mine; I consecrated them to Myself at the time that I smote every first-born in the land of Egypt. (18) Now I take the Levites instead of every first-born of the Israelites; (19) and from among the Israelites I formally assign the Levites to Aaron and his sons, to perform the service for the Israelites in the Tent of Meeting and to make expiation for the Israelites, so that no plague may afflict the Israelites for coming too near the sanctuary.

The above text, from parshat Bhalotcha, sets people from the tribe of Levi apart from the rest of the community.
Today, in some synagogues the role of Leviim and Cohanim is limited to doing the first and second aliyah, as well as doing Birkat HaCohanim.
1. Do these roles still have relevance to our Judaism today?
2. As modern Jews, are we comfortable with this system that some people above others?
3. What does it mean if we choose to not care about the status of Leviim and Cohanim?

במדבר ו׳:כ״ב-כ״ז

(כב) וַיְדַבֵּ֥ר יי אֶל־מֹשֶׁ֥ה לֵּאמֹֽר׃ (כג) דַּבֵּ֤ר אֶֽל־אַהֲרֹן֙ וְאֶל־בָּנָ֣יו לֵאמֹ֔ר כֹּ֥ה תְבָרֲכ֖וּ אֶת־בְּנֵ֣י יִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל אָמ֖וֹר לָהֶֽם׃ (ס) (כד) יְבָרֶכְךָ֥ יי וְיִשְׁמְרֶֽךָ׃ (ס) (כה) יָאֵ֨ר יי ׀ פָּנָ֛יו אֵלֶ֖יךָ וִֽיחֻנֶּֽךָּ׃ (ס) (כו) יִשָּׂ֨א יי ׀ פָּנָיו֙ אֵלֶ֔יךָ וְיָשֵׂ֥ם לְךָ֖ שָׁלֽוֹם׃ (ס) (כז) וְשָׂמ֥וּ אֶת־שְׁמִ֖י עַל־בְּנֵ֣י יִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל וַאֲנִ֖י אֲבָרֲכֵֽם׃ (פ)

Numbers 6:22-27

(22) The LORD spoke to Moses: (23) Speak to Aaron and his sons: Thus shall you bless the people of Israel. Say to them: (24) The LORD bless you and protect you! (25) The LORD deal kindly and graciously with you! (26) The LORD bestow His favor upon you and grant you peace! (27) Thus they shall link My name with the people of Israel, and I will bless them.

The above text, from Parshat Nasso, has Birkat HaCohanim.
In Israel, Birkat HaCohanim is performed every morning, making the separateness of Cohanim more normal. In Conservative communities, we only do Birkat HaCohanim on the Shalosh Regalim and High Holy Days, and some do not do it at all.
1. What other arguments in favor of or against continuing Birkat HaCohanim can you think of?
2. Should we continue to perform this ancient ritual that, to some, sets some people above others in the community?

במדבר ו׳:כ״ג

(כג) דַּבֵּ֤ר אֶֽל־אַהֲרֹן֙ וְאֶל־בָּנָ֣יו לֵאמֹ֔ר כֹּ֥ה תְבָרֲכ֖וּ אֶת־בְּנֵ֣י יִשְׂרָאֵ֑ל אָמ֖וֹר לָהֶֽם׃ (ס)

Numbers 6:23

(23) Speak to Aaron and his sons: Thus shall you bless the people of Israel. Say to them:

Based on the above verse, Birkat HaCohanim and priestly duties have been limited to men due to the use of "sons". Rabbinic texts, however, have been used to justify the Conservative decision that women may perform Birkat HaCohanim or do the Cohen Aliyah.

Tosfot: Female kohanim may perform the redemption of the first born (pidyon haben)(Tosfot to Pesachim 49a)

Rabbi Joel Roth: "Surely according to Tosafot and the Rosh in Rashi's name, pidyon haben is another indication of lineal sanctity for the daughters of Priests even if married. It is equally important to note that Maimonides' view does not either preclude or deny lineal sanctity to daughters of Priests... it seems reasonable and proper … that the daughters of priests and of Levites be accorded the same aliyot that are normally accorded to priests and Levites. This should be the case whether they are single or married.”(From The Status of Daughters of Kohanim and Leviyim for Aliyot)

This responsa by leading Conservative Rabbi Joel Roth serves to show what embodies the Conservative Movement-- using existing halacha to change the norm in the movement.
1. Should we keep or change our observance of Cohen/Levi roles in our community?
2. What is the role of Cohanim and Leviim in our view of halacha?
3. What is your opinion on the whole issue?