Take the Kohen Quiz

Hello, Simcha

Go to the Chabad.org site. On the upper left side there is a menu [3 bars]. Click on the menu. Scroll down the menu until you see tools. Click on tools. Then click on Ask The Rabbi, and follow its directions. A rabbi should contact you, and give you expert guidance to you inquiries. Also, you will see a wealth of information on other Jewish Lifestyle and observance topics.

Best wishes, Reply

How Precious! May GD's shower of blessings reign on your family!⚘ Reply

There is no such thing as being partly Jewish. It is simply determined from the mother's status. But interestingly the Cohanim come from the father's status, so he is not completely out of it! Reply

I have the same question re converts :) Reply

I agree! I am a Jew by choice, and I find this insulting. Reply

A Kohen can't marry a divorcee either. Doesn't mean they aren't Jews. Kohen is on a very high spiritual level. Reply

I read this in an article, that since we don't even understand what makes a Kohen different spiritually than an Israelite, then why should we understand the prohibitions on who they marry? We are assuming that the prohibition on converts is indicative that they are of lesser value, but we may be wholly incorrect. Reply

A Cohen must marry a Cohen. A convert can never be a Cohen, not even if adopted as a child. Reply

There is an article on Chabad.org by Rabbi Aron Moss explaining this law clearly and unapologetically.
I can't post the link here, because Chabad.org posting guidelines don't allow links in comments, but the article is called 'Why Can't a Convert Marry a Kohen?' so you can search that up. Reply

Your first question is very interesting. Did anyone have an answer to it? Reply

This is what is called a good question because it is hard to answer. I too find the whole idea of the complication of formal descent from father or mother criterion difficult to accept. I am a kohen from my father's Polish Ashkenazi family (and past name before it was changed) and my mother's family descended from Sephardim. How am I to be certain that on the way to myself, there was not some kind of slip-up in my genealogical past? It has happened before! Reply

Read it midrashicly, interpret the Torah.
One who is "in charge" of spiritual matters is to be "spiritually pure" in their choices.
That's is and that's all.
Discussion not debate
One could also say that the priestly class shows that nepotism was alive and well in ancient Israel.
And maybe we should not be that way.
,-SM Reply

Yes, a person's Jewishnes comes from the mother (we always know who the mother is). His/her tribe or clan comes from the father (a woman may switch to a different clan/tribal membership when she marries, but a man, never.)

Kohanim may also not marry Jewish divorcees or widows, or non-virgins. Kohanim have a lot of Commandments that may be different from from other Jews, just as Jewish women may have some different Commandments than Jewish men, or 13-13.5 year old boys have different commandments from other Jews, or Jews in Israel have differnet Commandments thqn those in the Exile, and so on. It has nothing to do with being "recognized as Jews". It's what HaShem Commands Jews and non-Jews to do and he doesn't usually explain why. We just know they're for our benefit and we need to do them as they apply to us. Reply

I agree 100%. Are converts 100% Jews like we say all the time or are we lying? Answers please! Reply

It's nothing to do with the converts validity as a Jew or Jewess. Kind David's great-grandmother was a convert. It has to do with a Cohen only marrying people with historic Jewish ancestry.
A convert is given a lot of respect in many verses in the Torah Reply

Very interesting. And precisely the reason why we should not be offended because of something we read until we have investigated the matter. Oh, I am so opposed to this trend of getting offended all the time and by anything.

Where did you read or hear about your answer to the question? Not questioning - just wondering. Reply

Your answer is misinformed. Once a convert comes out of the mikvah, we are no longer converts, we are Jews, with the same history as all other Jews, including Cohanim. We also were at Sinai. BTW, no one uses the term "Jewess" except non-Jews, and it is seen as a put-down. And your last line is really condescending.
Did you know that it is written by many, that a convert has the soul of a reincarnated Jew? So, according to some, we were already Jewish before our conversion! Reply

You are right! The Book of Ruth ( a convert) backs up your comment. Oh I am typing anyway, so here goes. The beauty of Judaism is that it is our tradition, to always asks questions. As opposed to Christianity and I suspect other faiths , it’s DOGMA only Reply

Not only Ruth came from Moeb but also Rahab who came from Jerico....the mother of Boaz😁😁💯 percent not only that but her reputation is clearly stipulated there before helping the spies of Israel...Look guys it's not like G-D transformed her into a prophetess before she helped the men who came to spy out the land... she still had her reputation...in so saying HASHEM looks at the intention of the heart...B'H Reply

It's codified in Jewish Law I was simply quoting Reply

Rivka your comment or common sense and reason made my day! You said exactly what I have been saying for centuries! Thank you! It doesn’t say in the Torah that a ״convert״ can’t marry a Kohen! How are people misreading the Torah with this one. Hashem help us! Reply

Very meaningful
Rahab ended up marrying Joshua which shows there's hope for all of us Reply

Not taking anything for granted - I like that. Reply

? A Cohen can marry any Jewish woman, as long as she is not a divorcee, or convert, or one who has undergone halitza. Reply

Regarding your first statement, you are mistaken. Several of my unwed cousins have married Kohanim, and our ancestors were either Levites or Israelites. Reply

ב״ה
You are absolutely correct! Thank you for correcting me. I had been studying mamzer and I think I got a little confused. Shabbat shalom! Reply

The proof is in the comments of the Torah when Moshe was to use the copper mirrors as proof to ensure to the Future generations that are mothers were not violated by Mitzraim. Although the lineage is through the fathers and the tribes there was insurability demonstrated by HaShem when he told Moshe.Rabbaniu those mirrors were precious to HaKadosh Baruhu and to take them and use them without question. Reply

I ran my DNA, through 23 and me. Proved what you asked,David Harold Reply

Only in burial- re family members of first degree. Not otherwise. Reply