QUESTION: Why is it that today many people are not careful with the mitzvah of V’Kidashto (honoring a Kohen)?

ANSWER: The Magen Avrohom (201:4) was bothered by this question. Why is it that many are not careful to put the Kohen first in all matters of honor as required by the Gemara, especially since this is a Torah requirement? The Magen Avrohom answers that it is perhaps because we are not experts in matters of yichus (lineage) of Kehuna as discussed in siman 457. This refers to what the Rema writes in Hilchos Pesach (457:2) that some say that today we do not give the challah separated from dough to any Kohen to eat. Poskim explain that this is because we cannot say with certainty that anyone is a Kohen. Even if we know the ancestors were Kohanim, perhaps the descendants became pasul (chalalim). Although the Magen Avrohom only writes this as a suggestion, the Elef HaMagen (128:93) cites sources that accept this as halacha. However, the Be’er Heitev (128:83) quotes the Kneses Yechezkel who writes that it is forbidden to spread rumors against the lineage of Kohanim even in our days.

Certainly, one should be careful to perform the mitzvah of V’Kidashto and not rely on questionable leniencies. However, if the Kohen wishes to forgo his honor, he may do so.

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The Gerald & Karin Feldhamer OU Kosher Halacha Yomis is dedicated to the memory of Rav Yisroel Belsky, zt"l, who served as halachic consultant for OU Kosher for more than 28 years; many of the responses in Halacha Yomis are based on the rulings of Rabbi Belsky. Subscribe to the Halacha Yomis daily email here.