QUESTION: Can a Kohen be mochel (forgo) the honor of receiving the first aliya and allow his Rebbi who is a Yisroel to be honored in his stead?

ANSWER: We have seen that when it comes to all matters of Kedusha, there is a mitzvah to honor a Kohen and allow him to go first. In most cases, the Kohen has the right to decline the honor and allow his Rebbi or someone greater than himself to go first; however, this does not apply to aliyos. A Kohen may not be mochel the honor of receiving the first aliya. The Mishnah Berurah (135: 9) explains that Chazal were concerned that if this were allowed, it would lead people insisting that they deserve the first aliya and demanding that the Kohen be mochel. To avoid this scenario, Chazal instituted that a Kohen cannot be mochel the first aliya. The Mishnah Berurah (Shar Ha’tziyun 135:12) questions whether this rule applies only in a Shul or also to a private house minyan but concludes that it would seem to apply in all situations. In cases where there are multiple Yisroelim who need aliyos, some advise that the Kohanim can offer to walk out of the room during Krias HaTorah, thereby allowing the Yisroelim to receive the first two aliyos as well (see Dirshu MB 135:35). Rav Soloveitchik zt"l however said that it is improper for a Kohen to walk out. Aside from the halacha of V'Kidashto, giving the Kohen the first aliya is also an aspect of kriyas ha'Torah. The Gemara (Megila 21b) says that on Mondays, Thursdays, and Mincha on Shabbos we read three aliyos to represent the Kohen, the Levi and the Yisroel. Giving an aliya to a Kohen, a Levi and a Yisroel is the proper fulfillment of kriyas ha'torah. One can also add that there is a special connection between Kohanim and Kriyas Hatorah (talmid Torah) based on the pasuk "u'liLeivi amar...yoru mishpatecha l'Yaakov" (Devarim 33:8-10). The Kohanim and Leviim are specifically commanded to teach torah to the rest of B'nei Yisroel. If the Kohen walks out this aspect will be deficient.

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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.