QUESTION: If a talmid chacham who is not a Kohen and a Kohen who is not as great of a scholar are together at a meal, who should be offered the honor of leading bentching?

ANSWER: In this case, the Halacha is that one should honor the talmid chacham. The honor that is due to one who studies Torah is greater than the honor due to a Kohen. Even though the Kohen also studies Torah, the mitzvah of V’kidashto is negated for the honor of the greater talmid chochom. However, the Mishnah Berurah (OC 201:2) writes that in this case, since the Kohen is also a scholar, albeit of lesser stature, it is proper for the talmid chacham to decline the honor and offer it instead to the Kohen. Although the talmid chacham is not obligated to honor the Kohen, if he does so he will merit long life. In addition, if the Kohen is a talmid chacham of equal stature, one is required to honor the Kohen.

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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.