QUESTION: Why is it that a talmid chacham can decline being honored but it is questionable if a Kohen can decline being honored?

ANSWER: The Rambam in Sefer Hamitzvos (Mitzvah 32) cites a Midrash that a Kohen must be honored and made holy even against his will. It is not up to the Kohen’s discretion. Rav Soloveitchik explained that the mitzvah of “v’kidashto” (the source for the mitzvah to honor a Kohen) is not merely a commandment to honor the Kohen, but it is a command to separate the Shevet of Kohanim. The Gemara (Yevamos 88b) derives from the word “v’kidashto” that we are required to preserve the holiness of the Kohen even against his will. V’kidashto teaches us that if a Kohen were to marry a lady who we suspect is forbidden to him, even though we cannot prove it, we must force him to divorce her even against his will. Even though a Yisroel in a similar predicament would be permitted to stay married, “v’kidashto” teaches us that a Kohen is different, and we must preserve his holiness.

Rav Soloveitchik zt”l explained that a talmid chacham has a right to decline being honored, since the honor belongs to him. The Gemara (Kiddushin 32a-b) explains that the Torah that a chacham studies belongs to the chacham. This is derived from the verse “u’visoraso yeh’ge” (in his torah he toils). Since he is deserving of the honor due to his own merit, he has the right to forgo that honor. We bestow a Kohen honor because of the Shevet that he represents. The purpose is not simply to honor him, but to demonstrate that he is separate and has an elevated status. He therefore does not always have the right to forgo these honors.

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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.