QUESTION: Is there any situation where a Yisroel would receive the first aliya and the Kohen would receive the second aliya?

ANSWER: Shulchan Aruch (OC 135:12) discusses the following scenario which is based on the Talmud Yerushalmi (Gittin 5:9). If there is a minyan in which there is only one Yisroel and the rest of the participants are all Kohanim, the Yisroel should receive the first aliya, and the rest of the aliyos should be given to Kohanim. This was instituted out of concern for fighting amongst the Kohanim as to who should receive the first aliya. Therefore, the first aliya should be given to the Yisroel. However, if there are two or more Yisroelim present at the minyan, or if there is a Yisroel and a Levi at the minyan, then the regular rule that one must give the Kohen the first aliya would still apply (see Mishnah Berurah 135:43-44)

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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.