May Challah Today Be Eaten by a Kohen?

In Israel, where the obligation of challah mirrors the Torah obligation, it is forbidden in all situations for Kohanim to eat challah. This is because challah is kodesh (holy) and may only be eaten by Kohanim who are tahor (ritually clean). All Jews today are assumed to be tamei (ritually unclean), and we lack the means to purify ourselves. Furthermore, in almost all situations, the challah itself is tamei and must be burned.

Outside of Israel, the laws of challah are less stringent and, strictly speaking, a Kohen under the age of nine, or one who has immersed in a mikvah is permitted to eat challah. However, Rama (Orach Chaim 457:2) writes that some hold that it is best not to give challah to any Kohen, since there might be doubts as to the precise lineage of the Kohen. Shach (Yoreh De’ah 322:9) writes that the general practice year-round was not to give the challah to Kohanim, with the exception of erev Pesach when challah was given to young Kohanim (see Magen Avrohom [457:9] for explanation). However, Pri Migadim (457:9) writes that in his days, he never saw anyone give challah to a Kohen.

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.