The Cohen's Heritage
Kohanim Forever: From the Sources
God’s promise to Aharon and his sons of continuity throughout all generations is mentioned repeatedly in the Written Torah, the Prophets and the Oral Torah.
Torah: “Bring close Aharon your brother and his sons with him from among the children of Israel to become Kohanim/Priests to Me.” (Exodus 28:1) (Every use of the Hebrew word “Li,” “to me” is for all time—Midrash Gadol)
“and they shall have the Kehuna/Priesthood as a statute forever, and you shall consecrate Aharon and his sons.” (Exodus 29:9)
“And anoint them as you anointed their father, that they may serve Me, and it shall be for them an appointment to an everlasting Kehuna/Priesthood throughout their generations.” (Exodus 40:15)
“You and your sons with you shall keep your Kehuna/Priesthood¼I give your Kehuna/Priesthood as a gift of service.” (Numbers 18:17)
“It is an everlasting covenant of salt before God with you and with your descendants.” (Numbers 18: 19)
“And it shall be to him and to his descendants after him a covenant of everlasting Kehuna/Priesthood.” (Numbers 25:13)
“For God your God has chosen him of all your tribes to stand and serve with the name of God he and his sons forever.” (Deuteronomy 18:5)
Prophets “The Kohanim, the Levites, the sons of Tzadok kept the charge of my Sanctuary when the children of Israel went astray from Me, they shall come near to Me to serve Me and stand before Me to offer before Me the fat and the blood, says the L-rd, God.” (Ezekiel 44:15)
“For the Kohen’s lips shall keep knowledge, and Torah you shall seek from his mouth, for he is a messenger of God.” (Malachi 2:7)
“Behold I shall send to you Eliyahu the Prophet before the coming of the great and awesome day of God.” (Malachi 3:21)
Mishna/Talmud “The Sanhedrin (high court) sat and judged the Kohanim¼if no disqualifications were found, they made a holiday and proclaimed, “Blessed is God, that no disqualification was found in the descendants of Aharon, and blessed is He that chose Aharon and his sons to stand and serve before Him in the holy Temple.” (Mishna Middos 5:4)
“When the Holy One, blessed be He, will purify the tribes, the tribe of Levi will be purified first” (Gemara Kiddushin 71a)
Definitions:
Who is a Cohen
What is a Cohen
Privleges & Responsibilities:
Honoring
Pidyon Haben
Marriage Qualifications
Ritual Purity
The Blessing of the Kohanim
Description
Procedure
The Blessing (PDF in Hebrew)
The Blessing (PDF in English)
The Mishmarot
The Cohen Levi Service Groups
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