Last week I spoke about our ancestral heritage and called upon those from the tribes of Kohen and Levi to consider participating in the ancient ritual of נשיאת כפיים/Raising of Hands. This is also known as Duchenen in Yiddish, or simply the Priestly Blessings. And I expressed my desire to reintroduce Tifereth Israel to this powerful rite during the Musaf service on Rosh Hashana and Yom Kippur.
In my discussion though, I left off something that I wish to clarify. Konahim and Levi’im of ALL genders are encouraged to take part. We as Conservative Jews have embraced egalitarianism for many decades.
In 1994, the CJLS (Committee on Jewish Laws and Standards) of the Rabbinical Assembly accepted a teshuvah (legal ruling) written by Rabbi Mayer Rabinowitz entitled, “Women Raise Your Hands.” In his paper, Rabbi Rabinowitz concluded that daughters of Kohanim and Levi’im inherit the same kahunic status as sons and therefore may confer the Birkat Kohanim/Priestly Blessings upon the congregation. Among other sources, Rabbi Rabinowitz cites many instances from the Talmud where daughters of Kohanim were able to receive מתנות כוהנים/priestly gifts such as first fruits and certain cuts of meat that were reserved solely for the priests.
Tractate Hullin (131b) clearly states:
עולא הוה יהיב מתנתא לחהנתא
Ullah used to give these gifts to the daughters of priests.
The Talmud continues by enumerating the practice of several notable rabbis who were not themselves kohanim, but rather married daughters of kohaminm. These include Rabbi Kahana, Rav Papa, Rabbi Yemar, and Rabbi Idi ben Abin. These prominent rabbis were well known to eat the priestly offerings. Thus we can conclude that these rabbis were able to benefit from the gifts that were given to their wives as daughters of konanim, having fulfilled the obligations for the Israelites who brought them. This opinion is supported in later years by Rashi (Hullin 131b) and Rabbeinu Nissim (Hullin 45a) who both hold that the biblical verse “and he shall give it to the Kohen” means even to a Kohenet (female).
As egalitarian Jews, we understand that we are all equal and all subject to the same rights and privileges. If one may receive gifts, one may confer blessings.
So once again…Calling all Kohanim and Levi’im.
At the appropriate time during our High Holy Day services, the Levi’im will prepare the Kohanim, who will then bless our beloved congregation.
It is a simple but incredibly powerful ritual. You don’t need to know Hebrew or have ever done anything like this before. I will guide you in doing this great mitzvah and honor to our community.
If you are at all interested and believe you may be a child (any gender) of a Kohen or a Levi let us know, by emailing Kandice here, as soon as possible.
