Kohanim

His Decision Was Driven By Compassion

His Decision Was Driven By Compassion

Heartwarming stories have surfaced during the current pandemic. Salutes to first responders and volunteers providing medical aid and food to those in need have touched my heart. There is also a flip side. Price gauging, fights, and racist rants reveal an ugly side of our society. A valuable lesson in this week’s Torah portion Tazria-Metzora  (Leviticus 12:1–15:33), can help us navigate these confusing times. If an individual is afflicted with white patches on their skin, only a Kohen (priest
Tazria-Metzora Kohanim
Zalman Kravitz

Zalman Kravitz
Does Judaism Require Priests to Be Celibate?

Does Judaism Require Priests to Be Celibate?

When I was young, I always associated the title “priest” with Catholic priests who were forbidden to marry. This surprised me because the Torah teaches that a Kohen, Jewish priest, may marry, and the Kohen Gadol, high priest, must be married to serve on Yom Kippur. Depending on their status, there are some restrictions to whom a Kohen may marry. For example, a regular kohen may not marry a woman who was a prostitute, and the Kohen Gadol must marry a virgin. The marriage requirements for Kohani
Emor Celibate
Zalman Kravitz

Zalman Kravitz