Junior Levi Or Adult B’chor?
Question: If there is no adult Levito wash the kohen’s hands for Birkas Kohanim, is it preferable that the kohen’s hands be washed by a Levi child or an adult b’chor (firstborn) Yisrael?
Short Answer: The Mishnas Yosef rules that a child Levi should not wash the kohen’s hands and thus it is better for the Yisrael b’chor to wash the kohen’s hands. However, some hold that the kohen should wash his own hands in such a situation.
Explanation:
I. Levi’s Responsibility
The Shulchan Aruch (Orach Chayim 128:6) rules that a Levi should wash the hands of the kohanim before Birkas Kohanim. The Mishnah B’rurah (128:22) elaborates that if there is no Levi in the shul, a b’chor (i.e., firstborn) should instead wash the kohen’s hands. The b’chor must be a “peter rechem” for his mother, i.e., the first to come from his mother’s womb. A firstborn who was born through a Cesarean delivery is not a b’chor for this halachah.
But what if there is a Levi under the age of bar mitzvah? Does he take precedence to the adult b’chor in washing the kohen’s hands?
II. Doubting the Firstborn Custom
Interestingly, the Kaf HaChayim (128:40) doubts the entire premise of the firstborn washing the hands of the kohen. Since the Zohar explains mystical reasons why a Levi should wash the kohen’s hands, there is never any basis for a Yisrael, even a firstborn, to wash the kohen’s hands. According to the Kaf HaChayim, if there is no adult Levi, the kohen should wash his hands by himself rather than allow a Yisrael b’chor to wash his hands.
Thus, the Mishnas Yosef (5:27:8) rules that according to the Kaf HaChayim, certainly a b’chor Yisrael should not wash the kohen’s hands. But what about a Levi child? Is it better for the kohen to wash his hands himself or should the Levi child wash them for the kohen?
III. Not A Kid Activity
The Mishnah (Arachim 13b) states that a Levi child does not play any instrument in the Beis HaMikdash. Rather, a Levi child sings without instruments, thereby adding a sweet, childish voice to the mix of older voices from the adult Leviim. R’ Eliezer ben Yaakov disagrees and holds that a Levi child does not stand on the platform with the adult Leviim when the adults are singing and playing instruments in the Beis HaMikdash. The Rambam (Hilchos Klei Mikdash 3:7) paskens like R’ Eliezer ben Yaakov, that a Levi child does not participate in the singing service.
The Mishnas Yosef cites the Zohar, which serves as the source of the minhag that the Levi washes the kohen’s hands. The Zohar is clear that the Levi washes the kohen’s hands because the Levi himself is “shaleim” (i.e., complete) to serve in the Beis HaMikdash and thus is worthy of assisting the kohanim. Accordingly, the Mishnas Yosef rules that a Levi child should not wash the kohen’s hands in the absence of any adult Levi, as the Levi child is not “shaleim” and not able to serve in the Beis HaMikdash.
But the Mishnas Yosef rules that, based on the majority opinion above, a Yisrael b’chor may wash the hands of the kohen if there is no adult Levi. Only the Kaf HaChaim would disagree and rule that in such a situation, it is preferable that the kohen wash his own hands.
Next Week’s Topic: Should a Levi wash a kohen’s hands for Birkas Kohanim where the Levi will miss part of Chazaras HaShatz in the process? What about where the Levi needs to walk in front of a person who is in the middle of his Sh’moneh Esrei?
Rabbi Ephraim Glatt, Esq. is Associate Rabbi at the Young Israel of Kew Gardens Hills and a practicing litigation attorney. Questions? Comments? Email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..
