Kohanim, the Jewish Elite

Is there a concept of “the elite” among the Jewish People, those who are elevated above others and treated differently? Indeed there is. In our tradition, they are called kohanim—the priests. An entire book of the Torah is dedicated to them—Vayikra (Leviticus), which is also called “Torat Kohanim” (the Law of the Priests). Being a member of this “elite” group is not just a privilege and great honor but also a heavy responsibility in one’s personal and public life. To understand this better, let’s set aside the kohanim for a moment and look at ourselves. Once we understand our own value as Jews we’ll be better equipped to understand what is required of the kohanim.

Let’s first consider the hierarchy of creation: mineral—vegetable—animal—human—Jew. Each level possesses a special and significant quality that the lower levels do not. On the other hand, that same quality can become a liability if it is not proper utilized.

Minerals—inanimate objects—have few distinctive qualities and little potential. Vegetable life, however, can grow and flourish and multiply. But once disconnected from the soil, it doesn’t descend to inanimate level—rather, it decomposes entirely.

One step up are animals. They have far more potential than plants—and, like plants, they don’t descend a level when they die but rot away. A decomposing plant is a fairly inoffensive item—a decomposing animal, however, is repulsive, attracts flies and predators, and stinks.

Moving up a level to humans, the main distinguishing features are intelligence and the ability to articulate. Humans use speech to express their intellect—and when that intellect is absent or twisted, the person is called insane or incapacitated and has to be institutionalized.

Jews differ from other humans by virtue of their neshamah (soul), which is a part of the Divine. Even those who are only moderately dedicated to a spiritual life can recognize the immense potential of the soul and its sublime nature. But when a Jew divorces himself from the Divine and from Torah, he descends to levels that are apparently inexplicable (as the Talmud states: “they descend lower and lower...”)

Being Jewish is not only an immense privilege but also an immense responsibility.

Within the category of “Jew” there are kohanim, levi’im (the Levites), and Yisrael (regular Jews). Kohanim are on the one hand elevated above the Jewish People, and on the other hand defined as their servants. The kohanim are considered to have ongoing responsibility for the spiritual and moral condition of all Jews; they are those who keep the Jewish People connected to Hashem, via the sacrifices and their unique nature which is one of bringing peace to the world.

In fact, Aharon Hakohen, the first kohen gadol (high priest) is praised in the Torah as being someone who made peace between people, using creative methods to resolve disputes and restore harmony.

Jews are bound by mitzvot in all aspects of life, but the requirements for the kohanim elite are particularly stringent: they must eat in purity, are forbidden to become impure through contact with the dead, cannot marry any woman they choose, and more.

It’s essential to realize that the Jewish elite is utterly divorced from any type of arrogance. The secular conception of the elite is one of distance and separation; here, the opposite is the case. The kohanim are the conduits for Hashem’s blessing to the Jewish People. This is expressed in the Priestly Blessing (Birkat Kohanim) and the brachah that the kohanim recite before blessing Jews: “... Who sanctified us with His commandments and commanded us to bless His people Israel with love.”

Torah sources stress that if a kohen has any feeling of ill-will toward even a single Jew in the congregation about to be blessed, and resolves in his heart that he blesses everyone except for that Jew, the entire blessing is stripped of its power.

All aspects of creation, from the inanimate to the highest, naturally strive to attain their full potential. It is an immense privilege to be granted such great potential, but also an immense responsibility. May Hashem help us all to utilize it properly!