A man walked into a Synagogue and asked to meet with the Rabbi. He implored the Rabbi to make him a Kohen. The Rabbi tried to explain that you can’t just make someone a Kohen. The man begged and pleaded and offered a very significant contribution to the Synagogue for this process to happen. Finally, after realizing that the man would not relent, the Rabbi indicated that he would consider it. The Rabbi asked, “why is it so vital to you that you be a Kohen?” The man replied, “Rabbi, my grandfather was a Kohen, my father was a Kohen, I too wanted to be a Kohen.”
Obviously, this is a joke and there is no way to make a non-Kohen a Kohen. But it is really that far-fetched?
Let us consider the following passage from the Rambam, Laws of the Sabbatical and Jubilee years chapter 13: “Why did the Levites not receive a portion in the inheritance of Eretz Yisrael and in the spoils of war like their brethren? Because they were set aside to serve G-d and minister unto Him and to instruct people at large in His just paths and righteous judgments… Therefore they were set apart from the ways of the world… Instead, they are G-d's legion… as [Numbers 18:20] states: "I am your portion and your inheritance."
Not only the tribe of Levi, but any one of the inhabitants of the world whose spirit generously motivates him and he understands with his wisdom to set himself aside and stand before G-d to serve Him and minister to Him and to know G-d, proceeding justly as G-d made him, removing from his neck the yoke of the many reckonings which people seek, he is sanctified as holy of holies. G-d will be His portion and heritage forever and will provide what is sufficient for him in this world like He provides for the priests and the Levites…”
Maimonides is telling us that a non-Levite or non-Kohen can reach the status of “holy of holies” (the status of a High-Priest) by choosing to devote himself to the service of Hashem. Does this mean that one must become an ascetic, and separate oneself from all worldly affairs?
The resolution to this issue is one of the cardinal principles of Chassidus (whose New Year we celebrate this Shabbat – Kislev 19). Chassidus demonstrates to us that we can engage in “worldly affairs” while still living up to the Rambam’s criteria of setting oneself aside to stand and serve before G-d, removing from his neck the yoke of many reckonings which people seek.” One who trains oneself to “know G-d in all your ways,” is capable of being engaged in every day life while still not bearing the yoke of worldly affairs. We recognize that when our striving for connection to Hashem is in the driver’s seat of the journey of life, then worldly affairs per se are not a yoke or a burden that conflicts with that connection. However when a person views “worldly affairs” as a conflict with devotion to Hashem then they serve as a burden and a yoke that must be avoided if one wishes to be a “Kohen.”
Wishing you all a Shana Tova – happy and successful new year in the teachings and ways of Chassidus, which enables us all to rise to the level of a High Priest ministering before G-d.
Shabbat Shalom
Rabbi Mendel Rivkin