The Kli Chemdah explains that there are two distinct
kedushos to kehunah: 1) Kedusha that comes from being connected to the lineage
of Aharon; 2) Kedusha that comes from one’s own identity as a kohen. When it comes to avodah, it is one’s own
identity as a kohen which counts most. The
avodah of a chalal, whose lineage is tainted, b’dieved is acceptable, but the
avodah of a ba’al mum, where the blemish is associated with self, is completely
unacceptable. The opposite holds true
with respect to tumah. Here, the kedusha
of lineage is paramount, and therefore a ba’al mum is prohibited from becoming
tamei, but someone who is a chalal is not.
It’s a nitpick, but wouldn’t you have expected the terms
used to be reversed? I would have though
the term “bnei Aharon” stresses lineage as opposed to self, while the opposite
is true of the term “kohanim.” But that’s
not how they are used. Ramban writes
that “bnei Aharon” is used in the context of avodah, which depends on self,
while in our parsha the term “kohanim” is added to stress the connection to
lineage.
Chasam Sofer raises the more critical question: If the
prohibition of tumah relates to the kedusha of “kohanim,” why does the Torah
mention the term “bnei Aharon” here at all?
He answers derech derush that Chazal derive from the double-language of
amira in the parsha the principle of “l’hazhir gedolim al ha’ketanim,” that one
must safeguard even children from the issur of tumah. If the Torah uses the term “bnei Aharon” when
it talks about the kohanim working with kodshei kodashim in the Mikdash, the
term is equally appropriate for discussing how they relate to the greatest
kodshei kodashim, their children.
(OK, forget the derashos, what’s the “real” answer? I don’t know.
If you see or think of something good, tell me.)
Can you clarify the CS's question? (Not sure if it was related to the KCh. or not...)
ReplyDeleteIs it stam "Bnei Aharon" is redundant if you have "Kohanim"?
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ReplyDeleteYes, that's the question. It's redundant.
ReplyDeleteI am just connecting it to the KCh and saying it's more than redundant, it's wrong. Bnei aharon = kedusha atmzit, which would include a chalal. Here, the delimiting factor is kohanim = kedusha of lineage, which excludes chalal.
you may find these 2 malbim's interesting:
ReplyDeletehttp://he.wikisource.org/wiki/%D7%94%D7%AA%D7%95%D7%A8%D7%94_%D7%95%D7%94%D7%9E%D7%A6%D7%95%D7%94_%D7%95%D7%99%D7%A7%D7%A8%D7%90_%D7%90_%D7%94#.D7.A1.D7.99.D7.9E.D7.9F_.D7.9C.D7.97
http://he.wikisource.org/wiki/%D7%9E%D7%9C%D7%91%D7%99%22%D7%9D_%D7%A2%D7%9C_%D7%A1%D7%A4%D7%A8%D7%90_%D7%90%D7%9E%D7%95%D7%A8_%D7%A4%D7%A8%D7%A9%D7%94_%D7%90#.D7.A1.D7.99.D7.9E.D7.9F_.D7.91
thank you for the links!
ReplyDelete