Bat-Kohen
Encyclopedia
The daughter of a priest, or in Rabbinic terminology daughter of a Cohen, ( bat kohen) holds a special status which is governed by special regulations in the Hebrew Bible and rabbinical texts.
In rabbinical literature the bat kohen is considered unique in comparison to the general population of the daughters of Israel. This uniqueness is believed to be displayed -amongst other attributes- by her inherent ability to cope with above average and even intense levels of spirituality (Kedusha
). This ability is attributed to her being the offspring -and raised- by her father, a Kohen
, whose life is purported to be dedicated to the spiritual maintenance and growth of the Jewish people and service of the God of Israel.
The Mishnah and Talmud instruct that the bat kohen is to be scrupulous in matters of tzniut
("modesty"), thereby portraying the values of maintaining a life dedicated to holiness and her father's life-work, and also that the bat kohen marry a kohen.
The bat kohen is entitled to a number of rights and is encouraged to abide by specified requirements, for example, entitlement to consumption of the holy parts of sacrifices
parts), lenient specifications in her preparations for immersion
(J.Pesachim.1) and an above average monetary stipulation in her marriage contract
.
Next in the Hebrew Bible is the marriage of Moses
to the daughter of Jethro
the priest of Midian
. However, in terms of Talmud interpretation of the Torah and Halacha, the Aramaic and Hebrew term bat kohen is used and reserved for the daughters of Jewish male priestly descendants of Aaron
exclusively.
Chazal
recognize Tamar as a daughter of a priest, and describe her as being the daughter of Shem
, who was a priest before the priestly covenant was given to Aaron
, and thus the Torah lists her punishment as Sreifah "burning," - a punishment given the bat kohen as described below.
as well as heave offering
, both being perishables that carry numerous rules and requirements of purity
(Tohorot
) for their consumption. This right is explicit in Numbers;
.
The types of sacrifices the Bat-Kohen is afforded include the breast and thigh of the peace offering, the four loaves of the thank offering
the foreleg of the Nazirite
's ram offering.
The Bat-Kohen is entitled to offer her employees to partake in her heave offering
, and, by the Law, it is permitted to bypass her father (or husband) and initially give her tithe offering and dough offering but Menachem Meiri
forbids this of concern that one may give these gifts in error to the wife of a Kohen who was initially the daughter of an Israelite post her divorce, such giving the gifts to a person who is no longer entitled to the gifts.
The daughter of a priest is likewise permitted to consume the firstborn animal
. Regarding the giving of the foreleg, cheeks and abomasum
, there is a Tannaic
dispute as to whether an Israelite performs his mitzvah
by giving them to the Bat-Kohen. This is the disagreement between the School or Rabbi Yishmael and the school of Rabbi Eliezer Ben Yaakov
.
.
Rabbi Yehoshua married a non-kohen wife and then complained that it weakened him. Rashi
explains that the marriage of a bat kohen to a man who is not a kohen, or a Talmid Chacham
("student"), is considered a swipe at the honor of Aaron
, and Aaron himself is annoyed at the demotion of his progeny, resulting in a negative consequence.
Shneur Zalman of Liadi
stated that the marriage ceremony and feast a bat kohen to a non-kohen man is not considered a seudat mitzvah
, since the marriage is one that may produce negative results.
explains the negative aspect of a bat kohen not marrying a kohen from the Kabbalistic view, using gematria
; that since the Hebrew letters K H N ( ה,נ,ך those that spell "kohen") do not have a match using the "Ayak Becher" formula, therefore it is best for a kohen to marry a kohen.
The formula, explains Luria, portrays that the such marriage between Kohanic families works nicely.
and Talmud Bavli both state that the Beth-Din of the priests (prior to 70CE) would have overseen that the Ketubah of a Bat-Kohen would contract the amount of four hundred Zuz (an increase from the standard amount of two hundred Zuz) in the event the bat kohen would be given a bill of divorce
, limited to a bat kohen virgin whereas an a maiden would receive the standard one hundred Zuz, the increase was written as the base amount due the Bat-Kohen and not considered a bonus (J.Ketuboth.1.5, B.Ketuboth.12b).
The Talmud Yerushalmi opines that the Bat-Kohen who marries a non-Kohen receives that standard two hundred Zuz amount, as a penalty for not marrying within the greater family of priests (J.Ketuboth 1:5 p.6a).
, Jacob ben Meir clarifies that the words in Ketuboth "that which is due you" (Aramaic d'chazi l'chi) are to portray that the excess amount is not considered a bonus (Aramaic tosefet kethuba) but the base amount (Aramaic ikkar kethuba).
Also among the Rishonim, Asher ben Jehiel
likewise explain that the full amount of four hundred Zuz is collectible even in the even the original marriage contract document is lost, and even if the larger four hundred Zuz amount was not written in the bat kohens marriage contract all this with the intent to publicize the importance of the daughter's of Kohanim.
From amongst the Tosafists, Jonathan ben David ha-Cohen
of Lunel
(c. 1135–after 1210) describes the excessive amount given the bat kohen as the rightful due to her and her family for keeping to the Torah laws and restrictions that apply to priestly families and keeping to the heritage (yukhsin) of priestly lineage. Jonathan of Lunel goes on to negate the notion that such excess would cause envy and jealousy from non-priestly families (who are not officially entitled to the excess amount).
Joseph ibn Habib
justifies to excess amount listed in the bat kohen's marriage contract
since it is a greater shame for the kohen where his daughter to be divorced, and the excess amount would entice the husband to reconsider divorcing his bat-kohen wife.
in 1863 that the daughter of a Cohen may only marry a non-Cohen.
Based on the research of Epstein (1973) the recording of Four hundred Zuz in the Ketubah of the Bat-Kohen was well in effect during the Amora
period, but from thence onward, no mentioning of the increased amount is found in Rabbinic sources.
's Voices in the Darkness.
In rabbinical literature the bat kohen is considered unique in comparison to the general population of the daughters of Israel. This uniqueness is believed to be displayed -amongst other attributes- by her inherent ability to cope with above average and even intense levels of spirituality (Kedusha
Kedusha
The Kedushah is traditionally the third section of all Amidah recitations. In the silent Amidah it is a short prayer, but in the repetition, which requires a minyan, it is considerably lengthier...
). This ability is attributed to her being the offspring -and raised- by her father, a Kohen
Kohen
A Kohen is the Hebrew word for priest. Jewish Kohens are traditionally believed and halachically required to be of direct patrilineal descent from the Biblical Aaron....
, whose life is purported to be dedicated to the spiritual maintenance and growth of the Jewish people and service of the God of Israel.
The Mishnah and Talmud instruct that the bat kohen is to be scrupulous in matters of tzniut
Tzniut
Tzniut is a term used within Judaism and has its greatest influence as a concept within Orthodox Judaism...
("modesty"), thereby portraying the values of maintaining a life dedicated to holiness and her father's life-work, and also that the bat kohen marry a kohen.
The bat kohen is entitled to a number of rights and is encouraged to abide by specified requirements, for example, entitlement to consumption of the holy parts of sacrifices
Korban
The term offering as found in the Hebrew Bible in relation to the worship of Ancient Israel is mainly represented by the Hebrew noun korban whether for an animal or other offering...
parts), lenient specifications in her preparations for immersion
Mikvah
Mikveh is a bath used for the purpose of ritual immersion in Judaism...
(J.Pesachim.1) and an above average monetary stipulation in her marriage contract
Ketubah
A ketubah is a special type of Jewish prenuptial agreement. It is considered an integral part of a traditional Jewish marriage, and outlines the rights and responsibilities of the groom, in relation to the bride.-History:...
.
Hebrew Bible
The initial mentioning in the Hebrew Bible of a daughter of a priest as a unique personality is at the time Joseph was ordained viceroy to Pharaoh;Next in the Hebrew Bible is the marriage of Moses
Moses
Moses was, according to the Hebrew Bible and Qur'an, a religious leader, lawgiver and prophet, to whom the authorship of the Torah is traditionally attributed...
to the daughter of Jethro
Jethro
In the Old Testament or the Hebrew Bible, Jethro |Shu-ayb]]) is Moses' father-in-law, a Kenite shepherd and priest of Midian. He is also revered as a prophet in his own right in the Druze religion, and considered an ancestor of the Druze.-In Exodus:...
the priest of Midian
Midian
Midian , Madyan , or Madiam is a geographical place and a people mentioned in the Bible and in the Qur'an. It is believed to be in northwest Saudi Arabia on the east shore of the Gulf of Aqaba and the northern Red Sea...
. However, in terms of Talmud interpretation of the Torah and Halacha, the Aramaic and Hebrew term bat kohen is used and reserved for the daughters of Jewish male priestly descendants of Aaron
Aaron
In the Hebrew Bible and the Qur'an, Aaron : Ααρών ), who is often called "'Aaron the Priest"' and once Aaron the Levite , was the older brother of Moses, and a prophet of God. He represented the priestly functions of his tribe, becoming the first High Priest of the Israelites...
exclusively.
Chazal
Chazal
Chazal or Ḥazal is an acronym for the Hebrew "Ḥakhameinu Zikhronam Liv'rakha",...
recognize Tamar as a daughter of a priest, and describe her as being the daughter of Shem
Shem
Shem was one of the sons of Noah in the Hebrew Bible as well as in Islamic literature. He is most popularly regarded as the eldest son, though some traditions regard him as the second son. Genesis 10:21 refers to relative ages of Shem and his brother Japheth, but with sufficient ambiguity in each...
, who was a priest before the priestly covenant was given to Aaron
Aaron
In the Hebrew Bible and the Qur'an, Aaron : Ααρών ), who is often called "'Aaron the Priest"' and once Aaron the Levite , was the older brother of Moses, and a prophet of God. He represented the priestly functions of his tribe, becoming the first High Priest of the Israelites...
, and thus the Torah lists her punishment as Sreifah "burning," - a punishment given the bat kohen as described below.
Consumption of holy parts of the offering
The Torah stipulates specific birthrights and unique responsibilities of the daughter of a priest. In the Hebrew Bible she is granted the privilege of consuming specified parts of the sacrificeKorban
The term offering as found in the Hebrew Bible in relation to the worship of Ancient Israel is mainly represented by the Hebrew noun korban whether for an animal or other offering...
as well as heave offering
Heave offering
A heave offering, or terumah is a kind of offering. The word is generally used in the positive sense of an offering to God, though rarely it may also be used in a negative sense, such as of a dishonest "judge who loves gifts."...
, both being perishables that carry numerous rules and requirements of purity
Tahara
Tahara may refer to:* The Japanese city of Tahara, Aichi.* A Japanese surname.** Mutsuo Tahara, a Supreme Court of Japan justiceIn Judaism:* Ritual purification. See Tumah and taharah, Mikvah and Niddah.* Preparation for burial...
(Tohorot
Tohorot
Tohorot is the sixth order of the Mishnah . This order deals with the clean/unclean distinction and family purity. This is the longest of the orders in the Mishnah. There are 12 tractates:...
) for their consumption. This right is explicit in Numbers;
.
The types of sacrifices the Bat-Kohen is afforded include the breast and thigh of the peace offering, the four loaves of the thank offering
Thank offering
The thank offering or sacrifice of thanksgiving was an optional offering under the Law of Moses...
the foreleg of the Nazirite
Nazirite
In the Hebrew Bible, a nazirite or nazarite, , refers to one who voluntarily took a vow described in . The term "nazirite" comes from the Hebrew word nazir meaning "consecrated" or "separated"...
's ram offering.
The Bat-Kohen is entitled to offer her employees to partake in her heave offering
Heave offering
A heave offering, or terumah is a kind of offering. The word is generally used in the positive sense of an offering to God, though rarely it may also be used in a negative sense, such as of a dishonest "judge who loves gifts."...
, and, by the Law, it is permitted to bypass her father (or husband) and initially give her tithe offering and dough offering but Menachem Meiri
Menachem Meiri
Rabbi Menachem Meiri was a famous Catalan rabbi, Talmudist and Maimonidean.-Early life:Menachem Meiri was born in 1249 in Perpignan, which then formed part of the County of Barcelona...
forbids this of concern that one may give these gifts in error to the wife of a Kohen who was initially the daughter of an Israelite post her divorce, such giving the gifts to a person who is no longer entitled to the gifts.
The daughter of a priest is likewise permitted to consume the firstborn animal
Bechor
The firstborn or firstborn son is an important concept of the Hebrew Bible and Rabbinic Judaism. The role of firstborn son carries significance in the redemption of the first born son, in the allocation of a double portion of the inheritance, and in the prophetic application of "firstborn" to the...
. Regarding the giving of the foreleg, cheeks and abomasum
Giving of the foreleg, cheeks and abomasum
The gift of the shoulder, cheeks and maw of an animal sacrifice to the priesthood in Ancient Israel was commanded in the Hebrew Bible.After the destruction of the Second Temple at the Siege of Jerusalem animal sacrifices ceased. However in rabbinical interpretation a continuing application of the...
, there is a Tannaic
Tannaim
The Tannaim were the Rabbinic sages whose views are recorded in the Mishnah, from approximately 70-200 CE. The period of the Tannaim, also referred to as the Mishnaic period, lasted about 130 years...
dispute as to whether an Israelite performs his mitzvah
Mitzvah
The primary meaning of the Hebrew word refers to precepts and commandments as commanded by God...
by giving them to the Bat-Kohen. This is the disagreement between the School or Rabbi Yishmael and the school of Rabbi Eliezer Ben Yaakov
Eliezer ben Jacob I
Eliezer ben Jacob I was a Tanna of the 1st century; contemporary of Eleazar b. Ḥisma and Eliezer b. Hyrcanus, and senior of Illai...
.
Hebrew Bible penalty for adultery by the daughter of a priest
The Hebrew Bible law is stringent regarding the modesty of a daughter of a priest. In the event that the daughter of a priest engages in specified immodest behavior, such as adultery during marriage or engagement eirusin; then she, as well as her father, are faced with consequences graver than those of a regular daughter of Israel. Her punishment is listed as that of sreifah "burning", contrasted with that of a "daughter of Israel" (bat Yisrael, a non priestly Israelite woman) who is punished with khenek, and her father is demoted from being honored with the sanctity afforded priestsThe Mitzvah of sanctifying the Kohen
The commandment to sanctify the priests is a commandment based in the Hebrew Bible, and developed in rabbinical teaching that requires believers in Judaism to sanctify their priests, or kohanim in various ways...
.
Preferential marriage
Although basic Torah law allows for the bat kohen to marry a challal, convert and freed slave (Hebrew eved me shukhrar), the Midrash and Talmud cite Rabbi Yochanan's view that a daughter of a priest is best off marrying a priest. Rabbi Yochanan maintains that in the even a bat kohen marries a non-Kohen, undesired results for the groom are likely to surface, such as poverty or the demise of the groom. An exception to this taboo is if the groom is a Talmid ChachamTalmid Chacham
Talmid Chacham is an honorific title given to one well versed in Jewish law, in effect, a Torah scholar....
In the Talmud
The Talmud narrates how the TannaTannaim
The Tannaim were the Rabbinic sages whose views are recorded in the Mishnah, from approximately 70-200 CE. The period of the Tannaim, also referred to as the Mishnaic period, lasted about 130 years...
Rabbi Yehoshua married a non-kohen wife and then complained that it weakened him. Rashi
Rashi
Shlomo Yitzhaki , or in Latin Salomon Isaacides, and today generally known by the acronym Rashi , was a medieval French rabbi famed as the author of a comprehensive commentary on the Talmud, as well as a comprehensive commentary on the Tanakh...
explains that the marriage of a bat kohen to a man who is not a kohen, or a Talmid Chacham
Talmid Chacham
Talmid Chacham is an honorific title given to one well versed in Jewish law, in effect, a Torah scholar....
("student"), is considered a swipe at the honor of Aaron
Aaron
In the Hebrew Bible and the Qur'an, Aaron : Ααρών ), who is often called "'Aaron the Priest"' and once Aaron the Levite , was the older brother of Moses, and a prophet of God. He represented the priestly functions of his tribe, becoming the first High Priest of the Israelites...
, and Aaron himself is annoyed at the demotion of his progeny, resulting in a negative consequence.
Shneur Zalman of Liadi
Shneur Zalman of Liadi
Shneur Zalman of Liadi , also known as the Baal HaTanya, , was an Orthodox Rabbi, and the founder and first Rebbe of Chabad, a branch of Hasidic Judaism, then based in Liadi, Imperial Russia...
stated that the marriage ceremony and feast a bat kohen to a non-kohen man is not considered a seudat mitzvah
Seudat mitzvah
A seudat mitzvah , in Judaism, is an obligatory festive meal, usually referring to the celebratory meal following the fulfillment of a mitzvah , such as a bar mitzvah, a wedding, a brit milah , or a siyum...
, since the marriage is one that may produce negative results.
In Kabbalah
Isaac LuriaIsaac Luria
Isaac Luria , also called Yitzhak Ben Shlomo Ashkenazi acronym "The Ari" "Ari-Hakadosh", or "Arizal", meaning "The Lion", was a foremost rabbi and Jewish mystic in the community of Safed in the Galilee region of Ottoman Palestine...
explains the negative aspect of a bat kohen not marrying a kohen from the Kabbalistic view, using gematria
Gematria
Gematria or gimatria is a system of assigning numerical value to a word or phrase, in the belief that words or phrases with identical numerical values bear some relation to each other, or bear some relation to the number itself as it may apply to a person's age, the calendar year, or the like...
; that since the Hebrew letters K H N ( ה,נ,ך those that spell "kohen") do not have a match using the "Ayak Becher" formula, therefore it is best for a kohen to marry a kohen.
| "Ayak Becher" formula | ||
|---|---|---|
| א | י | ק |
| ב | כ | ר |
| ג | ל | ש |
| ד | מ | ת |
| ה | נ | ך |
| ו | ס | מ |
| ז | ע | ן |
| ח | פ | ף |
| ט | צ | ץ |
The formula, explains Luria, portrays that the such marriage between Kohanic families works nicely.
Marriage contract
The MishnahMishnah
The Mishnah or Mishna is the first major written redaction of the Jewish oral traditions called the "Oral Torah". It is also the first major work of Rabbinic Judaism. It was redacted c...
and Talmud Bavli both state that the Beth-Din of the priests (prior to 70CE) would have overseen that the Ketubah of a Bat-Kohen would contract the amount of four hundred Zuz (an increase from the standard amount of two hundred Zuz) in the event the bat kohen would be given a bill of divorce
Get
Get or GET may refer to:*Get , the offspring of an animal*Get , legal issues around the Jewish divorce procedure*Get , the Jewish divorce procedure...
, limited to a bat kohen virgin whereas an a maiden would receive the standard one hundred Zuz, the increase was written as the base amount due the Bat-Kohen and not considered a bonus (J.Ketuboth.1.5, B.Ketuboth.12b).
The Talmud Yerushalmi opines that the Bat-Kohen who marries a non-Kohen receives that standard two hundred Zuz amount, as a penalty for not marrying within the greater family of priests (J.Ketuboth 1:5 p.6a).
Rishonic reasoning
Among the RishonimRishonim
"Rishon" redirects here. For the preon model in particle physics, see Harari Rishon Model. For the Israeli town, see Rishon LeZion.Rishonim were the leading Rabbis and Poskim who lived approximately during the 11th to 15th centuries, in the era before the writing of the Shulkhan Arukh and...
, Jacob ben Meir clarifies that the words in Ketuboth "that which is due you" (Aramaic d'chazi l'chi) are to portray that the excess amount is not considered a bonus (Aramaic tosefet kethuba) but the base amount (Aramaic ikkar kethuba).
Also among the Rishonim, Asher ben Jehiel
Asher ben Jehiel
Asher ben Jehiel- Ashkenazi was an eminent rabbi and Talmudist best known for his abstract of Talmudic law. He is often referred to as Rabbenu Asher, “our Rabbi Asher” or by the Hebrew acronym for this title, the ROSH...
likewise explain that the full amount of four hundred Zuz is collectible even in the even the original marriage contract document is lost, and even if the larger four hundred Zuz amount was not written in the bat kohens marriage contract all this with the intent to publicize the importance of the daughter's of Kohanim.
From amongst the Tosafists, Jonathan ben David ha-Cohen
Jonathan ben David ha-Cohen
Rabbi Jonathan ben David ha-Kohen of Lunel was a leading French tosafist.He was also known of Jonathan of Lunel, and was one of several Jewish scholars associated with the town, including Meshullam ben Jacob of Lunel, the "RABaD" Rabbi Abraham ben David who taught in Lunel before moving to...
of Lunel
Lunel
Lunel is a commune in the Hérault department in southern France. Lunel is located east of Montpellier and southwest of Nîmes .-History:The ancient Roman site of Ambrussum is located nearby. The troubadour Folquet de Lunel was from Lunel....
(c. 1135–after 1210) describes the excessive amount given the bat kohen as the rightful due to her and her family for keeping to the Torah laws and restrictions that apply to priestly families and keeping to the heritage (yukhsin) of priestly lineage. Jonathan of Lunel goes on to negate the notion that such excess would cause envy and jealousy from non-priestly families (who are not officially entitled to the excess amount).
Joseph ibn Habib
Joseph ibn Habib
Joseph ibn Habib was a Spanish Talmudist who flourished in the 14th and 15th centuries.- Nimmuke Yosef :Like his predecessor, R...
justifies to excess amount listed in the bat kohen's marriage contract
Ketubah
A ketubah is a special type of Jewish prenuptial agreement. It is considered an integral part of a traditional Jewish marriage, and outlines the rights and responsibilities of the groom, in relation to the bride.-History:...
since it is a greater shame for the kohen where his daughter to be divorced, and the excess amount would entice the husband to reconsider divorcing his bat-kohen wife.
Daughters of Cohens in modern era
There have been different interpretations in the modern era, such as the ruling of Chief Rabbi of the British Empire Nathan Marcus AdlerNathan Marcus Adler
Rabbi Nathan Marcus Adler was the Orthodox Chief Rabbi of the British Empire from 1845 until his death, probably the most prominent 19th century rabbi in the English-speaking world.-Life:...
in 1863 that the daughter of a Cohen may only marry a non-Cohen.
Based on the research of Epstein (1973) the recording of Four hundred Zuz in the Ketubah of the Bat-Kohen was well in effect during the Amora
Amora
Amoraim , were renowned Jewish scholars who "said" or "told over" the teachings of the Oral law, from about 200 to 500 CE in Babylonia and the Land of Israel. Their legal discussions and debates were eventually codified in the Gemara...
period, but from thence onward, no mentioning of the increased amount is found in Rabbinic sources.
In literature
The expectations upon the daughter of a Cohen feature in Julian StryjkowskiJulian Stryjkowski
Julian Stryjkowski was a Polish journalist and writer, notable for his social prose of leftists character.He was born April 27, 1905 in Stryj , to a family of Hasidic Jews...
's Voices in the Darkness.
See also
- TorahTorahTorah- A scroll containing the first five books of the BibleThe Torah , is name given by Jews to the first five books of the bible—Genesis , Exodus , Leviticus , Numbers and Deuteronomy Torah- A scroll containing the first five books of the BibleThe Torah , is name given by Jews to the first five...
- 613 commandments613 mitzvotThe 613 commandments is a numbering of the statements and principles of law, ethics, and spiritual practice contained in the Torah or Five Books of Moses...
- Halakha given to Moses on Sinai