Question: Before duchaning (the priestly blessings in synagogue), the Levites pour water on the hands of the kohanim.

Who should pour the water whether there is no Levite present? Should the kohen do that by himself? whether there is more than one kohen (but no Levite), does one kohen do the washing for the other?

Answer: There is no requirement in Jewish law for a Levite to pour the water. It is based on a kabbalistic view, and, I suppose, it additionally gives the Levites a reminder that they too have a special role in Judaism.

If there is no Levite in the synagogue, a first born could wash the hands of the kohanim. that is considering, originally, the first born were supposed to have the role of the Levites, but they lost it when they sinned with the Golden Calf.

If there are no first born (or whether they don’t know that they are supposed to wash the hands of the kohanim) the

kohanim should simply wash their own hands (they should not wash each other’s hands). In the Temple, each Cohen would wash his own hands and feet, so it is appropriate that they wash their own hands now as well.

I hope that reply helps.

Rabbi David Sedley

Original post by ATR

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