yashir koach.
a few days ago, in one daf yomi shiur the magid said outright that a lefthanded kohen-gadol was considered a pasul. today, he said that it is not a pasul but he must do the avoda as a righthanded kohen. which is correct?
shlomo flam
The Beraisa in Bechoros 45b says that a left-handed or left-footed Kohen is Pasul. There is a Machlokes Tana'im whether an ambidextrous Kohen is Pasul.
Be well,
Mordecai Kornfeld
WOULD THERE BE ANY CHANGE OF HAND INVOLVED IF THE COHEN GADOL WAS LEFT-HANDED?
michael plaskow, Netanya, Israel
The Beraisa in Bechoros 45b says that a left-handed or left-footed Kohen is Pasul. There is even a Machlokes Tana'im whether an ambidextrous Kohen is Pasul.
Be well,
Mordecai Kornfeld
Dear Rabbi Kornfeld,
Thank you for your prompt and interesting reply. However, would we say that the shechita performed by a left-handed cohen hedyot is pasul? Or, was this only to do with a Cohen Gadol? With regard to tefillin, we use the word "Yodchah" to show the weaker hand. So, what is the source for a left-handed Cohen Gadol to be pasul?
Shalom, Michael Plaskow, Netanya, Israel
Any Kohen who is a lefty is Pasul. Rashi in Bechoros (ibid.) cites a source from the verse that requires Avodah to be performed with the right hand. The Chazon Ish (Bechoros 26:13) explains that if the stronger hand is not on the right, although it may be called a "right hand" with regard to putting on Tefilin, it does not have the distinction (Chashivus) of a strong hand that is on the right.
The Chazon Ish and others infer from the Rambam (Hilchos Bi'as ha'Mikdash 8:11) that a lefty is only Pasul l'Chatchilah because he is "different" from the average Kohen.
Best wishes,
Mordecai Kornfeld