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15 Av 5763 - August 13, 2003 | Mordecai Plaut, director Published Weekly
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NEWS
Founding Conference for Cohanim Union
by Betzalel Kahn

A conference was held last week to mark the founding of Taharas Cohanim -- The Union of Cohanim in Eretz Hakodesh and the Diaspora.

Among the cohanim on hand were HaRav Yosef HaCohen Roth, av beis din at HaRav Nissim Karelitz' beis din and head of Beis Dovid Institutes; HaRav Shmuel Boruch HaCohen Deutsch, one of the roshei yeshivos at Yeshivas Kol Torah; HaRav Nosson HaCohen Kopshitz, moroh de'asra of the Nachalah Umenuchah neighborhood in Beit Shemesh; and HaRav Shlomo HaCohen Kahn, a moreh horo'oh at HaRav Shmuel Wosner's beis din.

The conference was opened by HaRav Dovid HaCohen Munk, the son-in- law of HaRav Yisroel Gans, one of the founders of the Union and author of the book Taharas HaCohanim, who read aloud blessings sent by poskei hador, including Maran HaRav Yosef Sholom Eliashiv, shlita, who called the union a worthy endeavor since the power of the masses would allow numerous problems to be solved. Other well- wishers included HaRav Shmuel HaLevi Wosner, HaRav Nissim Karelitz and HaRav Chaim Pinchos Scheinberg.

Later the conference, attended by the country's leading activists in matters affecting cohanim, surveyed the many problems cohanim encounter in daily life as a result of technological innovation. Although chareidi representatives try to find practical and halachic solutions to various problems, they find it difficult to man the watch at all times and in all places. In addition to the lack of basic real-time information in the field, speakers noted that many cohanim exhibit a lack of awareness regarding the obligations, guidelines and details of maintaining taharoh.

Union heads presented the organization's official aims of working to alter common thinking and attitudes regarding taharas cohanim in Eretz Yisroel. The Union's representatives will lobby government officials to recognize the special needs of cohanim. The directors of the Union will also work to set up shiurim for cohanim around the country and to publish a special newsletter to convey updated information.

Speakers also mentioned the success of the Taharas Cohanim beis horo'oh, which has been operating for several months to provide answers to new questions that arise. The rabbonim who man the beis horo'oh pass difficult questions on to gedolei haposkim to render final decisions.

As soon as the conference concluded, the first meeting was held, with all participants infused with a recognition that while "there is much work to be done nobody can absolve himself from it," and besiyata deShmaya, they would merit the blessings of gedolei Yisroel to increase purity until the day when the cohanim can return to their holy work in the Beis Hamikdosh.

 

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