Series: Daily Shiur

Venue: YU Torah MiTzion Beit Midrash Zichron Dov YU Torah MiTzion Beit Midrash Zichron Dov

Gemara:

Ketuvot 

Halacha:

Kohanim 

Parsha:

Chukat,  Shemini 

Description

For this Parsha & Halacha shiur for Pashas Shmini & Parshas Chukas we will address the issue of Kohanim visiting the burial sites of Tzaddikim such as מערת המכפלה או קבר רחל או קבר רשב"י. The basis for the Heter is a comment of the Ramban at the beginning of Chukas to the effect that Tzadikim are not מטמא בטומאת מת. We will find a source in Chazal for the Ramban in the Midrash in Mishlei in a passage about Eliyahu carrying the dead body of Rebby Akiva (Eliyahu was a Kohen). The Rishonim reject the proofs of the Ramban. In the case of the burial of Rabenu HaKadosh (Masechet Ketuvot) the Heter for Kohanim to participate in the burial was not the Heter of the Ramban.