Establishing someone as a kohen: two witnesses, one witness, or even self identification?

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Date:
November 07 2013
Length:
1h 14min 58s
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Series: Daily Shiur

Venue: Jerusalem Jerusalem

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What evidence is necessary to establish someone as a kohen? The Rambam requires two witnesses to testify as if Kehuna is classified as a Davar She'b'erva. Is it possible that this requirement is only Derabbanan, but the Torah would rely on the testimony of only one witness since Kehuna is merely Issurim not Erva? Given that one witness be sufficient, what about self identification? In the latter situation, the law of Shavya A'Nafshe operates, but the Rambam goes very far. He who testifies about himself "I am a Kohen" and subsequently marries a zona or a Gerusha will receive malkos. In this shiur we will analyze the power of a single witness to contradict the Rov and establish Kehuna.

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