Birkas Kohanim

Question:

Can a minor who is a levi wash the kohanim’s hands before duchening?

Introduction:

The first source that we find that mentions that a levi should wash the kohanim’s hands before duchening is the Zohar (Parshas Noso 146b). The Zohar writes that a kohen should endeavour to “add kedusha to his kedusha” before birkas kohanim which the Zohar explains to mean that he should have his hands washed by an individual who “is kodosh” i.e. a levi.

The Zohar (ibid) also writes that the levi who intends to wash the hands of the kohen should first sanctify himself [i.e. wash his own hands first].

The Beis Yosef (Orach Chayim Siman 128) writes that he heard that the custom in Spain was that the leviyim would wash the hands of the Kohanim [prior to birkas kohanim]. The Beis Yosef writes that he wondered what the source of this minhag was until he found the aforementioned Zohar.

Although the Beis Yosef also quotes the second part of the Zohar that writes that the leviyim should wash their own hands prior to washing the hands of the kohanim, the Remo writes in Darkei Moshe that this is not the minhag; and the minhag is that the leviyim do not wash their own hands prior to washing the hands of the kohanim.

The Shulchan Aruch (Orach Chayim Siman 128 Se’if 6) writes that a levi should wash the hands of the kohanim [before birkas kohanim], and prior to this the levi should wash his own hands.
The Remo comments here as well that this is not the custom (for the leviyim to wash their own hands first); rather they rely on their washing in the morning [before tefilla].

The Shulchan Aruch (based on the Zohar) rules that a levi should wash the hands of the kohanim, and prior to this washing the levi should wash his own hands first. The Remo comments that this is not the custom; rather the leviyim rely on their washing in the morning [before tefilla].

Discussion: There is little mention in the Poskim regarding whether or not a levi who is a minor can wash the kohanim’s hands before birkas kohanim.

One Sefer that does discuss this point is the Keser Kehunah (Siman 10 Se’if 4) who writes that leviyim who are minors may wash the kohanim’s hands – “among other adult leviyim”. The proof he brings for this ruling is the Gemoro in Arachin 11 that says that although leviyim who are minors are not able to be counted for the minimum number of leviyim required for shirah, they are allowed to participate in the shirah of the adult leviyim.

This ruling of the Keser Kehunah (“leviyim who are minors may wash the kohanim’s hands among other adult leviyim”) is somewhat ambiguous; does he mean to allow minors who are leviyim to wash the kohanim’s hands by themselves if other adult leviyim are present, or do they have to hold the washing cup together with an adult levi to be considered “among other adult leviyim”?

Since there is no other explicit source that allows leviyim who are minors to wash the hands of the kohanim by themselves, it appears that leviyim who are minors who wish to participate in the washing should only do so together with adult leviyim (i.e. they should hold the washing cup together) because this is certainly allowed according to the Keser Kehuna.

Conclusion: The Shulchan Aruch writes that a levi should wash the hands of the kohanim prior to birkas kohanim. Regarding if a levi who is a minor can wash the kohanim’s hands, we find very little mention in the Poskim about this detail. One Sefer that does discuss this point is the Sefer Keser Kehuna that writes that leviyim who are minors may wash the kohanim’s hands “among other adult leviyim”. Since there is no other explicit source that allows leviyim who are minors to wash the hands of the kohanim by themselves, it appears that leviyim who are minors who wish to participate in the washing should only do so together with adult leviyim (i.e. they should hold the washing cup together) because this is certainly allowed according to the Keser Kehuna.