Why Can't a Convert Marry a Cohen?

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Question of the Week: I am a convert to Judaism and I'm very proud of it. I have always felt totally welcomed by the community and in no way an outsider. But I am deeply bothered by the law that says a convert is not allowed to marry a cohen. If I am a fully fledged Jew like any other, why am I not good enough to marry into the priestly tribe? Answer:   A convert can marry a king. A convert can marry a prophet. A convert can even marry a rabbi, the highest echelon of Jewish society (if you ask me). So it makes no sense to say that a convert can't marry a cohen because they are second class citizens. There must be some other reason.    When the Torah forbids a marriage, it is never because one party is not good enough for the other. It is because both parties are not matched to each other. They are simply not soulmates. In the case of the cohen and the convert, their soul dynamics clash, their spiritual energies contradict, and so they can't marry.   The holiness of a cohen is hereditary. If your father is a cohen, then you are a cohen. Priesthood is a birthright that is not achieved through a person's effort nor deserved through a person's righteousness. It is an honour that is bestowed at birth. The holiness of a convert is the exact opposite. It is completely earned. The convert was not born Jewish. They chose it. They achieve Jewishness of their own initiative and with their own hard work. They are self-made souls. So these two souls, the cohen and the convert, are moving in opposite ways. The cohen receives their power from above. The convert creates their own soul energy from below. The cohen has the ability to bring down blessings to others, just as their soul was given to them as a blessing. The convert has the power of innovation, of initiative, of creating holiness from the ground up. They are going different directions. For this reason their souls are not a match.    Both the cohen and the convert have awesome holiness. It is a great privilege to be gifted with the soul of a cohen. And yet, the self-made soul of a convert has a depth of experience that inherited holiness cannot compete with. Neither are second class souls.   The cohen is crowned with a legacy from past generations. A convert creates their own legacy for future generations. The Jewish people is richer for both of them.    Good Shabbos, Rabbi Moss   Sources: Shaar Hagilgulim 34:3-4 (Souls of converts come upwards from Malchus) Likkutei Torah Korach 55c (Souls of cohanim come downwards from Chesed)      To subscribe CLICK HERE or email rabbimoss@nefesh.com.au    HUGE THANK YOU TO OUR SHAVUOS SPONSORS ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ What an amazing Yom Tov! The learning, the personal stories, and so much great food! Thank you to all who participated and to our generous sponsors:  First and Second Day Kiddushim: The Tsipris Family, Jack & Leyat Reuben, David & Janet Kessler. Tequila Sponsors: Ron & Libby Moss, Jack & Leyat Reuben, Mark Van De Vyver, David & Janet Kessler. Cheesecake Sponsors: Leyat & Jack Reuben, Moshe David, Helene Solden, Dana Levy, David & Janet Kessler, Jeremy & Nikki Kinstlinger. Mexican Dinner Sponsors: Michael Basserabie, Michael Singer, Vitali & Karen Broyda. All Night Learning Sponsors: Jeremy & Nikki Kinstlinger, Richard Skimin, Josh Garber, Avi Rosencweig, Mark Van De Vyver. Kids Ice Cream Party Sponsors: The Ezekiel Family, Mark Van De Vyver, David & Janet Kessler, Jeremy & Nikki Kinstlinger. Kids Shavuos Program & Kids Kiddush Sponsors: Vitali & Karen Broyda. Second Night Yom Tov Dinner: Jack & Leyat Reuben   The Concrete is Poured!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ ALL SERVICES AT NEFESH POP-UP  1 FRANCIS ST BONDI BEACH (OFF CAMPBELL PDE, BEHIND NOAH'S BACKPACKERS)   SHABBOS TIMES & COMMUNITY INFO: Naso ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Friday, 25 May 2018 | 11 Sivan 5778 Candle Lighting............................................. 4:39pm Mincha......................................................... 4:50pm Class with Rabbi Moss.................................... 5:30pm Shabbos Service.................................. 6:00-6:50pm  Kids Program ............................................... 6:00pm Hot Soup Kiddush sponsored in honour of the yortzheit of Shlomo ben Shalom Kantorovich on 11 Sivan- Long Life.   Shabbos Day, 26 May 2018 | 12 Sivan 5778 In depth parsha class .................................... 9:00am Shabbos Service............................ 10:00am-12:20pm Kids Program .............................................. 10:30am Vegetarian cholent sponsored by Friends of Nefesh! *let us know if you'd like your own Nefesh Tzedakah box.   Mincha with Pirkei Ovos Chapter 1 followed by Seudah Shlishis in honour of the birth and naming of Rob & Lana Goldshaft's baby girl- Mazal Tov! .............4:30pm Gematria and Story by Rev Amzalak............. 5:20pm Shabbos ends............................................ 5:36pm Followed by Havdalah   WEEKDAY SERVICES Sunday ..................................................... 8:00am Mon- Fri..................................................... 7:00am Latest Shema this week............................... 9:17am  MAZAL TOV Rob & Lana Goldshaft, Peter & Richelle Goldshaft, Les and Miriam Gerendas and families on the birth of their daughter and granddaughter.  HAPPY BIRTHDAY Batsheva Ezekiel......... 16 Sivan/ Wednesday 30 May Aviya Musael................ 16 Sivan/ Wednesday 30 May   HAPPY ANNIVERSARY Rabbi Chanoch and Sarah Chanah Sufrin....11 Sivan/Friday 25 May Noach & Keshet Kessel....... 15 Sivan/ Tuesday 29 May Moshe & Lucy Greengarten...17 Sivan/ Thursday 31 May   LONG LIFE Danny Kidron for his late father Leslie Kidron Zalman ben Zwi.................. 13 Sivan/ Sunday 27 May Elias Reuben for his late father Solomon Reuben Sholmo Reuven ben Eliyahu Saltoon ................. 14 Sivan/ Monday 28 May Alex Bartos for his late father Chaim Ben Shmuel HaCohen  16 Sivan/ Wednesday 29 May   SPONSORING A KIDDUSH IS EASY!   FRIDAY NIGHT:  SOUP $75 | BASIC $120| DELUXE $200   SHABBOS DAY: STANDARD $350 | LUNCH FROM $450   DATES AVAILABLE :   Fri Night 1st, Fri Night 8th, Shabbos Day 9th and Fri Night 15th June.

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