On Tuesday, June 7, 2005 I was asked the following question:

How does a Kohain rabbi officiate at a funeral?

This was my response:

Many rabbis are Kohaniim and have no problems or restrictions because of it. However, there are restrictions for a Kohain when it comes to officiating at funerals.

Some rabbis who are Kohains will not enter any structure or room in which there is a deceased person's body...However, they can conduct the funeral service from outside the room. At the cemetery, most rabbis who are Kohains will not walk on the grounds and, often officiate from outside the gates. Others, however, will walk on the pavement, which is not holy ground per se, and officiate from there.

If you have questions about a personal matter, or jewish practices and customs, you can submit them to me by e-mail. I answer all queries directly, or through this column, when the question is informative to our community.

Thank you for your kind attention and this opportunity to share with you,
Rabbi Dan S. Wiko
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