סנהדרין מז

A Shul in a small town in Ohio was looking for a Rabbi who could fill many shoes.  The first candidate was asked about his experience, if he knows how to learn, if he is a בעל קורא, if he can serve as a שוחט and occasionally as a מוהל.  He responded in the affirmative to each of the qualifications.   “But we also need a כהן,” they said.  “Are you a כהן?”  When he said that he wasn’t, they went on to the next candidate and asked him the same questions.   He responded in the affirmative to all of them, and said that he indeed was a כהן.  “But do you officiate at לוויות?” they asked.  “Of course not,” he answered, “I’m a כהן.”   They then interviewed a third Rabbi and asked him the same questions.   He too responded in the affirmative to all of them, including that he was a כהן and officiates at לוויות.   “But how do you officiate at לוויות if you’re a כהן?” they asked.   “I bury my מתפללים while they’re alive,” he answered.

06/10/2021