Что (кто) такое kohen - определение
![Large crowds congregate on [[Passover]] at the [[Western Wall]] to receive the priestly blessing](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Special:FilePath/Birkhat cohanim 1.JPG?width=200 "Large crowds congregate on [[Passover]] at the [[Western Wall]] to receive the priestly blessing")
![''Kohen Gadol'']] and a [[Levite]] (Charles Foster, 1873)](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Special:FilePath/Jewish priests.jpg?width=200 "''Kohen Gadol'']] and a [[Levite]] (Charles Foster, 1873)")
![Illustration of Aaron's lineage from the 1493 [[Nuremberg Chronicle]]](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Special:FilePath/Nuremberg chronicles f 29v 2.png?width=200 "Illustration of Aaron's lineage from the 1493 [[Nuremberg Chronicle]]")
![A group of kohanim studying the [[Mishna]]yot laws of [[Keilim]] in anticipation of the rebuilding of the [[Beit Hamikdash]]](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Special:FilePath/צוות כהנים עוסקים בלימוד הלכות טומאה וטהרה.jpg?width=200 "A group of kohanim studying the [[Mishna]]yot laws of [[Keilim]] in anticipation of the rebuilding of the [[Beit Hamikdash]]")
Википедия
Kohen (Hebrew: כֹּהֵן, kōhēn, [koˈ(h)en], "priest", pl. כֹּהֲנִים, kōhănīm, [koˈ(h)anim], "priests") is the Hebrew word for "priest", used in reference to the Aaronic priesthood, also called Aaronites or Aaronides. Levitical priests or kohanim are traditionally believed and halakhically required to be of direct patrilineal descent from the biblical Aaron (also Aharon), brother of Moses.
During the existence of the Temple in Jerusalem, kohanim performed the daily and holiday (Yom Tov) duties of sacrificial offerings. Today, kohanim retain a lesser though distinct status within Rabbinic and Karaite Judaism and are bound by additional restrictions according to Orthodox Judaism.
In the Samaritan community, the kohanim have remained the primary religious leaders. Ethiopian Jewish religious leaders are sometimes called kahen, a form of the same word, but the position is not hereditary and their duties are more like those of rabbis than kohanim in most Jewish communities.
