As you all know, I’m a BT. That means that I get the privelege of picking my own customs and working with Daas Torah to make decisions regarding choosing a derech. Be it as it may, in this exciting ride called life, new challenges present themselves everday and I have to figure things out so I can properly move forward.
Until now, I’ve been doing my daily routine as an ordinary Yisroel would do. Aliyos, minyan (usually), and what not. But this last Shabbos my mom came up to visit and we were talking about such things and she says i’m a Levi (we still have to post about her visit). Although most of you know that I’m a bit out of touch with my father, even if I was in touch – since he isn’t frum, i would presume that he wouldn’t know if he was a Levi either.
What can a person do to truly find out about their own status? I wish there was some sort of document which cleared up the air.
It’s not like it makes such a difference in my life. I’ll just be priveleged to get the Levi aliyos, was the hands of the Kohanim, and Sing when the temple is rebuilt.
Oh, it also means I can’t be Moshiach.
first of all you can ask your father. he might know. does he have any siblings who might know?
you need to know, because in the event your first child is a boy, you need to know if you make a pidyon haben or not.
Mindy makes a very good point. Perhaps a Rav can direct you to someone who can research your geneology. there are people who specialize in geneology – although knowing if they are a Levi or not might be harder to find out. Anyway, even if you are not Moshiach, you will still have the zchus of working in the Beis Hamikdash! That’s more than a Yisrael can hope for!
If you are a Levi, be proud!
Once the Chofetz Chayim asked a man if he was a kohen. The man said no. He asked was your father a kohen? The man said no. Was your grandfather? The man kept silent, realizing the CC wanted to make a point.
“I am a kohen. Do you want to know why? When the Yidden were in the desert, and they made an eigel, the only shevet to respond to Mi Lashem Elai was mine. ” That’s yichus to be proud of and embrace if indeed you are one
And if not, you may still end up being Moshiach
If you know anything about your other relatives on your father’s side– grandfather, ggf, etc. you can look via cemetery records if they’re in the US, as it may be on file.
Alot of times, people’s last names indicate some significance about their status
ex. katz, cohen, kahn, levy…
Just a thought – perhaps your last name has roots that hints to the status of a levy – how is your last name spelled? -seems that it has similar sounding to the word levy.
Just a brainstorm.
Moshiachs’ birthday is Tisha B’av, not the week before! Were it not for that technicality I’d tell you to rescue us already.
i would welcome you to my tribe with open arms
What Ethan said.
We’re a Levi and a bas-Levi (now a double?)… if you can sing, we’d love to have you
A good geneticist should be able to help:
http://www.cohen-levi.org/jewish_genes_and_genealogy/the_dna_chain_of_tradition.htm