Ros. Responsa 7 a

Ros. Responsa 7 a

Aliyah la-Torah

1900

Bibliotheca Rosenthaliana

Lasar Dünner

DünnerL

Orah Haim

FALSE

At a Sabbath service in a small community of ten men, members threaten to leave if the non-religious Cohen is called to the Torah.

In a synagogue of a small village there is during the morning service of a Sabbath only 10 men, and among them a Cohen who transgresses the Sabbath in public. And there are people who complain and say: "if a Cohen as this one is called first to the Torah we are leaving the synagogue and return to our houses". And the Cohen says:"I would be glad not to receive the honour, and it does not matter to me if I am called to the Torah or not, but under no condition am I leaving the synagogue." And the leader of the service is in doubt as to what he should do. Should he cancel the service and the Torah reading in order not to dishonour the Cohen (position)?