[See written Psak below] In response to the growing controversy regarding kohanim visiting Kever Rashbi, rabbonim shlita affiliated with the Eida Chareidis released a p’sak halacha permitting them to do so, seeking to put an end to the dispute and pashkavilim addressing  the matter that state kohanim may not.

Two rabbonim, morei tzedek of the Eida, HaGaon HaRav Nosson Gotleib Shlita and HaGaon HaRav Yitzchak Rozenblat Shlita ruled that kohanim may indeed visit the kever, timing their p’sak ahead of this year’s Lag B’Omer events. Their p’sak joins that of HaGaon HaRav Yosef Kadish Brandsdorfer Shlita, also a posek affiliated with the Eida, who released his ruling a number of years ago, permitting kohanim to visit the kever. His brother, HaGaon HaRav Moshe Brandsdorfer however does not concur, releasing his p’sak prohibiting kohanim.

The p’sak permitting kohanim to visit the site was released after Rav Moshe Brandsdorfer’s ruling prohibiting them from doing so.

YWN-Israel spoke with a senior Eida official (who requested his name be withheld), who explained “you simply cannot believe how many calls I receive daily, from NYC, England and around the world regarding kohanim wishing to know the status of Kever Rashbi”.

Another source in the Eida, who spoke with YWN-Israel on the condition of anonymity, explained that the matter began in Adar, when certain people were trying to prevent a certain person from visiting Kever Rashbi, leading to advertisements and pashkavilim prohibiting kohanim from the area.

“Many kohanim realized something did not smell right” the rav explained, since they know if kohanim are prohibited the Eida will publish a 2 inch advert and that is sufficient, aware there was something more going on here. He did not care to elaborate.

The piskei halacha released by the Eida now are intended to clarify the matter, with Rav Rozenblat addressing the matter in halachic detail.

Rav Rozenblat, a member of the Breslov chassidus, is known for his expertise in matters pertaining to kohanim, having worked extensively with Atra Kadisha in Uman and many areas around Eretz Yisrael, the senior Eida rav explained. Rav Rozenblat is also the ‘rav hamachshir’ for the Eida eruv around Eretz Yisrael, in areas including but not limited to Yerushalayim, Tzfas, Tiveria, Ofakim, Betar and Beit Shemesh.

Rav Rozenblat is also relied upon for his piskei halacha regarding where kohanim may and may not travel in many areas of Eretz Yisrael, having investigated burial caves and other areas, at times arranging for bridges, partitions and other arrangements towards ensuring a halachically permissible situation for kohanim.

READ THE WRITTEN PSAK HALACHA HERE: Click HERE to read the Psak of HaGaon HaRav Nosson Gotleib Shlita, and click HERE to read the Psak of HaGaon HaRav Yitzchak Rozenblat Shlita.

NOTE: YWN urges everyone to consult with their own Poskim.

(Yechiel Spira – YWN Israel)