- All the Questions
Priestly courses (mishmarot hakehuna): cycles and leap years
Question
Dear Rabbi, Some sources say that the 24 priestly courses would just repeat after every 24 weeks. Other sources say that they started at the first Shabbat after Pesach and Sukkot (2x a year)
If that were the case, what would happen in a leap year (where there are 4 additional weeks)?
Thank you, Shalom,
Gerhard
Answer
The Talmud (Erchin 11b; Y’rushalmi Shkalim 5, 3) and most commentaries and halachic codifiers state simply that the order of the 24 kohanic families would continuously repeat itself, with no mention of specific dates, and that solves your question of the leap year. As you mentioned, only the second and minority opinion (Rabbenu Chananel, Ravya) would be faced with this problem, and they don’t deal with it. I saw a modern day opinion conjecture that they probably did a lottery among the families to see who would serve 3 times that year, but that’s just speculation.

Licked by a dog during davening
Rabbi David Sperling | Elul 3, 5780

Time When Shabbat Ends
Rabbi David Sperling | Cheshvan 10, 5772

13 attributes
Rabbi David Sperling | Iyyar 3, 5782

Shabbat
Rabbi Ari Shvat | Iyyar 14, 5782

Rabbi Ari Shvat
Lectures at various yeshivot, michlalot and midrashot. Has published many books & Torani articles and is in charge of Rav Kook’s archives.

Orla
Shevat 19, 5771

Ayin hara and Rambam
Tevet 28, 5771

Davening if Hashem knows future
Adar II 25, 5771

Yericho conquest by Yehoshua
Tevet 28, 5771

Washing after bathroom
Rabbi David Sperling | Kislev 14, 5772

Shaving after Lag Ba’omer
Various Rabbis | Iyyar 23, 5768

Nishmat
Rabbi Yoel Lieberman | Tevet 26, 5780

Cutting hair after lag bomer
Rabbi David Sperling | Iyyar 17, 5772

Trimming the beard
Rabbi David Sperling | Iyyar 16, 5782
Is the Ketubah valid
Rabbi Daniel Kirsch | Iyyar 12, 5782
Tenach Melochim
Rabbi Daniel Kirsch | Iyyar 16, 5782
