Dear Rabbi Simon
My dilemma of the day at Shacharit: Dan and Stan both had yahrzeit on Monday. With a kohen present, there was only one “Yisrael” Aliyah up for grabs between the two of them—each of whom was quite keen to have it.
I was unsure how to manage the call ups, and how to balance halakhah vs minhag here.
In the end, the kohen had two aliyot, as there was no Levi present, and I planned to give the 3rd aliyah to Dan, as Stan was leading the tefillah, so I figured this was a reasonable trade-off.
Naturally, as any gabbai does, I davened for heavenly assistance and lo and behold…Stan seized a huge merit by offering the aliyah to Dan. A good outcome with (hopefully) no ill feelings, ב”ה.
However, afterward Dan suggested that we could have asked the kohen to step outside just before the Torah Reading, and then, in his absence, we can call both yisraelim (as well as a third one, for good measure). I admit that I did not think of this at the time, but even if I had, would this have been the right thing to do? Then the kohen may have felt slighted, for the sake of giving an aliyah to two other congregants. Is this the right way to balance minhag and requirements?
Can I please have your guidance on this situation?
Many thanks,
Gabi
Dear Gabi
Thank you for your “slice of life” question.
There are indeed shuls where they occasionally (or even regularly) ask the kohen (or even more than one) to step out, in order to be able to call to the Torah an extra Yisrael or two. However, the posekim are not enthused about this (and some kohanim can get testy about it as well), unless there are notable financial implications (ie donation in conjunction with a Memorial Prayer [Kel Malei Rahamim or hashkavah]). Particularly in the scenario you describe I think you made the right call. One of them may have been pleased (placated?) with the honour of hagbahah as well, so that would have been another option.
Bottom line, although it works in extremis, I would be reluctant to ask a kohen to leave under the circumstances.
Best wishes,
Rabbi Rashi Simon