Question: Before duchaning (the priestly blessings in synagogue), the Levites pour water on the hands of the kohanim.

Who should pour the water if there is no Levite present? Should the kohen do this by himself? If there is more than one kohen (but no Levite), does one kohen do the washing for the other?

Answer: There is no requirement in Jewish law for a Levite to pour the water. It is based on a kabbalistic idea, and, I suppose, it also gives the Levites a reminder that they too have a special role in Judaism.

If there is no Levite in the synagogue, a first born could wash the hands of the kohanim. This is because, originally, the first born were supposed to have the role of the Levites, but they lost it when they sinned with the Golden Calf.

If there are no first born (or if they don’t know that they are supposed to wash the hands of the kohanim) the kohanim should simply wash their own hands (they should not wash each other’s hands). In the Temple, each Cohen would wash his own hands and feet, so it is appropriate that they wash their own hands now as well.

I hope this answer helps.

Rabbi David Sedley