How a person can prove that he is a kohen. My father told me that he was a kohen and therefore I am also one. However is it just my word that determines this, or is there some way to research this to authenticate the fact?

Thank you for your question. Today, the primary determining factor of priestly status is an established tradition in a specific family that they are descendants of Aaron the High Priest. We are permitted to assume that a person would not lie about this, and if a person makes this claim we accept it as fact – even without verification or documentation. However, there are branches of families descending from kohanim who keep detailed family trees, and can actually trace their lineage back to Aaron the High Priest. One of these families is the Rappaport family.

Take care,

Rabbi Aaron Tendler