Q&A from the Bais HaVaad Halacha Hotline

Kohein of Silence

May 22, 2025

Q We have reached Krias HaTorah, and the only kohein in the shul is still davening. What should we do?

A Normally, if no kohein is present, the first aliyah is given to a levi or a Yisrael (with no preference), and the gabbai announces, “Ein kan kohein, ya’amod Ploni levi/Yisrael bimkom kohein (There is no kohein present; arise Ploni the levi/Yisrael in place of the kohein).” This announcement clarifies to onlookers that the person called up first is not a kohein (O.C. 135:6; Kitzur Shulchan Aruch 23:9).

The second aliyah should go only to a Yisrael; giving it to a levi may make onlookers think the first person is a kohein.

If the only kohein is busy davening, it depends where in davening he is up to:

• In the middle of Shmoneh Esrei: Call up someone else without delay. “Ein kan kohein” is omitted because a kohein is in fact present; only say “Ya’amod Ploni bimkom kohein” (O.C. 135:5; Kitzur Shulchan Aruch ibid. 10).
• In the middle of Krias Shma: The same procedure applies as for Shmoneh Esrei, but it is recommended that he exit the room before someone else is called up (Mishnah Brurah 66:26).
• Bein haprakim (between paragraphs of Krias Shma): The Mishnah Brurah (ibid. and 135:17) allows him to be called up and make the brachos, though he may not read along with the ba’al korei as is typically required (ibid.; see also Ishei Yisrael 19:19). But the Mishnah Brurah recommends that he leave the room and the aliyah be given to someone else.
• In Psukei Dezimra: He may be called up lechat’chilah, and he may even read along with the ba’al korei. But no other interruptions should be made, like for Mi Shebeirach. If the gabbai begins a Mi Shebeirach and forgets the kohein’s name, he may say it (Mishnah Brurah 51:10).