Parshas Vayikra: Rav Betzalel HaKohen of Vilna - The Zohar Says A Kohen Can't Do Shechita On A Korban
The Halacha is that Shechita on a Korban is Kasher even by a Zar, a non-Kohen. However the the Zohar says that it is assur for a Kohen to do Shechita. Where does the Zohar get this from? A Kohen may not be the only one able to do Shechita, but how can the Zohar say that it is assur?
The Pninim MiShulchan Gavoa brings from Rav Betzalel HaKohen of Vilna that if a Kohen does Shechita he may not wear his Bigdei Kehuna while doing it. The reason is that since a Zar can do Shechita as well, it is not considered Avoda. Therefore since his Bigdei Kehuna have Shatnez in them, it is only permissible during avodah, and since Shechita is not avodah it assur to wear shatnez.
The gemara (Zevachim 17b) says that when a Kohen is not wearing his Bigdei Kehuna he has a din of a Zar. This is what the Zohar means that it is assur for a Kohen wearing Bigdei Kehuna to do Shechita. If however he is wearing regular clothing, he is more than welcome to do Shechita like any other Zar.
Anonymous, Allon Shvut, 2010-03-20 11:34:51 What did the kohen gadol do on yom kippur? I'm pretty sure he shected the korbanot and immeadiatly caught the blood. Surely he didn't change clothes!
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