Editing Levite (section)

===Relationship with Kohanim===
{{main|Kohen|Priesthood (Ancient Israel)}}
The Kohanim are traditionally believed and [[halacha|halachically]] required to be of direct patrilineal descent from the [[Bible|biblical]] [[Aaron]] of the [[Tribe of Levi]]. The origins of the name/term [[Levy (surname)|"Levy"]] in Hebrew remain unclear. Some hypotheses link this name with the Hebrew root ''lwh'', the Aramaic root ''lwy'', or the Arabic root ''lwy''.

The [[noun]] ''kohen'' is used in the [[Torah]] to refer to [[priest]]s, both Israelite and non-Israelite, such as the Israelite nation as a whole,<ref>MamLeChes KoHaNim – ממלכת כהנים</ref> as well as the priests (Hebrew ''kohanim'') of [[Baal]]. During the existence of the [[Temple in Jerusalem]], Kohanim performed the daily and holiday ([[Jewish holidays|Yom Tov]]) duties of [[korban|sacrificial offerings]].

Today ''kohanim'' retain a lesser though somewhat distinct status within [[Judaism]], and are bound by additional restrictions according to [[Orthodox Judaism]]. During the [[Priestly Blessing]], the Levites traditionally wash the hands of the Kohanim prior to the blessing of the House of Israel.<ref>{{cite web |quote=The general procedure of the Priestly Blessing is: After *Kedushah the priests prepare themselves, removing their shoes and washing their hands with the assistance of the levites, whereafter they ascend the platform before the Ark.|url=https://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/jsource/judaica/ejud_0002_0016_0_16089.html |title=Priestly Blessing |work=Jewish Virtual Library |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20140427010612/http://www.jewishvirtuallibrary.org/jsource/judaica/ejud_0002_0016_0_16089.html |archivedate=2014-04-27 |url-status=deviated}}</ref> ("A first-born son washes the Kohen's hands if there is no Levite".<ref>{{cite book |title=Let's Ask the Rabbi |page=163|author=Raymond Apple |year=2011}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.woodsideparksynagogue.org.uk/duchening-the-basics |title=Duchening: The Basics}}</ref>)

{{Anchor|Bat Levi}}