Defilement of a Kohen for a Close Apostate
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Question
A Kohen whose father is an apostate and publicly desecrates the Sabbath, is he obligated to defile himself for him?
Answer
If he did not desecrate the Sabbath publicly in front of his rabbi, he must defile himself for him. However, if he desecrated publicly, it is forbidden to defile himself for him.
Source
Gemara Sanhedrin, page 47a: "As taught by Rav Shemaya: It might be thought that even if his fathers departed from the ways of the community, he should defile himself - the verse teaches us: 'among his people' - among those who act as his people." This is also ruled in Shulchan Aruch, Yoreh De'ah, siman 373, paragraph 8: "A Kohen whose fathers departed from the ways of the community, such as apostates, should not defile himself for them; nor for those executed by the court; nor for those who committed suicide knowingly, nor in doubtful cases."
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