I'm looking for sources at the moment of the halakha regarding these status. As it pertains to each, for example, there are ways in which a cohen can lose his status, does the same hold for others? In burial, our kohanim are kept closest to prevent defilement, but why does this not apply to levi'im? These questions are mere tips of the iceberg which we can ask, and we should ask all we can.

We all seem to live who we are, but do all know the rolls which we play both at the moment, and in maintaining our families, in preparation for the Third Beit Hamiqdash. So let us learn, and discover the wonders of our identities.

-Justin

Originally posted by rebJustin:
I'm looking for sources at the moment of the halakha regarding these status. As it pertains to each, for example, there are ways in which a cohen can lose his status, does the same hold for others?

A cohen can lose his status to serve as a cohen in the temple and to take part in receiving the preistly gifts. If he marries a divorcee, a convert or a adultress, then the children are called hallal and can not be cohanim. All this is found in the standard codes like the mishneh torah and the shulchan aruch. Askenazic jews hold that we do not know who is a kosher cohen today but we still do pidyan haben and the priestly blessing because we do not wish to abandon the mitzvot.
A levi can not do anything to lose his status.
In burial, our kohanim are kept closest to prevent defilement, but why does this not apply to levi'im?


That is written clearly in the torah that only the cohanim can not defile themeselves.
These questions are mere tips of the iceberg which we can ask, and we should ask all we can.

We all seem to live who we are, but do all know the rolls which we play both at the moment, and in maintaining our families, in preparation for the Third Beit Hamiqdash. So let us learn, and discover the wonders of our identities.

There is a yeshiva in Jerusalem for cohanim who learn what they are to do in the bet hamidrash. I wouldn't worry about it as there is no way you could get the rabbanim in Israel to get together to decide anything, let alone how to do the temple service.

A.S.