The Kohen Gadol’s position was passed on to his son after his death. The Talmud in Yoma 72b states that this halacha was not applicable to a Kohen Gadol who had been anointed specifically to lead Bnei Yisrael into war. The Mashuach Milchamah, the special Kohen Gadol who had received his position only for the purpose of leadership in battle, did not bequeath the kehunah gedolah, high priesthood, to his son.
The Chofetz Chaim z.l. was once asked to decide a din Torah regarding a Rav of a community who had passed away. The members of the community chose to select another Torah scholar to fill the vacated position. The sons of the late Rav argued that by the laws of inheritance their father’s position rightfully belonged to them. They agreed to go to the Chofetz Chaim to seek his guidance in the case.
After listening to both sides, the Chofetz Chaim remarked that there had been a law regarding inheritance in the area of Rabbanus, Rabbinate. Times had changed, however, and this principle was not applicable. He gave the following reason for his decision. The Mashuach Milchamah did not bequeath his position because a kohen who went into battle must have been an inherently aggressive individual who did not shy away from conflict. This characteristic is in-born. Thus, the trait cannot be transferred to a son. One’s son either reflects that attribute or he does not! If the son did not possess a similar temperament, he was not qualified to inherit the mantle of high priesthood from his father.
The Chofetz Chaim continued to assert that contemporary times demand that a Rav be more than a Torah scholar who was erudite in Jewish law and proficient in adjudication. He must also be a fighter to uphold the mantle of Torah against incursion from the secularists. No longer can a son inherit his father’s position simply because they share a common surname. The son can ascend to his father’s position only after he has demonstrated his own qualifications for the position. The mantle of Torah leadership must be earned; it cannot be inherited.
