I am sephardic and also a kohen. I read in the previous parasha that if a kohen has any kind of blemishes or diseases that he’s not allowed to go up to the tevah and bless people. I have psoriasis and also had a broken leg before. Am I allowed to go up to the tevah?
Answer:
A Kohen may ascend to bless the people even if he has a blemish, and therefore you need not be concerned. Only a kohen who has a blemish on his face or hands, which will cause people to look at him (unless they are used to him), may not acend to bless the people.
Sources: See Taanis 27a and Tosafos, and many poskim in their wake. Concerning blemishes on face and hands, see Shulchan Aruch, Orach Chaim 128:30-31. Besides this, the condition described in the question would not be considered a blemish according to the Torah definition.
