Chana Wagner responded in part: "in the torah it states "kol yisrael arevim
ze lazeh" which means all jews are responsible for each other. the jewish
nation is like an amazing machine - one machine with many different
parts. some may be bigger and/or flashier then others, but if even one
tiny screw were missing the machine would fall apart! Hashem put each of
us in a situation where we can do our best. for some people this means
being a cohen, for others a woman or a levi etc."
Perhaps Miss Berlin would be slightly appeased to know that those Cohenim
cannot go to funerals of their friends nor can they marry divorced people,
while she, a Yisrael may do those things if she chooses. The Cohenim have
certain obligations and functions and because of them must maintain a level
of ritual purity that restricts their freedom.
On a lighter note, my husband always says "I want to be a Cohen" and has
repeatedly asked his father if he is sure... and of course, he is quite
sure they are Yiosraelim. Anyhow the rabbi heard about this and the next
time there was no Cohen or Levi available called my husband "Yisrael b'mkom
Cohen." [A Yisrael called in place of a Cohen, when none of the latter were
available.]
Irene Stern Friedman
http://www.geocities.com/Heartland/5013/