on returning the coins to the father of the firstborn, all this in order to skirt the potential prohibition of theft on the kohen's part. Numerous Poskim, however, did not agree with Emden on this issue, for example, Sofer wrote that this type of conditional transaction would invalidate the redemption of the firstborn itself and the child would not be halachically redeemed so long as any pressure is exerted on the kohen to agree to this type of conditional transaction. A more extreme approach was taken by Chaim Hezekiah Medini who exclaimed, amongst a group of arguments, that Emden's advice created a cloud of uncertainty and doubt as to the otherwise legitimate lineage of the modern kohen. Medini concluded that the Emden's idea should not be relied on for the actual redemption of the firstborn. In regards to the lineage of a kohen, Emden, in another responsum, writes that it is possible to find a kohen with a lineage document up until his patrilinial priestly division in hand even though the rest of Israel do not have their lineage documents at all. Table of Halakhic opinions See also 613 commandments Y-chromosomal Aaron References External links Sdei Chemed responsa (English translation) discussing halachic validity of kohanim without their lineage document – Kehuna.org Priesthood (Judaism) Jewish religious occupations