42 | MARCH 28 • 2024 
J
N

O

n Feb. 18, 2024, 
1-month-old Jacob 
Leonard (Yaakov 
Levi) Weiss took center stage 
in a rare Jewish ritual. Unlike 
the previous ritual he’d starred 
in on his eighth day of life, he 
didn’t find this one painful in 
the slightest. In fact, he slept 
through the ceremony. 
There is a little known but 
clearly worded Torah com-
mandment (Exodus 13:12-15) 
to redeem firstborn sons, 
along with firstborn farm ani-
mals. The only 
way to do this is 
to have a Pidyon 
HaBen, literally 
Redemption of 
the Son. 
Jacob is the son 
to first-time par-
ents Malka and 
Isaac Weiss of Oak Park, who 
have been married two years. 
Malka is a labor and delivery 
nurse, and Isaac is an orches-
tra teacher. They were delight-
ed to welcome the crowd of 
80 or so family and friends to 
their unusual simchah, which 
took place at Young Israel of 
Oak Park — especially as nei-
ther of them had previously 
attended a Pidyon HaBen.
At the ceremony, Daniel 
Kohn, who is a Kohein, asked 
Isaac: “Would you rather have 
your son or the coins that you 

are obligated to give?” 
“Of course, it’s a rhetorical 
question,” explained Daniel. 
This was the first time he 
had the honor of serving 
as the Kohein at a Pidyon 
HaBen. In fact, when Isaac 
first approached him about 
“doing” their Pidyon HaBen, 
Daniel, owner of Kravings 
and Quality Kosher Catering 
in Oak Park, thought he was 
referring to catering the event. 
Once they ironed out that little 
misunderstanding, Daniel was 
delighted to accept his role in 
the ceremony. He has forever 
been extremely proud of his 
status as Kohen, a feeling he’d 
inherited from his own father, 
Paul Kohn, of blessed memory. 
To prepare, Daniel studied 
the subject of Pidyon HaBen 
with Rabbi Shmuel Kresch.
“The ceremony was like a 
little skit, with lines that both 
Isaac and I read aloud,” Daniel 
said. “The whole thing is so 
unique and interesting, 
To Daniel’s question, Isaac’s 
response was, “I will give you 
the coins as I am obligated to 
by the Torah.” 
Isaac then paid Daniel the 
requisite five silver coins to 
“redeem” Jacob. Those coins 
were minted in Israel, specif-
ically for this mitzvah, and 
sourced through an online 

Redemption of the firstborn son.

A Rare 
Celebration

Daniel 
Kohn

ROCHEL BURSTYN CONTRIBUTING WRITER

Isaac and 
Malka Weiss 
at Jacob’s 
bris

ANNA SPAGNUOLO

At the Pidyon HaBen 
ceremony, Daniel Kohn is 
holding baby Jacob.

FRANCI FELD

continued on page 44

