Will Kohanim who are lefties serve in the Beis HaMikdash in the times of Moshiach? Will lefties become righties when Moshiach comes? The answer depends on whether being a lefty is a medical condition…
It is a distinct privilege and honor to serve in the Beis HaMikdash. While most Kohanim did active work in the Beis HaMikdash, there was a group of Kohanim that were not permitted to serve. These were the Kohanim that had a mum (physical blemish) on their body. They were delegated to do other jobs in the Beis HaMikdash, like checking the firewood used atop the altar for worms.
There was another group of Kohanim that were not considered fit to serve: Those that were left-handed. (See Rambam Hilchos Bias HaMikdash 8:11).
There is an argument among the commentaries as to why a left-handed person is prohibited to serve: One opinion holds that being left-handed is a physical blemish. The other commentators hold that it is not a blemish but rather it is a “Gzeiras Ha’kasuv - divine decree” that left-handed people should not serve in the Beis HaMikdash.
The Halachic difference between the two rationales is as follows: In the times of Moshiach all blemishes will be cured. Thus, if we hold that being a lefty is a blemish, then a left-handed Kohen will be “cured” and become fit to serve in the Beis HaMikdash. However, if it is not a blemish and it is an intrinsic disqualification, then they still may be prohibited from serving in the Beis HaMikdash in the times of Moshiach.
Let us finish with the words of the Rebbe (B’Haalos’cha 5751): “All this receives greater emphasis in recent generations, described as, “in the heels of,” and as, “the heels of the heels of Moshiach,” particularly in this generation, the last generation of exile… Only the heel of the foot, i.e., the absolute last generation has the ability to “rise on its own” and elevate all previous generations, because the last generation of exile will be the first generation of Redemption - the Redemption for all Jews throughout all generations!
“In particular, the shepherd Aharon HaKohen of our generation - my sainted father-in-law, the Rebbe, the leader of our generation… has emphasized this through his “invocation” of “Immediate T’shuva, immediate Redemption,” and the announcement that we only have to “polish the buttons,” and afterwards - the declaration that this too has already ended, and it only requires us to “stand prepared all of you” to greet our righteous Moshiach in the true and complete Redemption.”
Rabbi Avtzon is the Rosh Yeshiva of Yeshivas Lubavitch Cincinnati and a well sought after speaker and lecturer. Recordings of his in-depth shiurim on Inyanei Geula u’Moshiach can be accessed at http://www.ylcrecording.com.