The ongoing search for the DNA of the Temple Priesthood.

Dr Karl Scorecki and Edgar Ramos.

Karl Skorecki was born and grew up in Toronto, Canada, and earned his MD degree from the University of Toronto. He undertook postgraduate clinical and research training in Internal Medicine, Nephrology, and Molecular Biology at Brigham and Women’s Hospital, Massachusetts General Hospital, and Harvard. He later returned to the University of Toronto, where he served as Director of Nephrology and was a Professor in Medicine, Pediatrics, and Clinical Biochemistry. In January 1991, Skorecki and his family relocated to Israel, where he joined Rambam Medical Center and the Technion’s Faculty of Medicine in Haifa. From 1995 to 2005, he was the Director of the Nephrology Department at Rambam, and more recently, he served as Director of Medical and Research Development. He also led the Rappaport Research Institute from 2000 to 2015, initiating significant new research programs in Stem Cell and Human Genetics Research, founding the Institute’s technology transfer company, and managing the Institute’s budget. Prof. Skorecki is currently the Dean of the Bar-Ilan University Azrieli Faculty of Medicine in Safed.

Karl’s primary research interests currently lie in human population and molecular genetics. He began with studies tracing founding patrilineal and matrilineal lineages in Near East and Jewish populations, which have now broadened to include genome-wide studies of various global populations, focusing on disparities in kidney disease. His work has been featured in leading scientific and medical journals and books, with over 250 publications and 18,000 citations. Karl has delivered numerous endowed lectures at top universities worldwide and at major scientific conferences. He has served and continues to serve on many institutional, national, and international advisory boards and committees, including the council of the Israel Science Foundation. Additionally, Karl has received several research prizes and university and international teaching awards. He has supervised 50 graduate students and hundreds of medical specialty residents. His research findings have garnered significant public and media attention, including features on "Sixty Minutes," Newsweek, Nova, National Geographic, Discovery, and many others.

Dr. Karl Scoreki, a pioneer in DNA research, and his dedicated team have made a groundbreaking discovery in their studies of the Kohanim lineage, tracing the descendants of Aaron the priest. Through extensive testing, they have identified the genetic markers in 9 out of the 24 families traditionally recognized as Kohanim. This remarkable finding not only sheds light on the ancient lineage but also holds profound implications for the future of temple service, allowing it to operate in accordance with the practices established by King David as documented in the Book of Chronicles. The ability to accurately identify these descendants opens the door for a revival of ancient rituals and a deeper understanding of cultural heritage.