In the book 'A World Apart: A Memoir of Jewish Galicia' by Joseph Margoshes, on p180 there is an five page Margoshes Family Genealogy.
On the section about R' Ephraim Fischel is said: "Our ancestor Rabbi Ephraim Fishl son of Rabbi Zvi, may his memory be a blessing, was head of the rabbinical court and leader of [the Council of] Four Lands and the president of [the supporters] Eretz Yisroel. He died in Lvov in 5413 [1652/3]. This is engraved on his monument: Confusion and trouble, in which the light was taken. In the week of [the Torah portion] "for God took him." his soul left in purity. A glorious noble, leader of Israel, head of the rabbinical court and leader of the community and province, criterion and cornerstone. Woe, woe for the captain of the ship , the mouth that emitted pearls of great wisdom, head of the exile of Ariel [Israel], supervisor of charity and master of the [charities of Israel] Eretz Yisroel. His hand was open to the poor who ate his bread. He was known in the gates, his name was as poured forth oil. Our teacher and rabbi, his Excellency the Rabbi Ephraim Fishl son of our teacher, Rabbi Zvi, a wise man [who] is [thus] greater than a prophet, he scattered and gave charity and loans to the poor along with the rest of his [good] deeds. Like a sapphire and a diamond in his body, his soul was on high. The reputation of his pleasant deeds will rise like a pleasing scent and like the incense [of the Holy Temple, so that God may] conceal him in the shelter of his wings forever"
I have quoted this entire engraving to show that nowhere is the epithet 'HaCohen' used. Neither does the author of the book, Joseph Margoshes, suggest that he or any other person in son-to-son line of R' Ephraim Fischel was HaCohen. So this makes me wonder where the information that this is a Cohanic line comes from? Does anyone have any reliable evidence that this is a HaCohen line? TIA
