It was pretty obvious from the size of the dig, that the Nazis would have gotten to the Ark sometimes in the next couple of years. The Brits would not be able to do anything about another nation conducting a dig in a 3rd country.
Nor was Indy’s efforts useless. Sure, Belloq got fried. But after a few more teams had the same thing happen, or they watched the films, the Nazis would just have blind guys open the casket or not open it at all and carry it before them or force Jewish priests to open it.
There are theories that there was a empty Ark in the Second Temple.
Yes, Maccabes is in the Catholic bible.
I thought Jesus was going to pop out but it was only a blue Robin Williams. But his act KILLED!
Really? Last I heard of him, he choked.
I think Spielberg and Lucas didn’t know, forgot, or simply ignored the fact that Egypt was very definitely within the British sphere of influence just before World War II, and that the British maintained a strong military presence there. A word or two from the British ambassador in Cairo to the young King Farouk, and I suspect the Nazis would be asked to pack up and go home ASAP.
I don’t believe there have been any Jewish Priests since the Temple was destroyed the second time.
But then, I was wrong about the Noahide Commandments. 
Kohen Jews are technically descendants of the priestly class and can have special rituals even today in the synagogue. Kohen status is passed down traditionally from the father to sons (or in my case from my dad to me).
Thanks, Ivory. I knew Kohen were called to read Tora first.
THere are other restrictions, too (esp for the Orthodoxy). For example, they can’t be around dead bodies and only attend funerals for immediate family members. My dad always got to carry the Torah and the lead the parade around the sanctuary during Simchat Torah.
It didn’t occur to me until just now, probably because Raiders came out three years earlier, but doesn’t the ark look and act like a big golden ghost trap from Ghostbusters?
Obviously Moses was the original Ghostbuster.
Who you gonna call?
Oye, Moyshe!
“Kohen or cohen (or kohain; Hebrew: כֹּהֵן, “priest”, pl. כֹּהֲנִים kohanim) is the Hebrew word for priest” so they are as close as you can get, without there being a actual Temple. I would hazard a guess that if the Ark was found, that they would pick one of their elect, consecrate him and have him touch or open the Ark. I suspect the Chief Rabbi would be consulted. I also would hazard a guess they they already have this figured out if that day ever comes.
Can there be priests without a temple?
Not for the mainstream Jewish faith, no. But if there was a Temple, the Kohen would be the priests.
From documentaries I’ve seen and articles I’ve read the Cohens are more than traditionally or technically descendants of the priestly class, For example see:
http://www.cohen-levi.org/jewish_genes_and_genealogy/jewish_genes_-_dna_evidence.htm
I find this ancient lineage thrilling actually, But I certainly bow to the other dopers greater direct knowledge.
They have some priestly responsibilities. There can be no High Priest minus a Temple.
I actually find it pretty fascinating, too. You’d think that after all these millennia, there’d have been enough infidelity, adoption, switches-at-birth, and so on that the correlation between name and Y chromosome would have been erased.
Some Jewish board I used to frequent that no longer exists-“What would you ask Jesus if you had the chance?”
“So, did Paul screw up, or what?”
Has an article describing how they could trace Kohain DNA and determine if someone was of the Priestly Tribe.