Semikhah
Semikhah[] is the traditional term for rabbinic ordination in Judaism.
The original semikhah was the formal "transmission of authority" from Moses through the generations. This form of semikhah ceased between 360 and 425 CE. Since then, semikhah has continued less formally; throughout Jewish history, there have been several attempts to reestablish the classical semikhah.
The title of "rabbi" has "proliferated greatly over the last century". Nowadays, semikhah is also granted for a comparatively limited form of ordination, bestowing the authority to apply Halakha in specific Jewish settings rather than across the Jewish people writ large. In Jewish religious movements other than Orthodox Judaism, rabbinical education often emphasizes the modern roles of rabbis, such as preaching, teaching, counseling, and pastoral work.
In recent times, relatedly, some institutions grant ordination for the role of hazzan, extending the "investiture" granted there from the 1950s. Less commonly, since the 1990s, ordination is given for the role of lay leader—sometimes titled darshan. Ordination may then also be specifically termed סמיכה לרבנות, סמיכה לחזנות, or הסמכת מגיד.
Etymology and related terminology
The word semikhah derives from a Hebrew root סמכ that means to "rely on", in the sense of "lean on", or "to be authorized"; the literal meaning of semikhah is "leaning ".Semikhah may refer to the "conferring" of the ordination, or as a noun, to the certification itself, where the plural is Semakhot ; one with ordination may then be referred to as a Musmach.
A precedent Biblical usage is Numbers , describing the preparation of the Levites for service.
A rabbi is also sometimes referred to as a Moreh Hora'ah "one who teaches decisions", while the ordination itself is called Heter Hora'ah "permission to make Halakhic decisions", certifying that the holder has the facility to apply his "thorough knowledge of the Talmud" to the facts of a given halakhic question, and certifies also that the candidate is suitable to function as a community rabbi.
These terms derive from Leviticus , where the requirement is specified that halakhic decisions are to be made only by a qualified authority.
Concept
In concept, semikhah represents a "bond" dating back to the time of Moses and Joshua. It is held that God taught the Torah to Moses on Mount Sinai in 1312 BCE and that since that time, the knowledge of the Torah has been passed from generation to generation by the conferment of semikhah, rabbinic ordination, or the unbroken transmission of authority dating back to that time. This unbroken chain of Torah teaching is thus said to have continued for over 3300 years and continues to this day.The ancient formula for semikhah was "Yoreh Yoreh. Yadin Yadin". ; and in the early days of rabbinical Judaism any ordained teacher could ordain his students.
Classical semikhah was granted by a court of three judges and it later required the participation of at least one who had attained this status himself. According to Maimonides the other two need not be semukhim.
Today, semikha is generally through an institution, a yeshiva or specialized kollel, but is often granted by an individual.
The testing here
confirms one's ability to decide a question in halakha. The examination has a dual concern: firstly it confirms knowledge of the law as presented in Shulchan Aruch, the standard code of law ; secondly, it also confirms an understanding of the underlying principles, by testing the relevant Talmudic sugyas, together with their development by the Rishonim and Acharonim, especially the Arba'ah Turim; see.
Varieties of ordination
The Talmud lists three classes of semikhah issued: Yoreh Yoreh, Yadin Yadin, and Yatir Bechorot Yatir; while the first two are still issued, the last is not.Additional forms of semikhah issued in modern times are discussed below.
- Yoreh Yoreh : The recipient of this semikhah demonstrated sufficient education and proper judgment to be able to render halakhic judgments on matters of religious law as it pertains to daily life, focusing on kashrut, referred to as "Issur v'Hetter", and niddah, and permissible or forbidden activities on Shabbat and Yom Tov. The holder of this Semikha, as above, is referred to also as a Moreh Hora'ah and the ordination itself is called Heter Hora'ah.
- Yadin Yadin : The recipient of this semikhah demonstrated sufficient education and proper judgment to be able to render halakhic judgments on matters of religious law as it pertains to monetary and property disputes; the basis here is the Choshen Mishpat section, and will usually include parts of Even Haezer such as the laws of Gittin; this semikhah is usually required for a rabbi to act as a dayan, and, typically, is granted only to those already holding Yoreh Yoreh, even though the Talmud states that one can have be granted Yadin Yadin without Yoreh Yoreh.
- Yatir Bechorot Yatir: The recipient of this semikhah demonstrated sufficient education and proper judgment to determine the ritual status of firstborn animals that have developed a blemish. This degree required extensive veterinary knowledge. See.
Traditionally – and on the other hand – Yoreh Yoreh covered kashrut only, and this is still often the case.
Although apparently limited,
the basis here is that, as mentioned, semikha is in fact a confirmation of the ability - and right - of the holder to pasken in general, and that, as required, the rabbi can correctly apply his Talmudic and Halakhic knowledge to other areas.
Similar, a semicha focusing on the laws of Shabbat is sometimes granted. Often, niddah will require a separate specialized certification, as – given their intricate and sensitive nature – an element of shimush, or "apprenticeship", pertains particularly to these halakhot.
It is not uncommon for a rabbi to hold several certificates, with each semikha covering a specific area of halakha.
Certification, with similar testing, is also required to qualify as a shochet, mohel, sofer, or menakker; these inhere a major practical element and thus require significant shimush.
Modern ''semakhot''
As outlined, additional forms of semikhah are issued in modern times with their content departing from the above, to an extent reflecting the contemporary Rabbinic role. See for further outline.An Orthodox semikha, "Rav U'Manhig", " Rabbi and leader", essentially testifies that the recipient has sufficient Torah knowledge to serve in a position of leadership. The testing here covers Orach Chaim extensively, usually with limited emphasis on the underlying Talmudic sugyas. See the related discussion re "semicha-testing programs" and "online semicha" at.
Pluralistic and non-denominational movements grant an ordination titled "Rav U-moreh/morah BeYisrael", "Rabbi and Teacher in Israel". The curriculum here, as above, may emphasize "the other functions of a modern rabbi such as preaching, counselling, and pastoral work", as opposed to Halakha; further, often in these institutions less emphasis is placed on Talmud and Jewish law, "but rather on sociology, cultural studies, and modern Jewish philosophy".
See.
In contrast to these, the Chief Rabbinate of Israel confers the further advanced semikhah of "Rav Ir", " Rabbi of a City". This covers additional relevant topics from all sections of Shulchan Aruch - such as gerut - and, as for Dayanut, has Yoreh Yoreh as a prerequisite; see.
Ordination ceremony
The ceremony where ordination is conferred is known as Hag HaSemikha, the festival of ordination. Today, in most branches of Judaism, there is no laying on of hands; ordination is conferred as an academic degree with a diploma, signed by the officiating rabbis and often hand-written on parchment.Receiving ordination has been a festive occasion accompanied by celebration since Talmudic times. According to the Talmud, when the rabbis ordained Rabbi Zeira, they sang a bridal song in his honor: "Even though she painted not her eyes with antimony, neither darkened her cheeks with rouge, nor plaited her hair, she is still a graceful doe !" the analogy and implication being: just as a bride is inherently beautiful, so for ordination, one's Torah knowledge must be immediately apparent.
They also sang at the ordination of Rabbi Ammi and Rabbi Assi: "Just like these, just like these, ordain for us!"; epitomizing, as they did, the ideal candidate for ordination. This wording - כל מן דין סמוכו לנא - as per the certificate displayed, is still often included on semikhah diplomas.
Contemporary usage
In the prevailing sense, "smicha" generally refers to the ordination of a rabbi within all modern Jewish religious movements from Reform to Orthodox.This "Smicha lerabbanut" signifies the transmission of rabbinic authority to give advice or judgment in Jewish law, thus overlapping to some extent with the classical usage, per #Concept above; see also.
In this context, "Rav Muvhak" is sometimes used to refer to a student's primary teacher.
Smicha lehazzanut, ordination as a cantor, similarly signifies the transmission of authoritative knowledge about Jewish musical and liturgical traditions. This is granted within some denominations.