Semikhah

Semikhah ( , "leaning [of the hands]"), also semichut ( , "ordination"), or semicha lerabbanut ( , "rabbinical ordination") is derived from a Hebrew word which means to "rely on" or "to be authorized". It generally refers to the ordination of a rabbi within Judaism . In this sense it is the "transmission" of rabbinic authority to give advice or judgment in Jewish law . Although presently most functioning synagogue rabbis hold semikhah by some rabbinical institution or academy, this was until quite recently not always required, and in fact many Haredi rabbis may not be required to hold a "formal" semikhah even though they may occupy important rabbinical and leadership positions. Classical semikhah refers to a specific type of ordination that, according to traditional Jewish teaching, traces a line of authority back to Moses and the seventy elders. The line of classical semikhah seems to have died out in the fourth or fifth century CE but it is widely held that the line of Torah conferment remains unbroken. Some believe evidence exists that classical semicha was existant during the 12th century when semuchim from Lebanon and Syria were traveling to Israel in order to pass on semikhah to their students. Others, such as Rav Yisroel of Shklov (1770-1839), believed it may not have been broken at all but that it continued outside of the land of Israel. Even though classical semikhah may have declined many believe in an unbroken chain of tradition and authority dating back to the time of Moshe and Yehoshua (See "The Unbroken Chain of Torah" below).

Smicha ( , "leaning [of the hands]"), also smichut ( , " ordination "), smicha lerabbanut ( , "rabbinical ordination"), or smicha lehazzanut ( , "cantorial ordination") is derived from a Hebrew word which means to "rely on" or "to be authorized". It generally refers to the ordination of a rabbi or cantor within Judaism . In the former case, it signifies the transmission of rabbinic authority to give advice or judgment in Jewish law . In the latter, it signifies the transmission of authoritative knowledge about Jewish musical and liturgical traditions. Although presently most functioning synagogue rabbis hold semikhah by some rabbinical institution or academy, this was until quite recently not always required, and in fact many Haredi rabbis may not be required to hold a "formal" semikhah even though they may occupy important rabbinical and leadership positions. Some cantorial institutions in the US currently grant semikhah to their students, while others use the term "investiture" to describe the conferral of cantorial authority onto their graduates. Classical semikhah refers to a specific type of ordination that, according to traditional Jewish teaching, traces a line of authority back to Moses and the seventy elders. The line of classical semikhah seems to have died out in the 4th or 5th century CE but it is widely held that the line of Torah conferment remains unbroken. Some believe evidence exists that classical semicha was existent during the 12th century when semuchim from Lebanon and Syria were traveling to Israel in order to pass on semikhah to their students. Others, such as Rav Yisroel of Shklov (1770–1839), believed it may not have been broken at all but that it continued outside of the land of Israel. Today many believe in the existence of an unbroken chain of authority dating back to the time of Moses and Joshua (See "The Unbroken Chain of Torah" below).

Semikhah ( , "leaning [of the hands]") or Semicha or Smicha , also smichut ( , " ordination "), smicha lerabbanut ( , "rabbinical ordination"), or smicha lehazzanut ( , "cantorial ordination"), is derived from a Hebrew word which means to "rely on" or "to be authorized". Example Semikhah certificate, Yadin Yadin : of Rabbi Aryeh Kaplan awarded by Rabbi Eliezer Yehuda Finkel Prevailing smicha generally refers to the ordination of a rabbi or cantor within post- talmudic Rabbinic Judaism , and within all modern Jewish religious movements from Reform to Orthodox . Smicha lerabbanut signifies the transmission of rabbinic authority to give advice or judgment in Jewish law ; see Rabbi #Orthodox and Modern Orthodox Judaism . Although presently most functioning synagogue rabbis hold smicha lerabbanut by some rabbinical institution or academy, this was until quite recently not always required, and in fact many Haredi rabbis may not be required to hold a "formal" smicha lerabbanut even though they may occupy important rabbinical and leadership positions. Smicha lehazzanut signifies the transmission of authoritative knowledge about Jewish musical and liturgical traditions. Some cantorial institutions in the United States currently grant smicha lehazzanut to their students, while others use the term "investiture" to describe the conferral of cantorial authority onto their graduates. Classical semikhah refers to a specific type of ordination that, according to traditional Jewish teaching, traces a line of authority back to Moshe ben Amram , The Men of the Great Assembly , and the Great Sanhedrin . The line of classical semikhah died out in the 4th or 5th century A.D. but it is widely held that a line of Torah conferment remains unbroken. Some believe evidence existed that classical semikhah was existent during the 12th century when semuchim from Lebanon and Syria were traveling to Israel in order to pass on Torah conferment to their students. Others, such as Rav Yisroel of Shklov (1770–1839), believed semikhah may not have been broken at all but that it continued outside of the land of Israel. Today many believe in the existence of an unbroken chain of rabbinical tradition dating back to the time of Moshe ben Amram ("Moses") and Yehoshua ben Nun ("Joshua") (See " The Unbroken Chain of Torah " below).

Ordination of a rabbi or cantor in Judaism For the act of semikhah in the Temple in Jerusalem, see Semicha in sacrifices . Semikhah ( ) is the traditional Jewish name for rabbinic ordination . 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 in a less formal way. Throughout history there have been several attempts to reestablish the classical semikhah . In recent times, some institutions grant ordination for the role of hazzan (cantor), extending the "investiture" granted there from the 1950s. Less commonly, since the 1990s, ordination is granted for the role of lay leader – sometimes titled darshan . Ordination may then also be specifically termed סמיכה לרבנות ('rabbinical ordination'), סמיכה לחזנות ('cantorial ordination'), or הסמכת מגיד ('maggidic ordination'). The title of "rabbi" has "proliferated greatly over the last century". Nowadays semikha is also granted for a limited form of ordination, focused on the application of Halakha in specific settings as opposed to underlying Talmudic knowledge. Outside Orthodox Judaism , in fact, the curriculum may emphasize "the other functions of a modern rabbi such as preaching, counselling, and pastoral work". There are <ref group=lower-alpha> tags or templates on this page, but the references will not show without a template or template (see the help page ).

Ordination of a rabbi or cantor in Judaism For the act of semikhah in the Temple in Jerusalem, see Semicha in sacrifices . Semikhah ( Hebrew : סְמִיכָה ) is the traditional term for rabbiinic 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 in a less formal way; 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 non- Orthodox Jewish religious movements , 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 (cantor), extending the "investiture" granted there from the 1950s. Less commonly, since the 1990s, ordination is granted for the role of lay leader – sometimes titled darshan . Ordination may then also be specifically termed סמיכה לרבנות ('rabbinical ordination'), סמיכה לחזנות ('cantorial ordination'), or הסמכת מגיד ('maggidic ordination'). There are <ref group=lower-alpha> tags or templates on this page, but the references will not show without a template or template (see the help page ).