Smicha

Rabbi Shneur Zalman Lebkowski Signs on Semicha Certificates of Central Tomchei Temimim 770

The source of Smicha is found in the Gemara, in Masechet Sanhedrin, where every Rav needed to receive Smicha from another ordained Rav. There was a special Smicha required for monetary laws, and a special Smicha for capital cases. Not everyone who was worthy received Smicha - in one case, Rabbeinu Hakadosh did not grant Smicha to a Rav to permit bechorot, in order to show respect to Rabbah bar bar Chana. In another case, Rabbeinu Hakadosh very much wanted to give Smicha to Shmuel the Amora, and was very distressed when he couldn't, until Shmuel consoled him that it was decreed and already appeared in Adam Harishon's book.

In Chassidus, it is explained that through Smicha from person to person back to Moshe, the illumination of Yesod Abba is drawn down to the ordained one, and he merits to receive illumination from Atzilus itself. For this reason, he is called "Rebbe" with the addition of the letter Yud, and therefore has the power to influence from the level of Mochin d'Abba. Unlike this, a Rav who is not ordained receives his influence only from the level of Binah, in the order of hishtalshelus from cause to effect.

Although Moshe Rabbeinu ordained Yehoshua with his hands as told in the Torah in Parshat Pinchas - where Moshe placed his hands on Yehoshua and ordained him - Smicha for future generations is not with the hand, but rather through calling and ordaining him to be called "Rebbe". Smicha must be done specifically with three ordained dayanim.

Contemporary Smicha[edit | edit source]

Until Ravina and Rav Ashi there were those ordained person to person back to Moshe Rabbeinu, and with them the original Smicha ended. Today there are no rabbis ordained with this original Smicha, although there is an expression in a maamar, "they are ordained person to person back to Moshe Rabbeinu". Nevertheless, a Rav cannot issue rulings until he receives a certificate of Smicha from another Rav who was ordained from generation to generation.

The Rebbe explained that the reason for the nullification of Smicha was intentionally done by the Chachamim, and not because of a governmental decree.

Smicha (Rabbinical Ordination)[edit | edit source]

Smicha L'Rabbanus (sometimes called: Heter Hora'ah or Smicha Zekeinim), is the granting of authority to the ordained one to rule on halacha according to Torah principles, and to be called by the title Rav. The Smicha is done by a Rav who was himself ordained, with the first ordainer being Moshe Rabbeinu and the first ordained being Yehoshua bin Nun. Smicha is the factor of continuity in the dynasty of halachic ruling throughout Jewish history. Today the custom is that the ordained Rav receives a "Kesav Smicha" (ordination certificate).

Semicha in Chabad[edit | edit source]

In 1952, the Rebbe encouraged young married men and bochurim to acquire knowledge in Shas and Poskim and receive Semicha for hora'ah. The Rebbe mentioned in this context that the Frierdiker Rebbe received Semicha before his wedding and publicized this to us.

In 1976, the Rebbe again encouraged this matter, and in 1979, he instructed the shluchim to Eretz HaKodesh to strive to receive Semicha for hora'ah and take rabbinic positions.

The Rebbe noted that the source of the term 'Semicha for rabbinate' is taken from the Kohen's laying of hands on the korban's head in the Beis HaMikdash. Just as then the Kohen would lay his hands with all his strength on the korban, so too one must invest all their strength in studying for Semicha.

Many in Chabad customarily take their Semicha examination with Rav Yitzchak Yehuda Yeroslavsky, since he is among the few who merited to receive Semicha from the first Rav of Kfar Chabad, Rav Shneur Zalman Garelik, who was ordained by Rav Hirsh Ber, the Rav of Vitebsk, who received Semicha from Rav Yitzchak Eizik BeHaR"D of Vitebsk, who was the only one who merited to receive Semicha from the Alter Rebbe.

The Rebbe received Semicha from HaGaon Rav Yosef Rozin, known as 'The Rogatchover Gaon', and from Rav Yechiel Yaakov Weinberg - author of "Seridei Eish."

Regarding bochurim studying for Semicha before marriage, the Rebbe instructed that they should also study at least a few hours daily of Gemara with Rashi and Tosafos.

This was also the practice of the yeshiva administration in 770 and Kfar Chabad according to the Rebbe's instruction to guide students to postpone Semicha studies to a more mature age, only after students acquire good knowledge in Gemara study.

The Chabad Semicha Certificate[edit | edit source]

While receiving Semicha from the Chief Rabbinate of Israel requires passing a difficult examination in six different subjects: Shabbos, Issur V'Heter, Aveilus, Chupah V'Kiddushin, Mikvaos and Niddah, the Rabbonim in Chabad grant a Semicha certificate after examination on the laws of Issur V'Heter (including the topics: Basar B'Chalav, Taaruvos and Melicha), in accordance with the Rebbe's response to the central Tomchei Tmimim 770 administration regarding their question about what to require from students being tested for Semicha. However, the Rebbe requires that the student have broad general knowledge in Torah and halacha topics.

For those interested, the opportunity for a Dayanut certificate is available with examination on more extensive study material.

Another difference: In the Rabbinate examinations, a person is required to demonstrate knowledge of the subject throughout the development of the law starting from the Gemara, Rishonim, Tur, Beis Yosef, Shulchan Aruch, Rema and commentaries, while in Chabad many Rabbonim give Semicha after examining only on Shulchan Aruch, Rema and commentaries.

The reason for the lesser requirements in Chabad Semicha is following the Rebbe's desire that everyone should be a "rav in their home," and also because they rely on the yiras shamayim of the ordained person not to rule on subjects they are not proficient in without studying them well or consulting with another experienced rav.

Semicha from Our Rebbeim[edit | edit source]

It is told about the Chassid Rav Yaakov Mordechai Bezpalov and the Chassid Rav Dovid Tzvi Chen that they were among only three Chassidim who were ordained for hora'ah by the Rebbe Maharash.

In the family tradition of the descendants of Rav Moshe Mordechai Pogorelsky, it is accepted that he received Semicha from one of our Rebbeim, either the Rebbe Maharash or the Rebbe Rashab.

Semicha for Dayanut[edit | edit source]

During a farbrengen on Simchas Torah 1976, the Rebbe extensively explained the necessity of receiving Semicha for Hora'ah (rabbinical ordination), and added that after receiving it, one should continue studying to receive Semicha for Dayanut (qualification to serve as a rabbinic judge):

In our generation, this orphaned generation, the situation is such that when one wants to ask a shaila (halachic question), they need to search for a Rav who might be located several miles away. Even when they find him, they must be careful not to come during his rest time, and not when he is engaged in studying one masechta (tractate), since when he is involved in one masechta, it is impossible to ask him about another masechta. Therefore, blessings should come upon those who have already achieved "Yoreh Yoreh" (basic rabbinic ordination), and they should have "l'afsha la" (to increase it) - to add to this approach and take upon themselves to complete "Yadin Yadin" (judicial ordination) by next year.

When they will study "Yadin Yadin", not only will this aspect itself be added, but through this, the "Yoreh Yoreh" will be with completely different depth and breadth, similar to the learning approach of the Rogatchover, who in every matter, starting from Chumash or Aggada and especially in the halachic portion of Torah, would explain the general point in the entire Torah...

Therefore, it is proper, and hopefully this suggestion will be accepted [there is no need to say the source of the suggestion; let someone else say it and present it as their suggestion, as long as it is accepted], that they should choose yungeleit from the Kollelim and bochurim from the Yeshivos. Those for whom "fear of Heaven is their treasure," and who study in a way of "bringing theoretical study to practical halacha," and since they are yerei shamayim (God-fearing), even when a deep sevara (logical reasoning) comes to their mind - nevertheless they will rule in practice according to what is written in Shulchan Aruch.