Editing Smicha (section)

[[File:סמיכה770.jpg|thumb|Rabbi Shneur Zalman Lebkowski Signs on Semicha Certificates of [[Central Yeshivas Tomchei Tmimim - 770|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.
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