Editing Smicha (section)

== Semicha in Chabad ==
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.