Semikhah
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Semikhah is the traditional term for rabbinic ordination in Judaism.
Example semikhah certificate, Yadin Yadin, of Rabbi Aryeh Kaplan awarded by Rabbi Eliezer Yehuda Finkel. The wording, as is typical, states that the holder is learned in Shas (ש״ס) – i.e. has wide knowledge of Talmud – as well as in Rishonim and Acharonim – i.e. has deep knowledge of Halakha. The phrase "כל מן דין סמוכין לנא" is often included, and translates "anyone of this [caliber] may be ordained for us"; similarly often included is the phrase "הגיע להוראה" (
Beginning in October 2004, an attempt was made to re-establish a revived Sanhedrin, a national rabbinical court of Jewish law in Israel. The organization heading this attempt referred to itself as the
Semikhah
…again after several generations. Berab's attempt was the model for several other attempts to revive semikhah and reestablish the Sanhedrin, including one attempt in Israel in 2004. Chief Rabbinate of Israel § Semikhah…
Inauguration of the Sanhedrin in 2004
Sanhedrin in session, 2005