Musmach
/ˈmʊz.mɑːx/noun
A person who has received rabbinical ordination or authorization, especially in Jewish religious usage.
Did you know?Musmach comes from the same Hebrew root associated with semikhah, the ritual and legal act of conferring authority through rabbinical ordination.
Etymological Timeline
Biblical Hebrew
Hebrew
סמך (s-m-kh)
“To support, lean upon, lay hands on, or authorize”
Late Biblical Hebrew
Hebrew
סָמַךְ (sāmakh)
“He supported, appointed, or authorized”
Rabbinic Hebrew
Hebrew
סְמִיכָה (semikhah)
“Ordination or the conferral of authority, traditionally associated with laying on of hands”
Medieval Hebrew
Hebrew
מוּסְמָךְ (musmākh)
“Authorized, certified, or ordained; literally one who has been empowered”
Modern Jewish English
English
musmach
“A rabbinical ordinand or person granted religious authorization”