S'micha
/หsmษชxษ/noun
A Jewish rabbinic ordination or authorization to serve as a religious teacher or legal authority.
Did you know?The practice echoes the biblical scene in which Moses lays his hands on Joshua, symbolically transmitting leadership and authority.
Etymological Timeline
Biblical Hebrew
Hebrew
ืกืื (s-m-kh)
โTo support, lean upon, or place a hand uponโ
Second Temple Period
Hebrew
ืกืืืื (semikhah)
โThe laying on of hands as a symbolic act of authorizationโ
Mishnaic Hebrew
Hebrew
ืกืืืื (semikhah)
โOrdination or transmission of judicial and teaching authorityโ
Medieval Jewish Communities
Hebrew
ืกืืืื (semikhah)
โRabbinic authorization, especially the granting of legal authorityโ
Modern English
English
s'micha
โA loanword for Jewish rabbinic ordination or credentialingโ