Can Semikhah Be Renewed Today? A Survey of Halakha & History Semikhah, or rabbinic ordination, is the authority to adjudicate cases and answer questions of halakha. A beit din of smukhin can impose penalties and fines, and administer corporal and capital punishment.[1. See Sanhedrin 2a-3b; Sanhedrin 13b and Rashi, ad loc., s.v. l’meidan dinei k’nasot.] But today’s rabbis are not ...

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