semikah

noun

se·​mi·​kah

variants or semicha or less commonly semichah

səˈmiḵə

plural semikahs or semikoth

-ˌḵōt(h),

-ōs

or semichas

-ḵəz

or semichoth

-ˌḵōt(h),

-ōs

: rabbinical ordination : the traditional rabbinical degree conferred by Orthodox rabbis

Word History

Etymology

Late Hebrew sĕmīkhāh, from Hebrew, laying on of hands, leaning on, from sĕmōkh to lean on

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