This is a great topic because all the people ever who didn’t get smicha were equally accomplished in Torah and all didn’t get smicha for the same reason and all had the same position although it’s not clear from the earlier posters whether it was in klei kodesh or not. It goes without saying that all the people who did get smicha are equally accomplished in Torah and all have the same occupation as spiritual authorities in which they are called upon to rely on their Torah knowledge regularly. That’s why it’s important that there be a rule that all people with smicha be referred to the same was as all other people with smicha, and all people without smicha be referred to the same way as all other people without smicha. Relatedly, if you follow the rules carefully, you will never make the tragic error of calling someone “rabbi” who didn’t deserve it.
Menu