The Chief Rabbinate of Israel Council has recently discussed reinstating the ‘Gadol BaTorah’ program, which permits granting semicha to talmidei chachamim without their having to take the required exams, which total 12 in number for regular Yoreh Yoreh semicha. This was implemented as an act of kovod to talmidei chachamim, who clearly are not in need of exams to realize the extent of their knowledge of Torah and Halacha.
According to a Arutz-7 report, the program was halted as a result of petitions to the High Court which expressed fears of “nepotism, bribery and cronyism”. Chief Rabbinate legal advisor Harel Goldberg is strongly advising against the move. For the time being, all candidates for semicha are required to take written exams as oral exams are no longer accepted for Chief Rabbinate semicha.
(YWN – Israel Desk, Jerusalem)
Join the official YWN WhatsApp status
2 Responses
Somebody who is a true gadol – his torah will speak for itself and people will come to recognize him as such no matter what his job title.
However when we are talking government jobs why shouldn’t there be tests? Is it such an insult to have to prove you are qualified for the position when seeking a job? L’havdil the garbage truck driver needs to show he’s got the proper type of license before they let him get behind the wheel of the truck – we can’t just go based off of personal recommendations that he’s a really great driver. Maybe I’m just ignorant but this whole protect their kavod thing sounds like a bit of a weak argument to me. If anyone is such an obvious talmid chacham that it would be an insult to his kavod to even suggest he take a test to get the job then why isn’t he already a rosh yeshiva somewhere?
real gedolim do not need formal semicha; supporters, relatives and shysters are a different story.
do you know where or from whom RAK, RMF, the Rav or RMMS all zichron taddikim leverocha got semicha?? and do you care???