How is semichah currently performed, since laying on of hands is no longer practiced?
The Rambam explains that semichah today is performed by addressing the recipient with the title 'Rabbi' and stating 'You are ordained and you have authority to adjudicate cases involving penalties.'
Question 2
May semichah be conferred upon someone in the diaspora, even by judges who were themselves ordained in Eretz Yisrael?
Semichah may not be conferred in the diaspora under any circumstances. Both the ordaining judges and the recipients must be in Eretz Yisrael at the time of ordination.
Question 3
How many individuals can be ordained at one time by ordained judges?
Judges who hold semichah may ordain many individuals simultaneously — even 100. King David once ordained 30,000 on a single day.
Question 4
What is the halachic source for the Exilarch's authority?
The Rambam derives the Exilarch's authority from Genesis 49:10: 'The staff will not depart from Judah' — referring to the exilarchs of Babylon who maintained Davidic rule.
Question 5
Why may a scholar who is blind in one eye not receive full semichah for financial cases?
Semichah requires fitness to adjudicate all matters. Since a judge blind in one eye cannot preside over capital cases (which require examining the accused), he cannot receive full semichah.