סְמִיכָה f. (סָמַךְ) 1) proximity, close neighborhood. Y. Kil. III, 28ᵈ bot. מה ביניהון ס׳ they differ as to planting (the gourd) near (the onions, without intervening space). —2) (= סמיכת יד, v. Lev. I, 4) putting hands upon the head of the sacrifice. Men. IX, 8 (93ᵃ) ס׳ שירי מצוה laying hands on the sacrifice is a dispensable act, v. שְׁיָיר. Ib. תכף לס׳ שחיטה the laying on of hands must immediately precede the slaughtering. Tosef. Ḥag. II, 8 על הס׳ [אלא] except on the question of laying hands &c. (on the Holy Days, v. Ḥag. II, 2). Tem. 16ᵃ top דופי של ס׳ the taint which attached to them on account of their disputes concerning the s’mikhah (on the Holy Days). Snh. I, 3 סְמִיכַת זקנים the laying on of hands by the elders (Lev. IV, 15); Tosef. ib. I, 1, v. next w. Y. ib. I, 19ᵃ bot., v. next w.; a. fr.—Pl. סְמִיכוֹת. Kidd. I, 8. Men. 88ᵃ, a. e. שתי ס׳ בצבור in two cases of communal offerings is laying on of hands required (Lev. l. c., a. XVI, 21) —3) laying hands on the scholar, in gen. ordination. Snh. 14ᵃ אין ס׳ בח"ל ordination cannot take place outside of Palestine. Ib. אלא ס׳ zaḳen (I Sam. II, 32) can only refer to ordination as an elder; a. fr.—Ib. 13ᵇ סְמִיכַת זקנים, v. next w.—4) leaning against, support. Keth. 111ᵃ sq. ישיבה שאין בה ס׳ sitting without a back to lean against; עמידה שאין בה ס׳ standing without something to lean against; a. e.—5) cripple’s cushion, v. סָמוֹכוֹת.—[Y. Yoma III, 40ᵇ bot., read: מְסִיכָּה.]