Israel's Chief Rabbinate held a ceremony on Thursday at the Yeshurun synagogue in Jerusalem where 382 recipients were issued a “Yoreh Yoreh” semikhah (ordination) certificate, which is equivalent to an undergraduate degree.
Rabbi Yitzhak Yosef, the Sephardic Chief Rabbi of Israel also known as the Rishon LeZion, welcomed the new rabbis: "May you be privileged to teach the Torah in Israel and increase its glory."
Ashkenazic Chief Rabbi David Lau added, "I welcome the fact that other rabbis join in teaching the people of Israel. I congratulate the recipients of the certificates who will merit the genuine intent of the Torah and the depths of its law and may a blessing of heaven be upon you."
As part of the “Yoreh Yoreh" ordination, the rabbis demonstrated knowledge on matters of religious law as it pertains to daily life such as kashrut (dietary laws), nidda (menstrual impurity), mikveh (ritual bath), matrimony, and permissible or forbidden activities on Shabbat or Yom Tov (Jewish holidays) to name a few.
It takes an average of five years to receive semikhah.