Ordination and Appointment in the Period of the Temple

Abstract

A well-known statement of R. Abba in the Yerushalmi (Jerusalem Talmud) attributes the historical origins of ordination — or, to be more precise, of “appointment” — to R. Johanan b. Zakkai. In contrast, however, the Babli (Babylonian Talmud) bases ordination on the biblical verse: “And (Moses) laid his hands on him (Joshua)” (Num. 27:23), thus recognising Moses as the founder of the institution. Borenstein rejects the Babylonian tradition completely, as does Newman, although the latter suggests somewhat vaguely that some kind of ordination may have existed prior to R. Johanan b. Zakkai. Gulak also maintains that ordination did not go further back than R. Johanan b. Zakkai on the grounds that during the period of the Temple the appointment of urban judges was in the hands of the High Court.