A Rabbi who received smicha from the Lubavitcher Rebbe verbally had given me smicha verbally as well but nothing is in writing. The Rabbi has since died. Does the smicha have to be in writing?
Answer:
For which purposes?
Semicha today is a “certificate” of sorts that attests to a person’s qualification as a rabbi.
If you were given semicha by a rabbi, he “certifies” that you are fit to serve as a rabbi yourself. This is done in writing so that the document can be shown to those who need to know this.
Best wishes.
