In the Hebrew Bible, semicha (literally "leaning") refers to the priest's placing of his hands before the offering of a korban (animal sacrifice) in the Temple in Jerusalem.
"[1] According to Jewish tradition, the first dispute in Israel concerned whether or not it was permissible to lay hands upon one's sacrificial animal by applying one's full body weight on a Festival Day.
The results of this discussion are highly relevant to other commandments which are required for men and optional for women, such as lulav and shofar.
Some rabbinical authorities interpreted "semikah" as meaning that the sacrificer, by laying his hands upon the animal, transferred his sins to it and imposed upon it the punishment which his conduct had merited.
[9] This meaning fits well in regard to the Yom Kippur sin-offering of Leviticus 16:21, but less reasonable as an explanation of other sacrifices, particularly those not related to sins.