In Jewish law, a shaliaḥ (, ; pl., sheliḥim or sheliah, literally "emissary" or "messenger") is a legal agent. In practice, "the shaliaḥ for a person is as this person himself." Accordingly, a shaliaḥ performs an act of legal significance for the benefit of the sender, as opposed to him or herself. The term, in contemporary usage, has come to refer more generally to a representative or emissary.

Terminology

The legal agent is referred to by the terms (shaliach) and (shaluach), both of which mean "one who is sent". The person whom the agent is representing is known as the meshaleach or as the sholeach, both of which mean "one who is sending". The concept of agency overall or the status of being a shaliach is known as shlichut.

Biblical sources

The term does not occur in the Bible as a noun, though the verb lishloach ("to send") is frequently used to describe sending a messenger or agent. The first shaliaḥ inferred in the Bible is the servant in Genesis 24 who was sent by Abraham to find a wife for Isaac (according to the rabbis, this servant was named Eliezer).

In halakha

The Talmud learns from that any Jewish male or female may appoint an agent, as can servants and maidservants working under a Jew's care. A shaliaḥ however, may only be appointed for a mitzvah or other halakhic Jewish legal affairs that he or she is obligated in. Mitzvot that are performed on one's own body, such as wearing tefillin, cannot be performed on one's own behalf by a shaliah. Many of the halakhic Jewish legal affairs that may be performed through a shaliah: