You wrote in your "Background" page, regarding the question of the mule's father,

>>This was part of the attempt to persuade Rabah to move to Eretz Yisrael. His brothers pointed out that he can only receive Semichah if he comes to Eretz Yisrael (Sanhedrin 5a). They continued, "If you think that it will not help you receive Semichah since you are among the descendants of Eli ha'Kohen (Rosh Hashanah 18a), who was cursed that his children will never receive Semichah (Sanhedrin 14a), do not despair. Many Tana'im ruled that we do not follow the lineage of the father (alone) in these matters, and therefore since your mother is not a descendant of Eli ha'Kohen you may merit to receive a Semichah after all - RABEINU CHANANEL, cited by SEFER YUCHASIN, Ma'amar ha'Sheni<<

-But it would seem that Rabah's brothers themselves did not receive smicha, otherwise that would have been the best proof? If they didn't - and presumably they were important rabbanim too, what kind of Ra'aya is this to their brother?

Tuvya Marcus, jerusalem, israel