alex lebovits asked:
Many of our Gedolim were of short stature-would they have been excluded from giving Mussar to the people in times of Tzoros?
Kol Tuv
alex lebovits , Toronto, Canada
The Kollel replies:
I guess you are referring to the Beraisa in Ta'anis 16a (not R.H. 16b). Please be careful to quote accurately in future, to save us time.
Clearly, the Tana lists the priorities as 1. Zakein + Chacham, 2. Chacham and 3. Adam shel Tzurah. It is only when there is no Zakein or Chacham that the latter is necessary, to make up for the deficiency in spiritual qualifications. Someone who has the former does not need the latter, as is evident from the Beraisa itself.
be'Virchas Kol Tuv,
Eliezer Chrysler