In a issue regarding whether a Kohen gadol can stay married to an arusah - one time it usees the language of Chachamin and in another place in a Aicha d'amrei - it uses the term Rabbanim - is there a difference between the two terms or are they used interchangeably
Zvi Gardenswartz, Passaic, NJ USA
I think you are referring to the Gemara on 60a concerning the dispute between Rebbi Eliezer ben Yakov and Chachamim. Actually, that dispute is not about whether the Kohen Gadol may stay married to an Arusah, but rather about the status of a son born from the Kohen Gadol's marriage to a woman who had been raped("Anusah") or seduced by somebody else. Rebbi Eliezer ben Yakov maintains that the son is a Chalal and is disqualified from Kehunah. The Chachamim maintain that the son is a valid Kohen.
When the Gemara, in the Ika d'Amrei, uses the phrase "Rabanan," it is identical to the "Chachamim" mentioned earlier. The Gemara often uses the words "Chachamim" and "Rabanan" interchangably.
Kol Tuv,
Dovid Bloom