Dear Reuven,

That is a good question. There is a lot said about how we should treat Talmidei Chachamim but very little said about the definition of one. For instance in the Sefer haChinuch (Mitzvah 257 - Kibud Chachamim) he gives no definition of a Chacham. We must also keep in mind that the definition of Talmid Chacham/Chacham can change depending on what Din we are talking about. For example the definiton of a T"C regarding the obligation to pay him (Litra d'Dahava) for embarassing him is more exacting than that regarding the exemption to pay taxes.

The Rem"a in Yoreh De'ah (243:2) gives us a practical definition of a T"C (regarding exemption from taxes and public service). He says it is one who is considered in his generation to be a T"C - he is considered to know how to debate Torah topics and to know most of the Talmud and the Poskim - and that his primary occupation is learning. The Sha"ch concurs with this definition, emphasizing that the definition is relative - even if he is only considered a Talmid Chacham in his town but not in a majory center of learning. The Vilna Gaon in his commentary boils the definition down to just one requirement - that he learns regularly (it is interesting that the Vilna Gaon himself says that today we do not have anyone that qualifies as a Zaken Muflag b'Chachmah - a Talmid Chacham who is outstanding in wisdom - a humbling thought coming from the Vilna Gaon). The Sha"ch (Y"D 334:68) says that a Chacham (that someone would be placed in Cherem for humiliating) is someone who is fit for Hora'ah and toils in Torah study.

Kol Tuv,

Yonasan Sigler

This is not a Psak Halachah