More Discussions for this daf
1. Kedushah 2. Women wearing Tefilin 3. Baal Keri learning Torah
4. Tosfos DH Shev 5. Time to eat vs. Time to Bentch 6. Question on Rashi regarding Kavod ha'Briyos
7. Children and Mezuzahs 8. Chiyuv d'Rabanan Being Motzi a Chiyuv d'Oraisa 9. Tum'ah of Zera
10. Talmid Chacham 11. Rav Ada bar Ahavah's zealousness 12. Bentching/Shochad
13. Ba'al Keri Meharher 14. First Tosafos on Amud Bais 15. Mitzvos Lo Sa'asei she'ha'Zman Grama
16. Rav Yochanan by the Mikva 17. Chinuch for Tefillah 18. Tosfos Divrei Hamaschil Ba'al Keri
19. Women and Tefilin 20. Problems with the Kal v'Chomer 21. Mezuzah
DAF DISCUSSIONS - BERACHOS 20

reuven asks:

We often see that we have to treat the Talmucd Chochom with greater respect etc

What are the requirements to be a Talmuch Chochom? How can I tell whether someone else is a Talmud Chochom Thank You!

reuven, Israel

The Kollel replies:

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