Neville:
“I imagine your friend refused to grow a beard anyway (assuming that story is actually true)?”
1. He did not grow a beard.
2.The story is true — and not so unbelievable. He actually told him that he should have beard, peyot and wear long sleeves. Maybe the “Rabbi” was kidding — I wasnt there. I heard it first hand.
“I’m not sure what place the MO has in this discussion. If the words of rabbonim are meaningless to you unless you like what they’re saying then you have no stake in the concept of “gadol hador.””
Come on. I like you and your posting. A little disappointed with this. Nonetheless…who said the words of rabbonim are meaningless to me? Did I? (I admittedly have a problem with the expansion of “Daas Torah” which of course, is an old, (too) much written about topic). I speak with my Rov all the time and seek out his input. Why not? He is a smart person. I know him to have integrity and he knows me. I dont think that he expects me to “listen” to him in non Halachic matters — but i think his point of view is valuable.
What is the concept of Gadol Hador? That was my question? Is it the most learned person of the generation? Is it the halachic posek of the generation? Is it the most admired Rabbinic figure of the generation? As i said at the beginning of my post, “Gadol HaDor” is undefined. My point was that if there is to be ONE Gadol HaDor that person would have to have the ability to cut across lines. I posited that Rav Moshe and the Lubavitcher Rebbe seemed to have this ability.