Bogen
Member
cantor,
A good definition of a Godol is someone who other Rabbonim, cross-denominational (within Orthodoxy), seek guidance and responsa from. i.e. Rav Eliyashiv, The Skulener Rebbe, and the Babi Sali (to pick 3 names) all did all of this for Jews of Sefardic, Chasidic, and Litvish (to pick 3 denominations) persuasion (meaning all of the 3 Rabbinical examples were sought by all of the 3 denominational examples). The names you mentioned did not. i.e. Rav Schachter is a big talmid chochom, but his halachic decisions is not generally sought as binding guidance outside of YU/MO circles. (Some of the other names you mentioned, were even more pronounced in this regard.)
And Rav Svei is sought after cross-denominationaly (as much as YU may not like this). So he would certainly fall into this category.
Posted 11 hours ago #
_______________________________________________________________________________________
The definition you supply is unworkable since issues of hashkafa influence who people ask. Due to differences in hashkafa the mroe right wing branches of Orthodoxy refuse to recognize those on the left, their scholarship, wisdom. Yirat Shamayim and moddot notwithstanding. Since the chareidi element would never seek out a R. Herschel Schachter or a R. Aaron Lichtenstein (for example) for advice, they can never meet your requirement of cross denonminational respect to qualify as gedolim. The left wing of Orthodoxy, is generally far more respectful of the right wing. Giving this matter considerable thought over the past few days, and in light of complication desribed here, I cannot arrive at a rational test for determining who is a gadol. It’s all way too subjective.