QUESTION:
1) What is the source of the Rav’s words that the “inner definition” of a Talmid Chochom (Torah scholar) is someone who lives his knowledge?
ANSWER:
Sefer HaPeliah says that whenever the word Chochom (wise person) is mentioned in Chazal, it refers to one who knows secrets, who knows the meaning of the mitzvos and what their benefit is and what they hint to. From this we can learn that even if one knows Sifra, Sifrei, Tosefta, all of the Talmud, he is not called a Chochom. The Sefer HaKaneh says that if one learned all of the above, one is still called an ignoramus, because a wise person (Chochom) is only one whose soul is bound with the soul of the Torah.
QUESTION
2) What about a Talmid Chochom who does not live his knowledge? Does he have the halachic status of a Talmid Chochom or is he regarded as a Talmid Chochom who has no de’ah (mature knowledge)?
ANSWER
Halachically he has the status of a Talmid Chochom, as explained in the Poskim.
QUESTION
3) How can a Talmid Chochom live his knowledge? It’s understandable that knowledge of mussar and middos has to be lived and not just known, but why would a Talmid Chochom have to live by his knowledge of how well he understands two people grabbing hold of a garment and the concept of ownership, etc.?
ANSWER
It means that his soul is bound with the soul of the Torah.
QUESTION
4) What is the meaning of a Talmid Chochom who has no daas?
ANSWER
The Gra (Mishlei 13:16) says, “A Torah scholar who has no de’ah (daas) will act according to his initial judgment.”
QUESTION
5) What about all the Talmidei Chachomim today who didn’t hear the shiurim of the Rav on how to utilize the power of daas and they don’t recognize the soul’s abilities well – do they only have external knowledge and they are not genuine Talmidei Chachomim?
ANSWER
It depends if his soul is connected with the soul of the Torah (as explained in the previous answer).
QUESTION
6) And what about those who didn’t hear the Rav’s shiurim on Nefesh HaChaim (IV) on what it means to be a Talmid Chochom and how to connect to the Torah?
ANSWER
Same answer as 5.
QUESTION
7) If a Talmid Chochom doesn’t recognize the powers of the soul and he doesn’t know himself well, is he a Talmid Chochom and it’s just that he lacks shleimus (self-perfection) or is it that he’s not a Talmid Chochom because he doesn’t recognize his soul and therefore he doesn’t have a quality connection to the Torah?
ANSWER
He is just missing shleimus.
QUESTION
2) What about a Talmid Chochom who does not live his knowledge? Does he have the halachic status of a Talmid Chochom or is he regarded as a Talmid Chochom who has no de’ah (mature knowledge)?
ANSWER
Halachically he has the status of a Talmid Chochom, as explained in the Poskim.
QUESTION
3) How can a Talmid Chochom live his knowledge? It’s understandable that knowledge of mussar and middos has to be lived and not just known, but why would a Talmid Chochom have to live by his knowledge of how well he understands two people grabbing hold of a garment and the concept of ownership, etc.?
ANSWER
It means that his soul is bound with the soul of the Torah.
QUESTION
4) What is the meaning of a Talmid Chochom who has no daas?
ANSWER
The Gra (Mishlei 13:16) says, “A Torah scholar who has no de’ah (daas) will act according to his initial judgment.”
QUESTION
5) What about all the Talmidei Chachomim today who didn’t hear the shiurim of the Rav on how to utilize the power of daas and they don’t recognize the soul’s abilities well – do they only have external knowledge and they are not genuine Talmidei Chachomim?
ANSWER
It depends if his soul is connected with the soul of the Torah (as explained in the previous answer).
QUESTION
6) And what about those who didn’t hear the Rav’s shiurim on Nefesh HaChaim (IV) on what it means to be a Talmid Chochom and how to connect to the Torah?
ANSWER
Same answer as 5.
QUESTION
7) If a Talmid Chochom doesn’t recognize the powers of the soul and he doesn’t know himself well, is he a Talmid Chochom and it’s just that he lacks shleimus (self-perfection) or is it that he’s not a Talmid Chochom because he doesn’t recognize his soul and therefore he doesn’t have a quality connection to the Torah?
ANSWER
He is just missing shleimus.
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