Talmid Chacham
Encyclopedia
Talmid Chacham is an honorific title given to one well versed in Jewish law, in effect, a Torah
scholar.
Prizing Torah knowledge above all worldly goods, Talmidei Chachamim in Jewish
society were afforded many privileges and prerogatives as well as duties. To the Jews, lineage, riches, and other advantages are nothing in comparison with learning. In the Middle Ages
the Talmid Chacham was consulted by the Jewish community not only in spiritual matters, but also in worldly affairs. Even when he held no official position in the community, he supervised religious activities, determined the time and form of prayers
, verified weights and measures, etc. To enable him to devote himself entirely to study, Jewish legislation exempted him from the payment of taxes and from performing any specific duties.
A Talmid Chacham is expected to uphold his rank and not to compromise his dignity. As in the case of a king, he is not permitted to allow any one to omit the performance of any public act of reverence due to him, to the effect that the Talmid Chacham acts as a facilitator, because in him the Halakha is honored or slighted. There are, according to the Talmud
, six acts a Talmid Chacham must avoid:
With regard to association with an ignoramus, the Talmud says: "The Talmid Chacham is first likened by the ignoramus to a vase of gold; if he converses with him, he is looked upon as a vase of silver; and if he accepts a service from him, he is regarded as a vase of earth" (Talmud
, tr. Sanhedrin
). Among the privileges of the Talmid Chacham is the right of declining to present himself as a witness in suits concerning money transactions before a judge who is his inferior in knowledge.
The Talmid Chacham was expected to be familiar with all branches of Torah study, and even all branches of general human learning. "He who understands astronomy
," says Rabbi Yochanan
, "and does not pursue the study of it, of that man it is written: 'But they regard not the work of the Lord, neither consider the operation of His hands'" (Isaiah
). Rabbi Yochanan also says that only someone able to answer all Halakhic questions, even those which deal only with the insignificant treatise Kallah
, is a Talmid Chacham worthy to be appointed leader of a community (Talmud
, tr. Shabbat
). In accordance with this view, some later rabbinical authorities assert that in modern times no one deserves to be called by this epithet.
The principles with which the Talmid Chacham must live are enumerated in the first chapter of the work Derekh Eretz Zutta
, opening with the following sentence: "The way of the wise is to be modest, humble, alert, and intelligent; to endure injustice; to make himself beloved of men; to be gracious in his interactions even with subordinates; to avoid wrong-doing; to judge each man according to his deeds; to act according to the motto 'I take no pleasure in the good things of this world, seeing that life here below is not my portion.' Wrapped in his mantle, he sits at the feet of the wise; no one can detect anything unseemly in him; he puts relevant questions, and gives suitable answers."
Torah
Torah- A scroll containing the first five books of the BibleThe Torah , is name given by Jews to the first five books of the bible—Genesis , Exodus , Leviticus , Numbers and Deuteronomy Torah- A scroll containing the first five books of the BibleThe Torah , is name given by Jews to the first five...
scholar.
Prizing Torah knowledge above all worldly goods, Talmidei Chachamim in Jewish
Judaism
Judaism ) is the "religion, philosophy, and way of life" of the Jewish people...
society were afforded many privileges and prerogatives as well as duties. To the Jews, lineage, riches, and other advantages are nothing in comparison with learning. In the Middle Ages
Middle Ages
The Middle Ages is a periodization of European history from the 5th century to the 15th century. The Middle Ages follows the fall of the Western Roman Empire in 476 and precedes the Early Modern Era. It is the middle period of a three-period division of Western history: Classic, Medieval and Modern...
the Talmid Chacham was consulted by the Jewish community not only in spiritual matters, but also in worldly affairs. Even when he held no official position in the community, he supervised religious activities, determined the time and form of prayers
Jewish services
Jewish prayer are the prayer recitations that form part of the observance of Judaism. These prayers, often with instructions and commentary, are found in the siddur, the traditional Jewish prayer book....
, verified weights and measures, etc. To enable him to devote himself entirely to study, Jewish legislation exempted him from the payment of taxes and from performing any specific duties.
A Talmid Chacham is expected to uphold his rank and not to compromise his dignity. As in the case of a king, he is not permitted to allow any one to omit the performance of any public act of reverence due to him, to the effect that the Talmid Chacham acts as a facilitator, because in him the Halakha is honored or slighted. There are, according to the Talmud
Talmud
The Talmud is a central text of mainstream Judaism. It takes the form of a record of rabbinic discussions pertaining to Jewish law, ethics, philosophy, customs and history....
, six acts a Talmid Chacham must avoid:
- to go abroad in perfumed garments;
- to walk alone at night;
- to wear shabby shoes;
- to converse with a woman in the street, even if she is his wife;
- to sit in the society of an ignoramus;
- to be the last to enter the beth midrashBeth midrashBeth Midrash refers to a study hall, whether in a synagogue, yeshiva, kollel, or other building. It is distinct from a synagogue, although many synagogues are also used as batei midrash and vice versa....
.
With regard to association with an ignoramus, the Talmud says: "The Talmid Chacham is first likened by the ignoramus to a vase of gold; if he converses with him, he is looked upon as a vase of silver; and if he accepts a service from him, he is regarded as a vase of earth" (Talmud
Talmud
The Talmud is a central text of mainstream Judaism. It takes the form of a record of rabbinic discussions pertaining to Jewish law, ethics, philosophy, customs and history....
, tr. Sanhedrin
Sanhedrin (Talmud)
Sanhedrin is one of ten tractates of Seder Nezikin . It originally formed one tractate with Makkot, which also deals with criminal law...
). Among the privileges of the Talmid Chacham is the right of declining to present himself as a witness in suits concerning money transactions before a judge who is his inferior in knowledge.
The Talmid Chacham was expected to be familiar with all branches of Torah study, and even all branches of general human learning. "He who understands astronomy
Astronomy
Astronomy is a natural science that deals with the study of celestial objects and phenomena that originate outside the atmosphere of Earth...
," says Rabbi Yochanan
Yochanan bar Nafcha
Rabbi Yochanan ;...
, "and does not pursue the study of it, of that man it is written: 'But they regard not the work of the Lord, neither consider the operation of His hands'" (Isaiah
Book of Isaiah
The Book of Isaiah is the first of the Latter Prophets in the Hebrew Bible, preceding the books of Ezekiel, Jeremiah and the Book of the Twelve...
). Rabbi Yochanan also says that only someone able to answer all Halakhic questions, even those which deal only with the insignificant treatise Kallah
Kallah
Yarchei Kallah is the name of a teachers' convention that was held twice a year in Babylonian Academies, by the Jews then in captivity in Bablon, after the beginning of the amoraic period, in the two months Adar and Elul...
, is a Talmid Chacham worthy to be appointed leader of a community (Talmud
Talmud
The Talmud is a central text of mainstream Judaism. It takes the form of a record of rabbinic discussions pertaining to Jewish law, ethics, philosophy, customs and history....
, tr. Shabbat
Shabbat (Talmud)
Shabbat is first tractate in the Order of Moed, of the Mishnah and Talmud. The tractate consists of 24 chapters.The tractate primarily deals with laws relating to Shabbat , and the activities prohibited on Shabbat and distinguishes between Biblical prohibitions and Rabbinic prohibitions...
). In accordance with this view, some later rabbinical authorities assert that in modern times no one deserves to be called by this epithet.
The principles with which the Talmid Chacham must live are enumerated in the first chapter of the work Derekh Eretz Zutta
Derekh Eretz Zutta
Derekh Eretz Zutta is a non-canonical tractate of the Babylonian Talmud. The name is misleading in more than one respect; the word "zuṭa" would seem to indicate that it is a shorter version of the treatise "Derek Ereẓ Rabbah," which is not the case, the two having little in common...
, opening with the following sentence: "The way of the wise is to be modest, humble, alert, and intelligent; to endure injustice; to make himself beloved of men; to be gracious in his interactions even with subordinates; to avoid wrong-doing; to judge each man according to his deeds; to act according to the motto 'I take no pleasure in the good things of this world, seeing that life here below is not my portion.' Wrapped in his mantle, he sits at the feet of the wise; no one can detect anything unseemly in him; he puts relevant questions, and gives suitable answers."