- All the Questions
What’s Special About Great Rabbis?
Question
What’s so special about great rabbis that I should respect or listen to them?
Answer
Shalom Yitz,
We Jews are naturally skeptical (“stiff-necked”), so that when you do find someone who is genuinely respected in learning and ethics by those who know them personally, it is extremely well-deserved. In the yeshiva world, there is no room, nor tolerance, for fakers. Scholars scorn and simply won’t attend the lessons of somebody unqualified, who received a position through “protekzia” or Public Relations. Everybody in your yeshiva knows you up close for years, and slowly but surely, only those “naturally selected”, are asked to teach, the more capable eventually rising to become the prominent and historical figures. Their every lecture, action, and responsa are constantly scrutinized and questioned by tens, then hundreds, and then thousands, and only the truly great “make it”.
How much more so this was the case in previous generations, when all of the Jewish Einsteins were not Nobel Prize laureates and chessmasters, but rather directed to the yeshiva and dedicated their genius to Torah, which was the true dream among Jews. Generally, they would be wed to the daughters of other great rabbis, and the greatness inevitably “multiplied”. Many in recent generations, like Rav Kook, Rav Shlomo Zalman Auerbach and Rav Aryeh Levin, we know were easily accessible and their righteousness transparent to all, as seen in their documented biographies. Others, like the Rambam, Rabbenu Tam and Ramchal, their virtues are clear to anyone who learns their works in depth. In short, check out the real g’dolim for yourself and you’ll see.
With Love of Israel,
Rav Ari Shvat

Having more kids
Rabbi Jonathan Blass | 27 Sivan 5763

The Meaning of the Abbreviation "Shlita"
Various Rabbis | 25 Tammuz 5765

eastern religions
Rabbi Ari Shvat | Adar II 6, 5782

Bracha on water
Rabbi Elchanan Lewis | Cheshvan 16, 5769

Rabbi Ari Shvat
Lectures at various yeshivot, michlalot and midrashot. Has published many books & Torani articles and is in charge of Rav Kook’s archives.

Goyim at Shul/hashkafah of Shul
Adar II 1, 5771

Bircat baalat habayit 2
Adar I 23, 5771

Kri u'ktiv
Adar II 25, 5771

Writing a Torah Scroll in English
Adar II 25, 5771

’Bein Ha’arbayim’
Rabbi Chaim Tabasky | 12 Av 5764

Bracha on hydroponic vegetables
Rabbi David Sperling | Cheshvan 2, 5780

Not Having Motivation to Pray
Rabbi Ari Shvat | Kislev 4, 5781

Minimum Shacharis
Rabbi David Sperling | Adar 25, 5781

How can someone change their community?
Rabbi David Sperling | Shevat 11, 5783

Talmud
Rabbi Ari Shvat | Shevat 4, 5783

Dairy mug and meat sponge
Rabbi Yoel Lieberman | Shevat 10, 5783
