Today the title Gaon is loosely bandied about by ad writers and journalists
Even a cursory perusal of the religious Hebrew press these days could lead to the conclusion that we are living in a dor dei’ah,
a rare generation of Torah scholars. Search this media for the classic appellation “Harav,” and you will find nothing, for no one is called simply “Harav” any more. These days, that honorific requires an adjective, like Harav Hagaon. Reading the various columns, ads, and announcements, one is struck by how many tzaddikim and geonim amitiim and geonim tzaddikim we have in this generation. Has there ever been a generation like ours where there is such a proliferation of geonim and tzaddikim? Ours is either the most learned generation in Jewish history, or the most hyperbolic.
“Gaon” was once a rare sobriquet bestowed by common acclaim on a chosen few in every generation. The title was reserved for that rare individual who knew all of Torah, Talmud, codes, and commentaries at his fingertips, who was literally a walking repository of Torah scholarship, and a living embodiment of personal holiness and sanctity. The Vilna Gaon, who is considered to be on the level of Maimonides, comes to mind, as do the Rogatchover Gaon, Saadia Gaon, and Rav Hai Gaon.
Today, however, the title Gaon is loosely bandied about by ad writers and journalists.
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