Kikar is reporting on an interesting psak issued by Rav Bentzion Kook, Rosh Beis Horaah in Jerusalem and rav in Petach Tikva.
Rav Kook was asked about the status of Rav Dov Landau, one of the candidates to be the next gadol hador now that Rav Edelstein has passed. The question was posed because Rav Landau just left on a trip to the USA for a chizuk campaign visiting different communities, and the question posed was how to relate to him upon arrival at each location. The question asked was if upon seeing Rav Landau one should state the bracha "שחלק לחכמתו ליראיו" - a bracha which is said upon seeing a great talmid chochom.
Rav Kook responded with some uncertainty saying surely Rav Landau is great enough for the bracha to be said about him. However, Rav Kook said when he himself went for an audience with Rav Landau he did not say the bracha because when people would say it about Rav Elyashiv and he was aware of it, he would immediately tell them to qualify it with a "baruch kvod shem malchuto l'olam va'ed". Basically, if Rav Elyashiv thought he himself wasnt worthy of it 100%, maybe Rav Landau isnt either.
I wonder though, why is this question only relevant now that Rav Landau might be the replacement for Rav Edelstein as gadol hador and the person the politicians ask their questions to? If he was a great talmid chochom yesterday and nobody said it for him, what changed today? And if he is great enough today for it to be said about him, why wasnt it said yesterday? Can the bracha only be said for one person in the generation, and now that Rav Edelstein passed that mantle goes to Rav Landau? Can it not be said about any other great talmid chochom?
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