Talmid Chakham

Talmid Chakham (Hebrew: תלמיד חכם) is an honorific title that is given to a man who is well-versed in Jewish law, i.e., a Torah scholar. Originally Hebrew: תלמיד חכמים Talmid Chakhamim, lit., "student of sages", pl. תלמידי חכמים talmidei chakhamim, "students of sages"; inaccurate reconstruction of the singular, which is invariably shortened to ת"ח in printings, led to modern Hebrew: תלמיד חכם talmid chakham "sage student". The feminine equivalent is Talmidat Chakhamim, "student of sages" (pl. Talmidot Chakhamim), or, by extension of the same error, Talmidah Chakhamah, "sage student" (pl. Talmidot Chakhamot).

Expectations

A Talmid Chakham must avoid six acts: to go abroad in perfumed garments; to walk alone at night; to wear shabby shoes; to converse with a woman while on the street (even if she is his wife); to sit in the society of an ignoramus; to be the last to enter the beth midrash.

With regard to association with an ignoramus, the Talmud says: "The Talmid Chakham is first likened by the ignoramus to a vase of gold; if he converses with him, he is looked on as a vase of silver; and if he accepts a service from him, he is regarded as a vase of earth." Among the privileges of the Talmid Chakham 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 Chakham was expected to be familiar with all branches of Torah study and even all branches of general human learning. "He who understands astronomy", says Yochanan bar Nafcha, "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).