Q&A: Was the Divrei Chaim a Torah scholar?
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Was the Divrei Chaim a Torah scholar?
Question
There are some rebbes throughout the generations about whom the Hasidim say that they were extraordinarily great Torah scholars ("beyond anything we can grasp," as Hasidim put it). Among them is the Rabbi of Sanz, the author of Divrei Chaim. My question is whether the Rabbi is familiar with his books, his halakhic rulings, and so on, and whether you see in him exceptional brilliance.
And which Hasidic rebbes would you also agree were Torah scholars? (The author of the Tanya, the Chiddushei HaRim, the Avnei Nezer?)
Answer
Clearly there were also Torah scholars among the rebbes. The extravagant praise should not be taken too seriously. That is the Hasidic way. I am not sufficiently familiar to offer my own opinion.