The distinguished personalities (the outstanding personalities) of their generation/ geniuses

The greatest men in Torah are those of their generation.

(“The Rabbis taught: A person should always sell all that he has and marry the daughter of a Torah scholar. If he cannot find the daughter of a Torah scholar, he should marry the daughter of the great people of the generation. If he cannot find her, he should marry the daughter of synagogue leaders. If he cannot find her, he should marry the daughter of charity administrators. If he cannot find her, he should marry the daughter of teachers of children. And he should not marry the daughters of the common people, for they are repulsive, and of their women it is said: ‘Cursed is he who lies with any beast.’” (Pesachim 49b) “And if so, great ones of the generation and the pillars of the world—Moses, Elijah, Isaiah, and the ministering angels—when they spoke regarding the community of Israel even a few words, and everything so minor in the world, their tongue was permitted… and they were called sinners… what then shall be the punishment?” (Maimonides, Letter on the Sabbatean Heresy, early translation, 397) “For with Shabbetai Tzvi, may his name be erased, there were several great ones of the generation and extraordinary scholars whom he misled as is widely known.” (Rabbi Nachman of Breslov, Likutey Moharan, Torah 67) “And through this, the sword of pride is taken from the leaders of the generation, who exalt themselves over the generation in vain… and they even have the power to punish anyone who does not wish to submit under their rule… they increase the lust for immorality in the world.” (Rabbi Nachman of Breslov, Likutey Moharan, Torah 5) “And agitators arose from the congregation and sent letters to all the great ones of the generation regarding those slaughterers who do not believe in their law and say that he corrupts, forbids, and removes from the grip of validity every proper thing.” (S. Y. Agnon, Yesterday and the Day Before, 241))

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