Gadol
Gadol or godol (, plural: gedolim ) (literally "big" or "great" in Hebrew ) is used by religious Jews to refer to the most revered rabbis of the generation. Usage. The term gadol hador refers to the "great/est (one of) the generation" denoting one rabbi who is presumed to be even greater than the others. Other variations of the term are "Gadol Yisrael" or a "Gadol BeYisrael" (plural: Gedolei Yisrael), meaning "great one of the Jewish people". A similar title is "Rashkebahag", which is an acronym for ""Rabbon shel kol bnei hagolah"" (The sage and teacher of the entire Jewish diaspora ). Another term is "Manhig Yisroel" (plural: "Manhigei Yisroel"), literally "leader of Israel". The title "gadol hador" is usually only given to one Jewish Sage at a time, while the title ""Rashkebahag"" can be given to a few, and the term "Gedolei Yisrael" collectively refers to all leading rabbis in the Haredi community. The term is generally applied to rabbinic leaders since World War I. Major rabbis from earlier generations are known as Rishonim or Achronim. Role. Often, a "gadol" functions as a "rosh yeshiva" (the head of a yeshiva Talmudical school), and/or can be a Hasidic Rebbe. A "gadol" is  quite often also a "posek" (a decisor of Halakha - Jewish law) and may be the author of rabbinic literature and responsa. Adherents of Haredi Judaism often presume that a "gadol" has some degree of "ruach hakodesh" ("divine spirit"); the "gadol"'s teachings and statements therefore become the crux of Daas Torah. Rabbi Chaim Epstein has been quoted as saying: Related concepts. In Hebrew halachic texts, "gadol" is also used as a term for a Jewish boy who turns thirteen, and is viewed as an adult regarding to his obligation to practice the 613 commandments. This is the age of Bar  Mitzvah. When a Jewish girl reaches the age of twelve, according to Jewish law, she is called a "gedolah" (the feminine form of "gadol"). "Kohen Gadol" refers to the high priests in the Jewish Temples. "Shabbat Hagadol" is the Shabbat prior to Passover. In modern Hebrew, "gadol" as slang is used as an interjection to mean something is extremely cool, out of this world, superb, awesome, absurdly funny or hilarious. For example, upon hearing a funny joke one might interject ""Gadol!"" In English writing, the transliterated word ""gadol"" generally refers to a prominent rabbi. Recognized "gedolei hador". The following are  names of rabbis that were or are widely recognized to be the "gadol hador":