According to Kikar, Rav Chaim Kanievsky was asked a question by a rav in Bnei Braq. The question was, after many years in which Rav Kanievsky said that the bracha of "ברוך שחלק מחכמתו ליראיו" - that Hashem has distributed from His wisdom among those who fear Him - should be said upon seeing Rav Elyashiv, his father in law, now that Rav Elyashiv has passed away, upon whom should it be said?

In other words, who is the smartest man (Jewish) in the world (there is a separate bracha to be said upon seeing a very smart non-Jew)?

Rav Kanievsky's response was that the bracha should be said, even using Hashem's name, upon Rav Shteinman.

I did not know this bracha could only be said on one person in a lifetime, and only after his death could it be said on someone else. I thought it could be said on anybody who is unusually smart/wise.

I also never noticed  the bracha being said by people when seeing Rav Elyashiv, or on any other rav for that matter, such as any of the admorim or other gedolim (such as Rav Chaim Kanievsky, Rav Shteinman, Rav Wosner, etc). I don't know why, but in the numerous times I have seen various rabbonim/gedolim, I dont remember anyone ever saying this bracha on any of them. At least not out loud in a way that i would have noticed. I guess if you can only say on one person, and if Rav Elyashiv was that person and nobody else could decide otherwise, that would explain why I did not see it said on any of the others. The question would be why I did not see it said on Rav Elyashiv, though I was only in Rav Elyashiv's close proximity 2 times, so maybe that was not enough of a sampling...




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