Reply To: who is "The Gadol Haddar" of America

IMHO if such an idea of a Gadol Haddar actually exists, it remains Rav Moshe. He was obviously preeminent in poskening shailas. But also the fact that virtually all frum Jews from MO to Chassidic respecte his viewpoint makes him unique. When my Rav, who is a world reknowned Posuk although perhaps still a bit younger then most of the Rebbeiem mentioned in this thread so he isn’t (yet) universally known says that he is following Rav Moshe’s position on this and that, it is accepted by all. Think back to the 80’s for instance, and recall that every group, with the possible exception of Lubavitch, followed Rav Moshe. Not just in Halacha, but all aspects of Judaism. We are still telling stories to our children (as are their Rebbes) of his sterling middos, which is just as much a qualifier as knowing Halacha. Rav Moshe respected every Jew, not just the Yeshiva world, and that love was directed back to him. Is there such a unifier today? No, just like the USA, we are more and more divided.