Q. In our shul we have two attending elderly Rabbis (now in their late nineties), for many years. One is actually a great Talmid Chacham who has written some Sefarim and was always engaged in teaching Torah. Sadly he is suffering lately from Alzheimer complications and the memory of the Torah he knew is practically gone. Yet he still understands and one can have a conversation with him.
The second one who is also about the same age, although not such a great Talmid Hacham as his colleague, however, he still has an excellent memory and remembers well his Torah learning.
On the past, since both of them have, for all we know about the same age, (They both immigrated from Eastern Europe after the war, it is hard to give any credence to the date in their documents) the shul always honored first the one that was known to be a greater Talmid Chacham.
The question is now, when he has forgotten most of his Torah knowledge, should we honor the second one with seating first and getting the first Aliya etc?
What is the proper thing to do?
A. Horav Shlomo Miller’s Shli’a opinion is that with search effort and consulting with their families, you may be able to determine who is actually older. If that cannot be done, the Rov maintains that they should equally share the honors and kovod given by the congregation, by sharing it in time. (One first and then the other).
Rabbi A. Bartfeld as advised by Horav Shlomo Miller and Horav Aharon Miller Shlit’a