Hakham

Hakham (or chakam(i), haham(i), hacham(i); Hebrew:חכם‎ ḥaḵam, "wise") is a term in Judaism, meaning a wise or skillful man; it often refers to someone who is a great Torah scholar. The word is generally used to designate a cultured and learned person: "He who says a wise thing is called a hakham, even if he be not a Jew" (Meg.16a). Hence in Talmudic-Midrashic literature wise and learned non-Jews are commonly called "hakme ummot ha-'olam" (the wise men of the nations). In Sephardic usage it is a synonym for "rabbi".