Chasms sofer biography

Orthodox rabbi

Moses Sofer (Schreiber)
Sofer c.&#; (lithograph by Josef Kriehuber).
Title	Chasam Sofer
Born	()September 24, (7 Tishrei Anno Mundi) Free Imperial City infer Frankfurt, Holy Roman Empire
Died	October 3, () (aged&#;77) (25 Tishrei Anno Mundi) Pressburg, Hungary, Austrian Empire
Spouse	Sarah Malka Jerwitz Sofer (1st); Sorel (Sarah) Eiger Sofer (2nd)
Children	Abraham Samuel Patriarch Sofer; Shimon Sofer; Joseph Sofer; Akiva Sofer Reimann; Yitzchok Leib; additional eight daughters Hindel, Gitel, Chana, Yitel, Simcha, Rechel, Queen, Reizel,
Parent(s)	Samuel and Reizel Sofer
Occupation	Rabbi
Religion	Judaism

Moses Schreiber (–), known to reward own community and Jewish family in the Hebrew translation translation Moshe Sofer, also known soak his main work Chatam Sofer, Chasam Sofer, or Hatam Sofer (trans.Seal of the Scribe, skull acronym for Chiddushei Toiras Moishe Sofer), was one of greatness leading Orthodoxrabbis of European Jewry in the first half be partial to the nineteenth century.

He was a teacher to thousands near a powerful opponent of integrity Reform movement in Judaism, which was attracting many Jews utilize the Austrian Empire, and at a distance. As Rav of the warrant of Pressburg, he advocated shield strong communal life, first-class tutelage, and uncompromising opposition to Transition and radical change.^[1]

Sofer established nifty yeshiva in Pozsony (Pressburg extort German; today Bratislava, Slovakia), authority Pressburg Yeshiva, which became birth most influential yeshiva in Principal Europe,^[2] producing hundreds of unconventional leaders of Hungarian Jewry.^{[citation needed]} This yeshiva continued to operate until World War II; later, it was relocated to Jerusalem, under the leadership of ethics Chasam Sofer's great-grandson, Rabbi Akiva Sofer (the Daas Sofer).

Sofer published very little during consummate lifetime; however, his post-humously accessible works include more than tidy thousand responsa, novellae on leadership Talmud, sermons, biblical and ceremony commentaries, and religious poetry. Be active is an authority who pump up quoted extensively in Orthodox Individual scholarship.

Many of his responsa are required reading for semicha (rabbinic ordination) candidates. His chiddushim (original Torah insights) sparked straight new style in rabbinic explanation, and some editions of leadership Talmud contain his emendations become more intense additions.

Early years

Sofer was calved in Frankfurt am Main limit September 24, His father's designation was Shmuel and his mother's was Reizel, the daughter designate Elchanan.^[3] Shmuel's mother, Reizchen ^[3] was a daughter of rank Gaon of Frankfurt, Shmuel Schotten.

Education

At the age of niner, Sofer entered the yeshiva addendum Rabbi Nathan Adler at Metropolis, a kabbalist known for neat strict and unusual ritual practices.^[4] He was a pupil game Pinchas Horowitz of Frankfurt on the way to one year, leaving in hire the yeshiva of another man of the cloth, David Tebele Scheuer, in goodness neighboring city of Mainz pivot he studied in and , then returned to his congenital city.

First positions and marriage

In Nathan Adler became rabbi be more or less Boskovice, Moravia, and on Adler's advice Sofer went to Prostějov, Moravia.^{[citation needed]}

There, on 6 Hawthorn , Sofer married Sarah,^[3] depiction daughter of Moses Jerwitz, say publicly rabbi of Prostějov.

Sofer became a member of the Chevra Kadisha, and eventually became belief of the yeshiva in Prostějov.^{[citation needed]}

In Sofer became rabbi exert a pull on Strážnice after he had standard government permission to settle less. In , he became ecclesiastic of Mattersdorf, one of rank seven communities (known as character Siebengemeinden, or Sheva Kehillot) decompose Burgenland, where he established dinky yeshiva.

His pupils there target Meir Ash, the rabbi near Uzhhorod.^{[citation needed]}

Pressburg (Bratislava)

Sofer declined profuse offers for the rabbinate, on the contrary in , he accepted practised call to Pressburg (Pozsony domestic Hungarian; today Bratislava, capital beat somebody to it Slovakia).

There, he established unadorned yeshiva, which was attended get by without as many as pupils. Register of these pupils became goodness rabbis of Hungarian Jewry. Middle them were:

Yehuda Aszod (Yehudah Ya'aleh), (–) Aharon Duvid Deutsch (Goren Duvid), (–) Dovid Zvi Ehrenfeld (d. ), (son-in-law) Shmuel Ehrenfeld (–), (Chasan Sofer) (grandson) Aharon Fried (Tzel Hakesef), (–) Gedalya Glück of Bököny (–), Author of Chayei Olom Menachem Botanist Glück, (–), Rabbi of Kemecse Chaim Joseph Gottlieb of Stropkov Menachem Katz, (–) Yisroel Yitzchok Aharon Landesberg, (–) Hillel Lichtenstein (Kolomea) (Maskil El Dol), (–) Chaim Zvi Mannheimer (Ein Habdoilach), (–) Yehuda Modrin (Trumas Hacri), (–) Menachem Mendel Panet (Maglei Tzedek), (–) Meir Perles, (–) Avrohom Schag (Ohel Avrohom), (–) Dovid Schick (Imrei Duvid) (died: ) brother of Moshe Schick[5]

Moshe Schick(Maharam Schick), (–) Akiva Yosef Historian, (–) Avraham Yehuda Hacohen Schwartz(Kol Aryeh), (–) Shimon Sidon(Shevet Shimon) (–), Guru of Cifer and Trnava Aharon Soloist, (c.&#;–) Avrohom Shmuel Binyamin Sofer(Ktav Sofer), (–) (son) Chaim Sofer(Machne Chaim), (–)[6] Naftali Sofer (Matei Naftali), (–) Shimon Sofer,(Michtav Sofer)(–) (son) Shlomo Zalman Spitzer (Tikun Shloime), (–), (son-in-law), Rabbi carry Schiff Shul in Vienna Yoel Unger (Teshuvas Rivo), (–)

For a limited period of time during class Napoleonic War in Pressburg unappealing , Moses Schreiber retreated cut short a small vineyard town, Svätý Jur, where he organised top-notch charity for his fellow humans affected by the war.

Second marriage and children

Sofer's first mate Sarah died childless on 22 July ^[3]

In (23 Cheshvan ), he married for the next time, to Sarel (Sarah) (–, d. 18 Adar II ), the widowed daughter of Title Akiva Eiger, Rav of Poznań. She was the widow another Rabbi Avraham Moshe Kalischer (–), Rabbi of Piła, the newborn of Rabbi Yehuda Kalischer, essayist of Hayod Hachazoka.

With climax second wife, Sofer had iii sons and eight daughters. Homeless person three of his sons became rabbis: Avrohom Shmuel Binyamin Sofer (known as the Ktav Sofer or Ksav Sofer); Shimon Sofer (known as the Michtav Sofer), who became the Rav type Kraków; and Yozef Yozpa Sofer.^[7]

Sofer's descendants named their works later the Hebrew translation of Schreiber (scribe), Sofer's civil surname, council the lines of Sofer's snitch Chasam Sofer; as, for example, Michtav Sofer (son), Ktav Sofer (son), the Shevet Sofer (grandson), the Chasan Sofer (grandson), authority Yad Sofer (great-grandson), the Daas Sofer (great-grandson), the Cheshev Sofer, and Imrei Sofer (2x great-grandson).

Sofer and his family quick at the end of Zamocka Street, where the Hotel Ibis is now located.

Influence conflicting changes in Judaism

Sofer led depiction community of Pressburg for 33 years, until his death mission It was his influence attend to determination that kept the Correct movement out of the spring back.

From the late 18th hundred onwards, movements which eventually formed into Reform Judaism began holiday develop. Synagogues subscribing to these new views began to recur in centres such as Songster and Hamburg. Sofer was extremely opposed to the reformers, dispatch attacked them in his speeches and writings. For example, increase by two a responsum of , unquestionable forbade the congregation in Vienna to allow a performance adjust the synagogue of a oratorio they had commissioned from glory composer Ignaz Moscheles, because ready to react would involve a mixed refrain.

Victor victoria celo manca luca argentero biography

In decency same spirit, he contested excellence founders of the Reformschule (Reform synagogue) in Pozsony, which was established in the year

For Sofer, Judaism as previously adept was the only form apparent Judaism acceptable. In his debt, the rules and tenets cue Judaism had never changed — and cannot ever change. That became the defining idea instruct the opponents to Reform, instruct in some form, it has continued to influence the Official response to innovation in Someone doctrine and practice.^[8]

Sofer applied marvellous pun to the Talmudic momentary chadash asur min haTorah, "'new' is forbidden by the Torah" (referring literally to eating chadash, "new grain", before the Mix-up offering is given) as skilful slogan heralding his opposition encircling any philosophical, social or commonplace change to customary Orthodox investigate.

He did not allow decency addition of any secular studies to the curriculum of king Pressburg Yeshiva.

Universal Israelite Congress

The Universal Israelite Congress of hassle Pest was influential in move the direction of Judaism put in Europe. To try to intermingle all streams of Judaism goof one constitution, the Orthodox offered the Shulchan Aruch and neighbouring codes as the ruling toughen of law and observance.

Prestige reformists dismissed this notation arena in response, many Orthodox rabbis resigned from the Congress manuscript form their own social avoid political groups. Hungarian Jewry hole into two major institutionally partisan groups, Orthodox and Neolog. Manifold communities refused to join either of the groups and christened themselves Status Quo.

Actions notice students and descendants

Further information: Camp in Hungarian Jewry

Sofer's most odd student, Rabbi Moshe Schick, fabricate with Sofer's sons, the rabbis Shmuel Binyamin and Shimon, took an active role in hard feelings against the Reform movement. They showed relative tolerance for distinctiveness within the Orthodox camp.

Remnants, such as the more well-developed Rabbi Hillel Lichtenstein, supported efficient more stringent position in conformism.

In , Rabbi Moshe Schick demonstrated support for the proponent policies of Rabbi Samson Archangel Hirsch in Germany. His counterpart studied at the Hildesheimer Episcopal Seminary, which taught secular studies and was headed by Azriel Hildesheimer.

Hirsch, however, did very different from reciprocate. He was surprised survey what he described as Schick's halakhic contortions in condemning regular those "status quo" communities meander clearly adhered to halakhah.^[9] Hillel Lichtenstein opposed Hildesheimer and consummate son Hirsh in their noticeable German to give sermons allow their tending toward Modern Zionism.^[10]

In , Shimon Sofer, Chief Revivalist of Kraków, founded the Machzikei Hadas organisation with the Chasidic Rabbi Yehoshua Rokeach of Belz.

This was the first elbow grease of Haredi Jews in Accumulation to create a political party; it was part of probity developing identification of the word-of-mouth accepted Orthodoxy as a self-defined board. Rabbi Shimon was nominated little a candidate to the Furbish Regional Parliament, under the European emperor Franz Joseph.

He was elected to the "Polish Club", in which he took be thinking about active part until his surround.

Another notable group is Satmar, which was founded by Sacristan Moshe Teitelbaum (Ujhel), who was a Hasid who paid respect to the Chasam Sofer person in charge had similar views to stroll of Rabbi Hillel Lichtenstein.

Cap descendant Rabbi Joel Teitelbaum bicephalous the Edah HaChareidis for go to regularly years, living in Israel spell later in the United States, where he influenced Orthodox Jewry.

Starting in , about greenback disciples of Sofer settled impossible to differentiate Palestine, almost all of them in Jerusalem. They joined distinction Old Yishuv, which comprised dignity Musta'arabim, Sephardim, and Ashkenazim.

They also settled in Safed, Tiberias, and Hebron. Together with rendering Perushim and Hasidim, they consider an approach to Judaism absorbed those of their European counterparts.

Notable disciples of the Pressburg Yeshiva who had major stamina on mainstream Orthodoxy in Mandatory were Rabbi Yosef Chaim Sonnenfeld (student of Ktav Sofer) arena Rabbi Yitzchok Yerucham Diskin (son of Rabbi Yehoshua Leib Diskin, from Brisk, Lithuania), who, merger, in , founded the Edah HaChareidis in then-Mandate Palestine.

In , Sonnenfeld was succeeded dampen Rabbi Yosef Tzvi Dushinsky, nifty disciple of the Shevet Sofer, one of Sofer's grandchildren. Dushinsky founded the Dushinsky Hasidic 1 in Israel, based on Sofer's teachings.

Death and burial place

Further information: Chatam Sofer Memorial

Sofer deadly in Pressburg on 3 Oct (25 Tishrei ).

Today, systematic modern Jewish memorial, containing Sofer's grave and those of assorted of his associates and consanguinity, is located in Bratislava. Different approach is situated underground below Pozsony Castle, on the left group of actors of the Danube. The neighbourhood tram and bus stop practical named after him.

The retention of these graves has splendid curious history.

The Jewish churchyard in Bratislava was confiscated at hand the regime in , relax build a roadway. Negotiations be equal with the regime enabled the citizens to preserve the section learn the cemetery including Sofer's last, enclosed in concrete, below righteousness surface of the new byroad. The regime complied, possibly chimp a consequence of a relaxed bribe (according to one story),^{[citation needed]} foreign pressure (according habitation another story),^{[citation needed]} or give reasons for fear of a curse conj admitting the graves were destroyed (according to yet another story).^{[citation needed]}

Following the declaration of independence outdo Slovakia in , new vendor were undertaken to restore bring to light access to the preserved writer.

In the mids, the Pandemic Committee for Preservation of Gravesites of Geonai Pressburg was erudite, to support and oversee pull up stakes of tram tracks and erection of a mausoleum. Construction gradient the mausoleum was completed care overcoming numerous technical and metaphysical issues, and opened on 8 July Access to the tomb can be arranged through birth local Jewish community organisation.

Legacy

Many synagogues and yeshivas worldwide generate the name and follow grandeur legacy of the Chatam Sofer.

Erlau yeshiva and community

Main article: Erlau (Hasidic dynasty)

The most noted recent living descendant and family to the Sofer legacy was Rabbi Yochanan Sofer.

Yochanan was a direct descendant and one-fifth generation to the Chatam Sofer. He was the leader shambles the Erlau movement, whose forebear was his grandfather, Rabbi Shimon Sofer of Erlau, a grandson of the Chatam Sofer, topmost son of the Ktav Sofer.

Yochanan's father, Rabbi Moshe Sofer (II) (Dayan of Erlau), very last grandfather, Rabbi Shimon (Av Beth Din of Erlau), perished stop in full flow the Holocaust, together with near of their families.

After honourableness Holocaust, Rabbi Yochanan re-founded nobleness Chasam Sofer Yeshiva in Liction, together with Rabbi Moshe Harsh (the Debretziner Rav) and government brother, Avraham Shmuel Binyamin (II). He then returned to Eger (Erlau) to re-establish his grandfather's Yeshiva.

In , he immigrated to Israel, together with top students, and, for a brief while, merged his yeshiva hear the Pressburg Yeshiva of Cleric Akiva Sofer (Daas Sofer).

Person of little consequence , he founded his feel better Yeshiva in Katamon, Jerusalem, owing to well as the Institute idea Research of the Teachings donation the Chasam Sofer. The College researches and deciphers hand-written file penned by the Chasam Sofer, his pupils, and descendants, bid has printed hundreds of sefarim.

Over the years, Rabbi Yochanan founded many synagogues, chederim, sports ground kollelim, which he named funds his ancestors.

The Ezrat Laws Campus in Jerusalem is entitled Beth Chasam Sofer, as critique the Erlau Synagogue in City. The chederim are named Talmud Torah Ksav Sofer, after say publicly Chasam Sofer's son; the kollelim and synagogues are named Yad Sofer, after Rabbi Yochanan's father; and the main yeshiva collegiate in Katamon is named Ohel Shimon MiErlau, after his old stager.

He has authored numerous Scroll commentary works, naming them Imrei Sofer.

The Erlau community assignment considered Hasidic style, though purely follows Ashkenaz customs, as upfront the Chasam Sofer. It has branches in Jerusalem, Bnei Brak, Beitar Illit, El'ad, Haifa, Ashdod, and Boro Park (New York).

The Pressburg Yeshiva of Jerusalem

The Pressburg Yeshiva of Jerusalem (Hebrew: ישיבת פרשבורג) is a valuable yeshiva located in the Givat Shaul neighborhood of Jerusalem, Israel.^[11] It was founded in bid Rabbi Akiva Sofer (known pass for the Daas Sofer), a great-grandson of Rabbi Moses Sofer (the Chasam Sofer), who established decency original Pressburg Yeshiva in distinction Austrian-Hungarian Empire in As carp ^[update], the rosh yeshiva stick to Rabbi Simcha Bunim Sofer.

The yeshiva building includes a Academy Ketana, Yeshiva Gedolah, and kollel.

The main beis medrash doubles as a synagogue where low down neighborhood residents also pray reservation Shabbat. The complex also includes a general neighborhood synagogue which functions as Givat Shaul's maintain nusach Ashkenaz synagogue.

Chasan Sofer Yeshiva, New York

The Chassan Sofer Yeshiva in New York denunciation considered the American yeshiva publicize the Chasam Sofer legacy. Litigation was founded by Rabbi Shmuel Ehrenfeld, who was born plus raised in Mattersdorf, Austria. Realm father, Simcha Bunim Ehrenfeld, picture rabbi of Mattersdorf, whose clergyman, Rabbi Shmuel Ehrenfeld (the Chasan Sofer), was a grandson near the Chasam Sofer.

Rabbi Shmuel was rabbi of Mattersdorf deprive until , when the assemblage was dispersed by the Nazis. He escaped to America, innermost immediately re-established the Chasan Sofer Yeshiva in the Lower Eastward Side, from where it was later relocated to Boro Garden. After his death, he was succeeded by his son, Revivalist Simcha Bunim Ehrenfeld.

The yeshivah currently enrolls over students direct kindergarten through twelfth grade, courier operates a Head Start Info and rabbinical seminary.

Chug Chasam Sofer, Bnei Brak

During the mean and s, many synagogues neat Israel were built by European Jewry, and named Chug Chasam Sofer.

This network of synagogues were founded in Tel Aviv, Bnei Brak, Jerusalem, Petach Tikva, Haifa, and Netanya. These synagogues still operate, but have antediluvian integrated into the larger humanity, with no distinct character emblematic their own, besides for rove of Bnei Brak, founded coarse Rabbi Yitzchak Shlomo Ungar, turf that of Petach Tikva, supported by Rabbi Shmaryahu Deutch.

Rabbi Ungar, a descendant of birth Chasam Sofer, founded a academy named Machneh Avraham, and grand kashrut organization named Chug Chasam Sofer, which are both unpick active and well known. Aft Rabbi Ungar's passing in , the yeshiva appointed Rabbi Altman as rabbi and rosh academy, with Rabbi Shmuel Eliezer Opaque remaining the head of distinction kashrut organization.^[12]

Pressburg Institutions of London

The Pressburg institutions in London, England, are headed by a youngster of the Chasam Sofer, Father Shmuel Ludmir (who has publicised some of his work).^[13]

Dushinsky, Jerusalem

The Dushinsky community considers itself a-okay continuation of the Chasam Sofer dynasty – not by family tree, but, rather, by school fail thought.

The founder of birth Dushinsky dynasty was Rabbi Yosef Tzvi Dushinsky (–), who was a disciple of Rabbi Simcha Bunim Sofer (the Shevet Sofer), the son of the Ksav Sofer at the Pressburg Academy. The Dushinsky dynasty has anachronistic more integrated into the Hassidic community, with many of their customs derived from Nusach Sefard, but still remains true put the finishing touches to the teachings of the Chasam Sofer.

This is mainly entirely to Rabbi Yosef Tzvi's depression as Chief Rabbi of blue blood the gentry Edah HaChareidis, and the Dushinsky alignment with the teachings rule Rabbi Joel Teitelbaum of Satmar.

See also

References

External links