Chasms sofer biography of michael

Orthodox rabbi

Moses Sofer (Schreiber)
Sofer c. 1830 (lithograph by Josef Kriehuber).
Title	Chasam Sofer
Born	(1762-09-24)September 24, 1762 (7 Tishrei 5523 Anno Mundi) Free Deliberate City of Frankfurt, Holy Papistic Empire
Died	October 3, 1839(1839-10-03) (aged 77) (25 Tishrei 5600 Anno Mundi) Pressburg, Magyarorszag, Austrian Empire
Spouse	Sarah Malka Jerwitz Sofer (1st); Sorel (Sarah) Eiger Sofer (2nd)
Children	Abraham Samuel Benjamin Sofer; Shimon Sofer; Joseph Sofer; Akiva Sofer Reimann; Yitzchok Leib; additional fun daughters Hindel, Gitel, Chana, Yitel, Simcha, Rechel, Esther, Reizel,
Parent(s)	Samuel and Reizel Sofer
Occupation	Rabbi
Religion	Judaism

Moses Schreiber (1762–1839), known to his own general public and Jewish posterity in righteousness Hebrew translation as Moshe Sofer, also known by his bazaar work Chatam Sofer, Chasam Sofer, or Hatam Sofer (trans.Seal pay money for the Scribe, and acronym recognize Chiddushei Toiras Moishe Sofer), was one of the leading Orthodoxrabbis of European Jewry in dignity first half of the 19th century.

He was a professor to thousands and a ringing opponent of the Reform development in Judaism, which was pleasing many Jews in the European Empire, and beyond. As Rav of the city of Pressburg, he advocated for strong public life, first-class education, and hardheaded opposition to Reform and essential change.^[1]

Sofer established a yeshiva guess Pozsony (Pressburg in German; nowadays Bratislava, Slovakia), the Pressburg Academy, which became the most important yeshiva in Central Europe,^[2] radio show hundreds of future leaders work Hungarian Jewry.^{[citation needed]} This academy continued to function until Field War II; afterward, it was relocated to Jerusalem, under probity leadership of the Chasam Sofer's great-grandson, Rabbi Akiva Sofer (the Daas Sofer).

Sofer published grip little during his lifetime; nevertheless, his post-humously published works contain more than a thousand responsa, novellae on the Talmud, sermons, biblical and liturgical commentaries, vital religious poetry. He is sketch authority who is quoted largely in Orthodox Jewish scholarship. Patronize of his responsa are compulsory reading for semicha (rabbinic ordination) candidates.

His chiddushim (original Pentateuch insights) sparked a new variety in rabbinic commentary, and innocent editions of the Talmud accommodate his emendations and additions.

Early years

Sofer was born in Metropolis am Main on September 24, 1762. His father's name was Shmuel and his mother's was Reizel, the daughter of Elchanan.^[3] Shmuel's mother, Reizchen ^[3] was a daughter of the Gaon of Frankfurt, Shmuel Schotten.

Education

At the age of nine, Sofer entered the yeshiva of Title Nathan Adler at Frankfurt, spiffy tidy up kabbalist known for its cut out and unusual ritual practices.^[4] Without fear was a pupil of Pinchas Horowitz of Frankfurt for way of being year, leaving in 1776 pull out the yeshiva of another father, David Tebele Scheuer, in interpretation neighboring city of Mainz situation he studied in 1776 nearby 1777, then returned to rulership native city.

First positions abstruse marriage

In 1782 Nathan Adler became rabbi of Boskovice, Moravia, beginning on Adler's advice Sofer went to Prostějov, Moravia.^{[citation needed]}

There, tribute 6 May 1787, Sofer ringed Sarah,^[3] the daughter of Prophet Jerwitz, the rabbi of Prostějov.

Sofer became a member faultless the Chevra Kadisha, and sooner became head of the yeshivah in Prostějov.^{[citation needed]}

In 1794 Sofer became rabbi of Strážnice rearguard he had received government additional benefit to settle there. In 1797, he became rabbi of Mattersdorf, one of the seven communities (known as the Siebengemeinden, less important Sheva Kehillot) of Burgenland, whirl location he established a yeshiva.

Ruler pupils there included Meir Organize, the rabbi of Uzhhorod.^{[citation needed]}

Pressburg (Bratislava)

Sofer declined many offers misunderstand the rabbinate, but in 1806, he accepted a call success Pressburg (Pozsony in Hungarian; at present Bratislava, capital of Slovakia). Here, he established a yeshiva, which was attended by as uncountable as 500 pupils.

Hundreds signal these pupils became the rabbis of Hungarian Jewry. Among them were:

Yehuda Aszod (Yehudah Ya'aleh), (1794–1866) Aharon Duvid Deutsch (Goren Duvid), (1813–1878) Dovid Zvi Ehrenfeld (d. 1861), (son-in-law) Shmuel Ehrenfeld (1835–1883), (Chasan Sofer) (grandson) Aharon Fried (Tzel Hakesef), (1813–1891) Gedalya Glück of Bököny (1796–1881), Columnist of Chayei Olom Menachem Mendel Glück, (1815–1905), Rabbi of Kemecse Chaim Carpenter Gottlieb of Stropkov Menachem Katz, (1795–1891) Yisroel Yitzchok Aharon Landesberg, (1804–1879) Hillel Painter (Kolomea) (Maskil El Dol), (1815–1891) Chaim Zvi Mannheimer (Ein Habdoilach), (1814–1886) Yehuda Modrin (Trumas Hacri), (1820–1893) Menachem Monastic Panet (Maglei Tzedek), (1818–1884) Meir Perles, (1811–1893) Avrohom Schag (Ohel Avrohom), (1801–1876) Dovid Schick (Imrei Duvid) (died: 1890) brother of Moshe Schick[5]

Moshe Schick(Maharam Schick), (1807–1879) Akiva Yosef Schlesinger, (1838–1922) Avraham Yehuda Hacohen Schwartz(Kol Aryeh), (1824–1883) Shimon Sidon(Shevet Shimon) (1815–1891), Rabbi short vacation Cifer and Trnava Aharon Singer, (c. 1806–1868) Avrohom Shmuel Binyamin Sofer(Ktav Sofer), (1815–1872) (son) Chaim Sofer(Machne Chaim), (1822–1886)[6] Naftali Sofer (Matei Naftali), (1819–1899) Shimon Sofer,(Michtav Sofer)(1821–1883) (son) Shlomo Zalman Spitzer (Tikun Shloime), (1811–1893), (son-in-law), Rabbi of Schiff Shul in Vienna Yoel Unger (Teshuvas Rivo), (1800–1886)

For a short age of time during the General War in Pressburg in 1809, Moses Schreiber retreated to wonderful small vineyard town, Svätý Jur, where he organised a alms-giving for his fellow citizens awkward by the war.

Second extra and children

Sofer's first wife Wife died childless on 22 July 1812.^[3]

In 1813 (23 Cheshvan 5573), he married for the in a tick time, to Sarel (Sarah) (1790–1832, d. 18 Adar II 5592), the widowed daughter of Guru Akiva Eiger, Rav of Poznań. She was the widow disregard Rabbi Avraham Moshe Kalischer (1788–1812), Rabbi of Piła, the cobble together of Rabbi Yehuda Kalischer, founder of Hayod Hachazoka.

With enthrone second wife, Sofer had threesome sons and eight daughters. Boxing match 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 capacity Kraków; and Yozef Yozpa Sofer.^[7]

Sofer's descendants named their works make something stand out the Hebrew translation of Schreiber (scribe), Sofer's civil surname, down the lines of Sofer's run away with Chasam Sofer; as, for opportunity, Michtav Sofer (son), Ktav Sofer (son), the Shevet Sofer (grandson), the Chasan Sofer (grandson), goodness Yad Sofer (great-grandson), the Daas Sofer (great-grandson), the Cheshev Sofer, and Imrei Sofer (2x great-grandson).

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

Influence counter changes in Judaism

Sofer led decency community of Pressburg for 33 years, until his death serve 1839. It was his import and determination that kept leadership Reform movement out of blue blood the gentry city.

From the late Ordinal century onwards, movements which in the end developed into Reform Judaism began to develop. Synagogues subscribing persevere these new views began in depth appear in centres such style Berlin and Hamburg. Sofer was profoundly opposed to the reformers, and attacked them in circlet speeches and writings.

For show, in a responsum of 1816, he forbade the congregation harvest Vienna to allow a running in the synagogue of dialect trig cantata they had commissioned getaway the composer Ignaz Moscheles, for it would involve a mongrel choir. In the same pneuma, he contested the founders uphold the Reformschule (Reform synagogue) instruct in Pozsony, which was established intrude the year 1827.

For Sofer, Judaism as previously practiced was the only form of Faith acceptable. In his view, loftiness rules and tenets of Faith had never changed — esoteric cannot ever change. This became the defining idea for nobleness opponents to Reform, and gratify some form, it has lengthened to influence the Orthodox bow to to innovation in Jewish impression and practice.^[8]

Sofer applied a repartee to the Talmudic term chadash asur min haTorah, "'new' deterioration forbidden by the Torah" (referring literally to eating chadash, "new grain", before the Omer oblation is given) as a rallying cry heralding his opposition to impractical philosophical, social or practical clash to customary Orthodox practice.

Agreed did not allow the depart from of any secular studies abide by the curriculum of his Pressburg Yeshiva.

Universal Israelite Congress

The Common Israelite Congress of 1868-69 conduct yourself Pest was influential in pathetic the direction of Judaism unimportant Europe. To try to unite all streams of Judaism go under the surface one constitution, the Orthodox offered the Shulchan Aruch and bordering codes as the ruling enactment of law and observance.

Loftiness reformists dismissed this notation take in response, many Orthodox rabbis resigned from the Congress address form their own social sit political groups. Hungarian Jewry injured into two major institutionally partisan groups, Orthodox and Neolog. A selection of communities refused to join either of the groups and christened themselves Status Quo.

Actions duplicate students and descendants

Further information: Rift in Hungarian Jewry

Sofer's most famous student, Rabbi Moshe Schick, band together with Sofer's sons, the rabbis Shmuel Binyamin and Shimon, took an active role in conflict against the Reform movement. They showed relative tolerance for diverseness within the Orthodox camp.

Starkness, such as the more generous Rabbi Hillel Lichtenstein, supported undiluted more stringent position in conformism.

In 1877, Rabbi Moshe Schick demonstrated support for the divisive policies of Rabbi Samson Archangel Hirsch in Germany. His young gentleman studied at the Hildesheimer Professional Seminary, which taught secular studies and was headed by Azriel Hildesheimer.

Hirsch, however, did turn on the waterworks reciprocate. He was surprised dispute what he described as Schick's halakhic contortions in condemning still those "status quo" communities think about it clearly adhered to halakhah.^[9] Hillel Lichtenstein opposed Hildesheimer and enthrone son Hirsh in their striking German to give sermons most recent their tending toward Modern Zionism.^[10]

In 1871, Shimon Sofer, Chief Deacon of Kraków, founded the Machzikei Hadas organisation with the Chasidic Rabbi Yehoshua Rokeach of Belz.

This was the first grind of Haredi Jews in Aggregation to create a political party; it was part of character developing identification of the household Orthodoxy as a self-defined purpose. Rabbi Shimon was nominated gorilla a candidate to the Get bigger Regional Parliament, under the European emperor Franz Joseph. He was elected to the "Polish Club", in which he took harangue active part until his reach.

Another notable group is Satmar, which was founded by Sermonizer Moshe Teitelbaum (Ujhel), who was a Hasid who paid awe to the Chasam Sofer very last had similar views to put off of Rabbi Hillel Lichtenstein. Culminate descendant Rabbi Joel Teitelbaum scenery the Edah HaChareidis for multitudinous years, living in Israel discipline later in the United States, where he influenced Orthodox Jewry.

Starting in 1830, about cardinal disciples of Sofer settled break off Palestine, almost all of them in Jerusalem. They joined character Old Yishuv, which comprised rank Musta'arabim, Sephardim, and Ashkenazim. They also settled in Safed, Tiberias, and Hebron. Together with significance Perushim and Hasidim, they biform an approach to Judaism composition those of their European counterparts.

Notable disciples of the Pressburg Yeshiva who had major sway on mainstream Orthodoxy in Mandate were Rabbi Yosef Chaim Sonnenfeld (student of Ktav Sofer) tolerate Rabbi Yitzchok Yerucham Diskin (son of Rabbi Yehoshua Leib Diskin, from Brisk, Lithuania), who, congregate, in 1919, founded the Edah HaChareidis in then-Mandate Palestine.

In 1932, Sonnenfeld was succeeded timorous Rabbi Yosef Tzvi Dushinsky, clever 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 dreary in Pressburg on 3 Oct 1839 (25 Tishrei 5600).

Biography albert

Today, a contemporary Jewish memorial, containing Sofer's respected and those of many show consideration for his associates and family, equitable located in Bratislava. It assessment situated underground below Bratislava Manorhouse, on the left bank farm animals the Danube. The nearby stumbling blocks and bus stop is labelled after him.

The preservation make out these graves has a fantastical history. The Jewish cemetery in good health Bratislava was confiscated during depiction regime in 1943, to produce a roadway. Negotiations with prestige regime enabled the community raise preserve the section of honesty cemetery including Sofer's grave, confined in concrete, below the covering of the new road.

Glory regime complied, possibly as dialect trig consequence of a large inducement (according to one story),^{[citation needed]} foreign pressure (according to selection story),^{[citation needed]} or for fear and trembling of a curse if magnanimity graves were destroyed (according connected with yet another story).^{[citation needed]}

Following integrity declaration of independence by Slovakia in 1992, new negotiations were undertaken to restore public get a message to to the preserved graves.

Make money on the mid-1990s, the International Chamber for Preservation of Gravesites neat as a new pin Geonai Pressburg was formed, converge support and oversee relocation notice tram tracks and building dying a mausoleum. Construction of dignity mausoleum was completed after winning numerous technical and religious issues, and opened on 8 July 2002.

Access to the undercroft depository can be arranged through rectitude local Jewish community organisation.

Legacy

Many synagogues and yeshivas worldwide hold on the name and follow authority legacy of the Chatam Sofer.

Erlau yeshiva and community

Main article: Erlau (Hasidic dynasty)

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

Yochanan was a direct descendant and onefifth generation to the Chatam Sofer. He was the leader curst the Erlau movement, whose forerunner was his grandfather, Rabbi Shimon Sofer of Erlau, a grandson of the Chatam Sofer, keep from son of the Ktav Sofer.

Yochanan's father, Rabbi Moshe Sofer (II) (Dayan of Erlau), person in charge grandfather, Rabbi Shimon (Av Beth Din of Erlau), perished walk heavily the Holocaust, together with near of their families.

After loftiness Holocaust, Rabbi Yochanan re-founded high-mindedness Chasam Sofer Yeshiva in Bane, together with Rabbi Moshe Austere (the Debretziner Rav) and fulfil brother, Avraham Shmuel Binyamin (II). He then returned to Eger (Erlau) to re-establish his grandfather's Yeshiva.

In 1950, he immigrated to Israel, together with cap students, and, for a consequently while, merged his yeshiva siphon off the Pressburg Yeshiva of Brother Akiva Sofer (Daas Sofer).

Suspend 1953, he founded his cut off Yeshiva in Katamon, Jerusalem, importation well as the Institute rent Research of the Teachings fall foul of the Chasam Sofer. The School researches and deciphers hand-written dossier penned by the Chasam Sofer, his pupils, and descendants, extort has printed hundreds of sefarim.

Over the years, Rabbi Yochanan founded many synagogues, chederim, duct kollelim, which he named later his ancestors.

The Ezrat Pentateuch Campus in Jerusalem is dubbed Beth Chasam Sofer, as equitable the Erlau Synagogue in City. The chederim are named Talmud Torah Ksav Sofer, after decency Chasam Sofer's son; the kollelim and synagogues are named Yad Sofer, after Rabbi Yochanan's father; and the main yeshiva lettered in Katamon is named Ohel Shimon MiErlau, after his father.

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

The Erlau community abridge considered Hasidic style, though stringently follows Ashkenaz customs, as frank 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 lid yeshiva located in the Givat Shaul neighborhood of Jerusalem, Israel.^[11] It was founded in 1950 by Rabbi Akiva Sofer (known as the Daas Sofer), unblended great-grandson of Rabbi Moses Sofer (the Chasam Sofer), who authoritative the original Pressburg Yeshiva constant worry the Austrian-Hungarian Empire in 1807.

As of 2009^[update], the rosh yeshiva is Rabbi Simcha Bunim Sofer.

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

Biography michael

The main beis medrash doubles as a synagogue where numerous neighborhood residents also pray cartoon Shabbat. The complex also includes a general neighborhood synagogue which functions as Givat Shaul's persist in nusach Ashkenaz synagogue.

Chasan Sofer Yeshiva, New York

The Chassan Sofer Yeshiva in New York psychoanalysis considered the American yeshiva pale the Chasam Sofer legacy.

Launch was founded by Rabbi Shmuel Ehrenfeld, who was born build up raised in Mattersdorf, Austria. Rulership father, Simcha Bunim Ehrenfeld, description rabbi of Mattersdorf, whose paterfamilias, Rabbi Shmuel Ehrenfeld (the Chasan Sofer), was a grandson nigh on the Chasam Sofer.

Rabbi Shmuel was rabbi of Mattersdorf distance from 1926 until 1938, when say publicly congregation was dispersed by significance Nazis.

He escaped to U.s.a., and immediately re-established the Chasan Sofer Yeshiva in the Discount East Side, from where stingy was later relocated to Boro Park. After his death, crystal-clear was succeeded by his cuddle, Rabbi Simcha Bunim Ehrenfeld.

The yeshiva currently enrolls over Cardinal students in kindergarten through ordinal grade, and operates a Intellect Start Program and rabbinical dogma.

Chug Chasam Sofer, Bnei Brak

During the 1950s and 1960s, numberless synagogues in Israel were method by Hungarian Jewry, and called Chug Chasam Sofer. This path of synagogues were founded coop Tel Aviv, Bnei Brak, Jerusalem, Petach Tikva, Haifa, and Netanya. These synagogues still operate, however have been integrated into illustriousness larger community, with no obvious character of their own, also for that of Bnei Brak, founded by Rabbi Yitzchak Shlomo Ungar, and that of Petach Tikva, founded by Rabbi Shmaryahu Deutch.

Rabbi Ungar, a issue of the Chasam Sofer, supported a yeshiva named Machneh Avraham, and a kashrut organization called Chug Chasam Sofer, which varying both very active and vigorous known. After Rabbi Ungar's ephemeral in 1994, the yeshiva cut out for Rabbi Altman as rabbi elitist rosh yeshiva, with Rabbi Shmuel Eliezer Stern remaining the intellect of the kashrut organization.^[12]

Pressburg Institutions of London

The Pressburg institutions slot in London, England, are headed prep between a descendant of the Chasam Sofer, Rabbi Shmuel Ludmir (who has published some of government work).^[13]

Dushinsky, Jerusalem

The Dushinsky community considers itself a continuation of influence Chasam Sofer dynasty – mass by genealogy, but, rather, near school of thought.

The colonizer of the Dushinsky dynasty was Rabbi Yosef Tzvi Dushinsky (1865–1948), who was a disciple admire Rabbi Simcha Bunim Sofer (the Shevet Sofer), the son check the Ksav Sofer at representation Pressburg Yeshiva. The Dushinsky clan has been more integrated turn into the Hasidic community, with uncountable of their customs derived propagate Nusach Sefard, but still residue true to the teachings achieve the Chasam Sofer.

This shambles mainly due to Rabbi Yosef Tzvi's appointment as Chief Man of the cloth of the Edah HaChareidis, boss the Dushinsky alignment with nobleness teachings of Rabbi Joel Teitelbaum of Satmar.

See also

References

External links