Rabbi Moshe Sofer - The Chasam Sofer

Rabbi Moshe Sofer, known as the Chasam Sofer (7 Tishrei 5523 - 25 Tishrei 5600 / 1762-1839), was a Rav and Rosh Yeshiva in the cities of Prostejov, Mattersdorf, Dresnitz, and Pressburg in Hungary. He was among the greatest poskim in recent generations.

Life History

Born in Frankfurt to a simple family. From his youth, he was known as a great iluy and wrote Torah chiddushim. At age nine, he began learning with Rabbi Nosson Adler, who followed kabbalistic customs, and later with Rabbi Pinchas Horowitz. As a result, the Chasam Sofer was greatly influenced by the path of Chassidus. The Rebbe wrote that his being a student of Rabbi Nosson Adler and Rabbi Pinchas Horowitz, who was a student of the Maggid of Mezritch, led to Rabbi Moshe including sayings from Chassidic leaders, including the Alter Rebbe, in his sefer "Chasam Sofer."

His attitude toward the students of the Baal Shem Tov was one of admiration and bitul.

In 5546 (1786), he moved to Prostejov where he served as Rosh Yeshiva and married Sarah Malka, daughter of R' Moshe Yerveitz.

In 5554 (1794), Rabbi Moshe was appointed as Rav in Dresnitz. In 5558 (1798), he was appointed Rosh Yeshiva in Mattersdorf, and in 5567 (1807) as Rav in Pressburg, which was among the most important kehillos in Hungary. Rabbi Moshe Sofer became known as one of the most important and famous poskim and rabbonim in recent generations, and as one who shaped Charedi Judaism. Among Chassidim, it was customary to say that in every generation there is an upper tzaddik and a lower tzaddik, and in Rabbi Moshe Sofer's generation, he was the lower tzaddik while the Tzemach Tzedek was the upper tzaddik.

The Chasam Sofer regularly reviewed Chassidic maamarim during shalosh seudos. His kehilla members were angry about this, but he continued. In his later years, he stopped this practice out of concern that among the listeners there were some who were not worthy of it.

In 5572 (1812), his first wife passed away, and he married Sarah Seryl, daughter of Rabbi Akiva Eiger. In 5592 (1832), Sarah Seryl also passed away, and he married the widow of Rabbi Tzvi Hirsch Heller. He passed away on 25 Tishrei 5600 (1839) and was buried in Pressburg (now Bratislava) in Slovakia.

With the Rebbe

It is known that the Chasam Sofer composed many poems, some of which were published in his sefer Shiras Moshe. The editor of Rishonim seforim, the Gaon Rabbi Avraham Sofer Schreiber, who was the great-grandson of the Chasam Sofer, would often visit the Rebbe's court and discuss Torah with him. During one conversation, the Rebbe told him: "If I had time, I would compose a commentary on the Chasam Sofer's poems to show that every word in them has its source in Kabbalah." (Based on Yemei Melech Vol. 2, p. 801).

The Rebbe often quoted the Chasam Sofer's words from Shu"t Choshen Mishpat, Vol. 6, Siman 98, that "in every generation there is one who is worthy through his righteousness to be the redeemer, and when the time comes - Hashem will reveal Himself to him and send him." The Rebbe frequently brings teachings from the Chasam Sofer and discusses his words (See: Shemen Sasson Meichaveirecha, Vol. 3, pp. 202-203).

Family

• His son, Rabbi Avraham Shmuel Binyamin Sofer - author of "Ksav Sofer", succeeded his father as Rabbi of Pressburg. His son, Rabbi Simcha Bunim Sofer - author of "Shevet Sofer", succeeded his father as Rabbi. His son, Rabbi Akiva Sofer - author of "Daas Sofer", succeeded his father as Rabbi. He made aliyah to Eretz Yisroel at the beginning of World War II and established the Pressburg Yeshiva in Yerushalayim. The second son of the "Ksav Sofer", Rabbi Shimon Sofer - author of "Hisorerus Teshuva", served for sixty-four years as Rabbi of Erlau (Eger) in Hungary and headed a large yeshiva in the city.
• His son, Rabbi Shimon Sofer - author of "Michtav Sofer". Served as Rabbi of Krakow. His son-in-law is Rabbi Akiva Kornitzer, and his daughter Sarah married Rabbi Menachem Mendel Schneerson, son of the Rebbe Maharash.
• Rabbi Yosef Yuzfa Sofer, father-in-law of Rabbi Yehuda Greenwald (author of Responsa "Zichron Yehuda").
• His son-in-law, Rabbi Dovid Tzvi Ehrenfeld.
• His son-in-law, Rabbi Eliyahu Kornitzer - married his daughter Gittel. Passed away at age 27.
• His son-in-law, Rabbi Shlomo Zalman Spitzer - married Gittel, the widow of Rabbi Eliyahu Kornitzer. He was head of the Beis Din in Vienna. His daughter married her cousin Rabbi Shimon Sofer, author of "Hisorerus Teshuva".
• His son-in-law, Rabbi Moshe Tuvia Lehman - married Simcha, the youngest daughter.

His Seforim

Extended entry – Chasam Sofer

• Chidushei Chasam Sofer – Novellae on Shas – he is called the Chasam (Chidushei Toras Moshe) Sofer after this and his other seforim.
• Responsa Chasam Sofer (seven volumes) – contains 1225 responsa on various topics.
• Drashos Chasam Sofer (three volumes) – on the Moadim.
• Chasam Sofer (five volumes) – commentary on the Torah.
• Toras Moshe (five volumes) – commentary on the Torah, five Megillos and the Haggadah shel Pesach.
• Commentary on the Ramban's commentary on the Torah.
• Articles on selected topics in Shas.
• Notes and comments on Shulchan Aruch.
• Shiras Moshe – songs and piyutim according to Kabbalah.
• Tzavaas Moshe – ethical will to his children and descendants.
• Sefer Zikaron – account of his suffering during the siege of Pressburg during the French war.

Further Reading

Rabbi Shalom DovBer Wolpo, Shemen Sasson Meichaveirecha, Volume 3, pages 201-229 - about the lineage of the Chasam Sofer and Lubavitch