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{{Short description|Hungarian rabbi (1850–1944)}}
{{Infobox Jewish leader
{{Infobox Jewish leader
| honorific-prefix = Rabbi
| honorific-prefix = Rabbi
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| image = Shimon Sofer of Erlau.jpg
| image = Shimon Sofer of Erlau.jpg
| caption =
| caption =
| synagogue =
| synagogue =
| synagogueposition =
| synagogueposition =
| yeshiva =
| yeshiva =
| yeshivaposition =
| yeshivaposition =
| organisation =
| organisation =
| organisationposition =
| organisationposition =
| began = 1881
| began = 1881
| ended = 1944
| ended = 1944
|predecessor =
| predecessor =
|successor = Rabbi Moshe Sofer II
| successor = Rabbi Moshe Sofer II
| rabbi =
| rabbi =
| rebbe =
| rebbe =
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| hazzan =
| hazzan =
| rank =
| rank =
| other_post =
| other_post = <!---------- Personal details ---------->
⚫
| birth_name = Shimon Sofer
<!---------- Personal details ---------->
⚫
| birth_name = Shimon Sofer
| birth_date = 1850
| birth_date = 1850
| birth_place = [[Pressburg]], [[Kingdom of Hungary (1526–1867)|Kingdom of Hungary]], [[Austrian Empire]] (today [[Bratislava]], [[Slovakia]])
| birth_place = [[Pressburg]], [[Kingdom of Hungary (1526–1867)|Kingdom of Hungary]], [[Austrian Empire]] (today [[Bratislava]], [[Slovakia]])
| death_date = 12 June 1944 (21 [[Sivan]] 5704)
| death_date = 12 June 1944 (aged 94)
| death_place = [[Auschwitz concentration camp|Auschwitz-Birkenau]], [[Nazi Germany]]
| death_place = [[Auschwitz concentration camp|Auschwitz-Birkenau]], [[Nazi Germany]]
| buried =
| buried =
| nationality = [[Kingdom of Hungary|Hungarian]]
| nationality = [[Kingdom of Hungary|Hungarian]]
| denomination = [[Orthodox Judaism]]
| denomination = [[Orthodox Judaism]]
| residence =
| residence =
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*Malka Esther Spitzer
*Malka Esther Spitzer
}}
}}
| children = 15
| children = 15
| occupation = [[Rabbi]], [[rosh yeshiva]]
| occupation = [[Rabbi]], [[rosh yeshiva]]
| profession =
| profession =
| alma_mater =
| alma_mater =
| semicha =
| semicha =
| signature =
| signature =
}}
}}
'''Shimon Sofer''' (1850 &ndash; 2 June 1944)<ref name="hamodia">Shdeour, E. ''Harav Shimon Sofer of Erlau, Hy"d''. ''[[Hamodia]]'', 23 June 2011, p. C2.</ref> was the Rav of the Hungarian city of [[Eger]] (Erlau) and the progenitor of the [[Erlau (Hasidic dynasty)|Erlauer]] [[Hasidic Judaism|Hasidic]] dynasty. His grandson, Rabbi [[Yochanan Sofer]], was the Erlauer [[Rebbe]] in Israel.
'''Shimon Sofer''' (1850 &ndash; 2 June 1944)<ref name="hamodia">Shdeour, E. ''Harav Shimon Sofer of Erlau, Hy"d''. ''[[Hamodia]]'', 23 June 2011, p. C2.</ref> was the rabbi of the Hungarian city of [[Eger]] (Erlau) and the progenitor of the [[Erlau (Hasidic dynasty)|Erlauer]] [[Hasidic Judaism|Hasidic]] dynasty. His grandson [[Yochanan Sofer]] was the Erlauer [[rebbe]] in Israel.


==Early life and family==
==Early life and family==
Sofer was one of 10 children born to Rabbi [[Samuel Benjamin Sofer]] (1815 &ndash; 1872), known as the ''Ksav Sofer''. The ''Ksav Sofer'' was the son of Rabbi [[Moses Sofer]] (1762 &ndash; 1839), known as the ''Chasam Sofer'', the rabbi of [[Pressburg]] (present-day [[Bratislava]]) and the leading rabbinical figure of Orthodox Judaism in [[Kingdom of Hungary|Hungary]] and the [[Austrian Empire]], as well as one of the greatest [[Talmud]]ic scholars of his day.
Sofer was one of 10 children of [[Samuel Benjamin Sofer]] (1815 &ndash; 1872), a rabbi known as the ''Ksav Sofer'', who was the son of [[Moses Sofer]] (1762 &ndash; 1839), known as the ''Chasam Sofer'', the rabbi of Pressburg (present-day [[Bratislava]]).


Shimon Sofer studied and lived the early part of his life in [[Kisvárda]] (Kleinwardein), [[Szabolcs County]], Northern Great Plain region of [[Kingdom of HUngary|Hungary]], a town boasting a large Jewish community. He was a diligent student, completing the Talmudic tractate of ''[[Moed|Beitzah]]'' six times before his [[Bar and Bat Mitzvah|bar mitzvah]].<ref name="hamodia"/>
Sofer lived the early part of his life in [[Kisvárda]] (Kleinwardein) in Hungary.


In 1870 he married Esther Fried, daughter of Rabbi Yitzchak Fried of Kleinwardein. The couple had a daughter. Esther died after two years of marriage. In 1874 Sofer married his cousin, Glikle Birnbaum, the daughter of Rabbi Chaim Shmuel Birnbaum of the town of [[Dubno]], [[Russian Empire]] (today in western [[Ukraine]]). Rabbi Birnbaum was the son-in-law of Rabbi [[Akiva Eiger]], Sofer's great-grandfather. The couple had a son, Akiva, but divorced soon after his birth.<ref name="hamodia"/>
In 1870 he married Esther Fried. The couple had a daughter. Esther died after two years of marriage. In 1874 Sofer married his cousin, Glikle Birnbaum. The couple had a son, Akiva, but divorced soon after his birth.<ref name="hamodia"/>


During this period, Sofer lived both in [[Uman, Ukraine|Uman]] and [[Kiev]], where he became known as a brilliant Torah scholar. Despite his young age, he was offered the position of Chief Rabbi of Kiev, an offer he turned down.
During this period, Sofer lived both in [[Uman, Ukraine|Uman]] and [[Kiev]].


Thereafter, he lived some two years in the Polish city of [[Kraków]], in the company of his uncle, also named Rabbi [[Shimon Sofer]] (author of ''Michtav Sofer'').<ref>{{cite book | last = | first = | authorlink = http://www.hebrewbooks.org/pdfpager.aspx?req=41736&st=&pgnum=8 |title= מוסרי הרמב"ם |language=he |publisher = מכון להוצאת ספרים וחקר כתבי יד ע"ש החתם סופר ז"ל | series = | volume = | edition = 2nd expanded | location = ירושלים | date = 1958| page = 9 | doi = | isbn = | mr = | zbl = }}</ref>
He then lived in the Polish city of [[Kraków]], where his uncle, also a rabbi named [[Shimon Sofer]] (author of ''Michtav Sofer'').<ref>{{cite book |title= מוסרי הרמב"ם |language=he |publisher = מכון להוצאת ספרים וחקר כתבי יד ע"ש החתם סופר ז"ל | edition = 2nd expanded | location = ירושלים | date = 1958| page = 9 }}</ref>


In approximately 1875, Sofer returned to Pressburg and married another cousin, Malka Esther Spitzer, the daughter of Rabbi Zalman Spitzer of [[Vienna]]. With Malka, he had 13 children.<ref name="hamodia"/>
In approximately 1875 Sofer returned to Pressburg and married another cousin, Malka Esther Spitzer, with whom he had 13 children.<ref name="hamodia"/>


⚫
In 1881, Sofer became rabbi of the Hungarian city of [[Eger]] (Erlau)<ref name="hamodia"/><ref>{{cite web |url=https became://www.virtualjudaica.com/Item/21237/Ketav_Zot_Zikharon |title=Bidding Information |date=12 August 2008 |access-date=6 July 2011 |publisher=Virtual Judaica |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110717213420/https://www.virtualjudaica.com/Item/21237/Ketav_Zot_Zikharon |archive-date=17 July 2011 }}</ref> where he founded a large [[yeshiva]]. He also fought [[Neolog Judaism]], a Hungarian reform movement.<ref name="hamodia"/>
==Rabbi of Erlau==
⚫
In 1881, Sofer was appointed rabbi of the Hungarian city of [[Eger]] (Erlau).<ref name="hamodia"/><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.virtualjudaica.com/Item/21237/Ketav_Zot_Zikharon |title=Bidding Information |date=12 August 2008 |accessdate=6 July 2011 |publisher=Virtual Judaica |url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20110717213420/https://www.virtualjudaica.com/Item/21237/Ketav_Zot_Zikharon |archivedate=17 July 2011 }}</ref> There he founded a large [[yeshiva]] which was attended by elite Torah scholars from throughout Hungary. This yeshiva became a foundation of the Erlau dynasty, a branch and direct link to the philosophy and teachings of Sofer's grandfather, the ''Chasam Sofer''. Sofer delivered a daily ''[[Shiur (Torah)|shiur]]'' (Torah lecture) in the yeshiva and provided for his students' physical and spiritual needs. He also became a spokesman for Torah Judaism and fought to protect his community from the proponents of [[Neolog Judaism]], a Hungarian reform movement. His fame spread throughout Hungary and he was offered prestigious rabbinical posts in other cities, but he chose to remain in the small community of Erlau, saying that he wished to raise his children away from a "big city atmosphere".<ref name="hamodia"/>


As Sofer aged, one of his sons, Rabbi [[Moshe Sofer (II)|Moses Sofer]] (author of ''Yad Sofer''), took on the role of Rav and ''[[Beth din#Officers of a beth din|dayan]]'' (rabbinical judge) of the town of Erlau. Rabbi Shimon Sofer was referred to by his congregation with the revered and affectionate title of "Rebbe".
Later one of his sons, [[Moshe Sofer (II)|Moses Sofer]] (author of ''Yad Sofer'') became rabbi and ''[[Beth din#Officers of a beth din|dayan]]'' (rabbinical judge) of Erlau.

In his old age, Sofer lost his eyesight, and one of his students would read aloud the Talmud with the commentaries of [[Rashi]] and [[Tosafot|Tosafos]] to him. Sofer would correct the boy whenever he made a mistake, as he possessed a phenomenal memory.<ref name="hamodia"/>


==Death and legacy==
==Death and legacy==
[[File:Ohel Shimon-Erlau.jpg|225px|right|thumb| Ohel Shimon-Erlau Yeshiva in [[Katamon]], [[Jerusalem]], named after Rabbi Shimon Sofer.]]
[[File:Ohel Shimon-Erlau.jpg|225px|right|thumb| Ohel Shimon-Erlau Yeshiva in [[Katamon]], [[Jerusalem]], named after Sofer.]]
Sofer led the Jewish community in Erlau for some 64 years. Shortly after the Germans [[History of the Jews in Hungary#Occupation and deportation|occupied Hungary]] in May 1944, they placed the Jewish population in [[Ghettos in Nazi-occupied Europe|ghettos]]. In June, the Germans deported Sofer and his entire community &ndash; some 3,000 Jews<ref>{{cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=29mfAAAAMAAJ&q=shimon+sofer |title=Shema Yisrael: Testimonies of devotion, courage, and self-sacrifice, 1939 &ndash; 1945 |author=Kaliv World Center |publisher=[[Targum Press]] |year=2002 |isbn=1-56871-271-5 |page=319}}</ref> &ndash; to [[Auschwitz concentration camp|Auschwitz]]. They arrived on 21 [[Sivan]] (June 2), and were gassed a few hours later.<ref name="hamodia"/> Sofer was 94 at the time of his death. His son, Rabbi Moshe Sofer, was murdered at the same time.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://chinuch.org/Sivan.php |title=Gedolim Yahrtzeits |last=Saltiel |first=Manny |publisher=Chinuch.org |year=2011 |accessdate=7 July 2011}}</ref>
Sofer led the Jewish community in Erlau for some 64 years. Shortly after the Germans [[History of the Jews in Hungary#Occupation and deportation|occupied Hungary]] in May 1944, they placed the Jewish population in [[Ghettos in Nazi-occupied Europe|ghettos]]. In June, the Germans deported Sofer and his entire community &ndash; some 3,000 Jews<ref>{{cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=29mfAAAAMAAJ&q=shimon+sofer |title=Shema Yisrael: Testimonies of devotion, courage, and self-sacrifice, 1939 &ndash; 1945 |author=Kaliv World Center |publisher=[[Targum Press]] |year=2002 |isbn=1-56871-271-5 |page=319}}</ref> &ndash; to [[Auschwitz concentration camp|Auschwitz]]. They arrived on 21 [[Sivan]] (June 2), and were gassed a few hours later.<ref name="hamodia"/> Sofer was 94 at the time of his death. His son, Rabbi Moshe Sofer, was murdered at the same time.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://chinuch.org/Sivan.php |title=Gedolim Yahrtzeits |last=Saltiel |first=Manny |publisher=Chinuch.org |year=2011 |access-date=7 July 2011}}</ref>


Sofer authored a book of responsa, ''Hisorerus Teshuva'' (hence he is known as "The Hisorerus Teshuva"), and ''Shir Maon'' on the Torah. He was able to pay for the publication of these works only with the help of his wife, who sold all her jewelry to cover the printing costs. He also edited the works of his father and grandfather and prepared them for publication.<ref name="hamodia"/>
Sofer authored a book of responsa, ''Hisorerus Teshuva'' (hence he is known as "The Hisorerus Teshuva"), and ''Shir Maon'' on the Torah. He also edited the works of his father and grandfather and prepared them for publication.<ref name="hamodia"/>


Sofer's grandson, the late Rabbi Yochanan Sofer, re-founded the Erlau community in Israel in 1953. Rabbi Yochanan printed his grandfather's ''[[Sefer (Hebrew)|sefarim]]'' at the Institute for Research of the Teachings of the Chasam Sofer ({{lang-he|מכון חת"ם סופר}}), which he established. Rabbi Yochanan also presided over the Ohel Shimon-Erlau Yeshiva, named in memory of Rabbi Shimon Sofer.
Sofer's grandson, Yochanan Sofer, re-founded the Erlau community in Israel in 1953. Yochanan printed his grandfather's ''[[Sefer (Hebrew)|sefarim]]'' at the Institute for Research of the Teachings of the Chasam Sofer ({{langx|he|מכון חת"ם סופר}}), which he established and also presided over the Ohel Shimon-Erlau Yeshiva, named in memory of Shimon Sofer.


==Children==
==Children==
Sofer had 15 children from his three wives:
Sofer had 15 children from his three wives, including [[Moshe Sofer (II)|Moshe Sofer]].
* Mrs Gitel Frankel ([[Budapest]], [[Hungary]])
* Rabbi Akiva Sofer ([[Lvov]])
* Mrs Sara Deutch (died in the [[The Holocaust|Holocaust]])
* Rabbi Shmuel Chaim Sofer (Rabbi of [[Zagreb]], [[Croatia]]; died in Holocaust)
* Rabbi [[Moshe Sofer (II)]] (Rabbi & Dayan of Eger (Erlau), Hungary; died in Holocaust)
* Rabbi Yaakov Biyamin Sofer ([[Sátoraljaújhely]], Hungary; died in Holocaust)
* Mrs Rivka Pashkus
* Rabbi Zalman Sofer ([[Bnei Brak]], [[Israel]])
* Serach Pollack (died in Holocaust)
* Rabbi Avraham Sofer ([[Jerusalem]], Israel)
* Mrs Chava Leah Weiss (died in Holocaust)
* Mrs Rachel Rosenblatt (died in Holocaust)
* Mrs Reiza Klein (died in Holocaust)
* Rosa (died at early age)
* Shlomo (died at early age)


==References==
==References==
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==External links==
==External links==
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20100507103959/http://www.chasamsofer.com/ www.ChasamSofer.com]
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20100507103959/http://www.chasamsofer.com/ www.ChasamSofer.com]

*[http://www.greenfieldjudaica.com/reb-shimon-sofer--tiefenbrun-art-collection-TAC34.html Portrait of R'Shimon Sofer]
*[http://www.greenfieldjudaica.com/reb-shimon-sofer-2--tiefenbrun-art-collection-TAC35.html Another portrait of R' Shimon Sofer]
*[http:/upwiki/wikipedia/commons/thumb/1/1a/Shimon2.jpg/250px-Shimon2.jpg Title page of ''Hisorerus Teshuva'', Part II]
*[http:/upwiki/wikipedia/commons/thumb/1/1a/Shimon2.jpg/250px-Shimon2.jpg Title page of ''Hisorerus Teshuva'', Part II]


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[[Category:1850 births]]
[[Category:1850 births]]
[[Category:1944 deaths]]
[[Category:1944 deaths]]
[[Category:Clergy from Bratislava]]
[[Category:19th-century Polish rabbis]]
[[Category:Hungarian Orthodox rabbis]]
[[Category:Hungarian Orthodox rabbis]]
[[Category:19th-century rabbis]]
[[Category:19th-century Hungarian rabbis]]
[[Category:20th-century rabbis]]
[[Category:20th-century Hungarian rabbis]]
[[Category:Hungarian people who died in Auschwitz concentration camp]]
[[Category:Hungarian people who died in Auschwitz concentration camp]]
[[Category:Hungarian civilians killed in World War II]]
[[Category:Hungarian civilians killed in World War II]]

Latest revision as of 11:46, 31 October 2024

Rabbi
Shimon Sofer
TitleRabbi of Erlau
Personal life
Born
Shimon Sofer

1850
Pressburg, Kingdom of Hungary, Austrian Empire (today Bratislava, Slovakia)
Died12 June 1944 (aged 94)
Auschwitz-Birkenau, Nazi Germany
NationalityHungarian
Spouse
  • Esther Fried
  • Glikle Birnbaum
  • Malka Esther Spitzer
Children15
Parent(s)Rabbi Samuel Benjamin Sofer and Chava Leah Weiss
OccupationRabbi, rosh yeshiva
Religious life
ReligionJudaism
DenominationOrthodox Judaism
Jewish leader
SuccessorRabbi Moshe Sofer II

Shimon Sofer (1850 – 2 June 1944)[1] was the rabbi of the Hungarian city of Eger (Erlau) and the progenitor of the Erlauer Hasidic dynasty. His grandson Yochanan Sofer was the Erlauer rebbe in Israel.

Early life and family

[edit]

Sofer was one of 10 children of Samuel Benjamin Sofer (1815 – 1872), a rabbi known as the Ksav Sofer, who was the son of Moses Sofer (1762 – 1839), known as the Chasam Sofer, the rabbi of Pressburg (present-day Bratislava).

Sofer lived the early part of his life in Kisvárda (Kleinwardein) in Hungary.

In 1870 he married Esther Fried. The couple had a daughter. Esther died after two years of marriage. In 1874 Sofer married his cousin, Glikle Birnbaum. The couple had a son, Akiva, but divorced soon after his birth.[1]

During this period, Sofer lived both in Uman and Kiev.

He then lived in the Polish city of Kraków, where his uncle, also a rabbi named Shimon Sofer (author of Michtav Sofer).[2]

In approximately 1875 Sofer returned to Pressburg and married another cousin, Malka Esther Spitzer, with whom he had 13 children.[1]

In 1881, Sofer became rabbi of the Hungarian city of Eger (Erlau)[1][3] where he founded a large yeshiva. He also fought Neolog Judaism, a Hungarian reform movement.[1]

Later one of his sons, Moses Sofer (author of Yad Sofer) became rabbi and dayan (rabbinical judge) of Erlau.

Death and legacy

[edit]
Ohel Shimon-Erlau Yeshiva in Katamon, Jerusalem, named after Sofer.

Sofer led the Jewish community in Erlau for some 64 years. Shortly after the Germans occupied Hungary in May 1944, they placed the Jewish population in ghettos. In June, the Germans deported Sofer and his entire community – some 3,000 Jews[4] – to Auschwitz. They arrived on 21 Sivan (June 2), and were gassed a few hours later.[1] Sofer was 94 at the time of his death. His son, Rabbi Moshe Sofer, was murdered at the same time.[5]

Sofer authored a book of responsa, Hisorerus Teshuva (hence he is known as "The Hisorerus Teshuva"), and Shir Maon on the Torah. He also edited the works of his father and grandfather and prepared them for publication.[1]

Sofer's grandson, Yochanan Sofer, re-founded the Erlau community in Israel in 1953. Yochanan printed his grandfather's sefarim at the Institute for Research of the Teachings of the Chasam Sofer (Hebrew: מכון חת"ם סופר), which he established and also presided over the Ohel Shimon-Erlau Yeshiva, named in memory of Shimon Sofer.

Children

[edit]

Sofer had 15 children from his three wives, including Moshe Sofer.

References

[edit]
  1. ^ a b c d e f g Shdeour, E. Harav Shimon Sofer of Erlau, Hy"d. Hamodia, 23 June 2011, p. C2.
  2. ^ מוסרי הרמב"ם (in Hebrew) (2nd expanded ed.). ירושלים: מכון להוצאת ספרים וחקר כתבי יד ע"ש החתם סופר ז"ל. 1958. p. 9.
  3. ^ "Bidding Information". Virtual Judaica. 12 August 2008. Archived from [https became://www.virtualjudaica.com/Item/21237/Ketav_Zot_Zikharon the original] on 17 July 2011. Retrieved 6 July 2011. {{cite web}}: Check |url= value (help)
  4. ^ Kaliv World Center (2002). Shema Yisrael: Testimonies of devotion, courage, and self-sacrifice, 1939 – 1945. Targum Press. p. 319. ISBN 1-56871-271-5.
  5. ^ Saltiel, Manny (2011). "Gedolim Yahrtzeits". Chinuch.org. Retrieved 7 July 2011.
[edit]
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