Chaim Sofer
Encyclopedia
Chaim Sofer (September 29, 1821 — June 28, 1886) was a renowned Hungarian rabbi and "scholarly spokesperson for
, Slovakia) on September 29, 1821. His father was Mordechai Efraim Fischel. Sofer attended the famous yeshiva
of Rabbi Moses Sofer
(no relation) in Pressburg, and was considered his "most distinguished student". He also attended the yeshiva of Rabbi Meir Eisenstaedter
in Ungvar, Hungary (now Uzhhorod
, Ukraine).
In 1844, aged 23, he was hired to teach high-school students in a yeshiva in Mattersdorf, Hungary (now Mattersburg
, Austria). He subsequently served as the rabbi of the Orthodox Jewish communities in Gyömöre
, Hungary (1852) Sajószentpéter
, Hungary (1859) and Munkacs, Hungary (now Mukachevo Ukraine (1868). While he was Chief Rabbi in Munkacs, Sofer was against introducing any "innovations" in Judaism. Nevertheless, he was not considered "progressive" enough and in 1879 was replaced by one of the Munkacs Hassidic rabbis.
In 1879 he was chosen rabbi of the Orthodox congregation in the newly merged city of Budapest
, Hungary where he officiated until his death. His position was replaced by Rabbi Koppel Reich. Sofer died in Budapest on June 28, 1886, and was buried in Pressburg, the city of his birth.
be preserved and be established as a part of Jewish life. He was also opposed in general to the introduction of modern innovations to religious activity and services in the same vein as his mentor, Moses Sofer. His stance was in opposition to that of Azriel Hildesheimer
who supported secular studies.
Orthodox Judaism
Orthodox Judaism , is the approach to Judaism which adheres to the traditional interpretation and application of the laws and ethics of the Torah as legislated in the Talmudic texts by the Sanhedrin and subsequently developed and applied by the later authorities known as the Gaonim, Rishonim, and...
Biography
Chaim Sofer was born in Pressburg, Hungary (now BratislavaBratislava
Bratislava is the capital of Slovakia and, with a population of about 431,000, also the country's largest city. Bratislava is in southwestern Slovakia on both banks of the Danube River. Bordering Austria and Hungary, it is the only national capital that borders two independent countries.Bratislava...
, Slovakia) on September 29, 1821. His father was Mordechai Efraim Fischel. Sofer attended the famous yeshiva
Yeshiva
Yeshiva is a Jewish educational institution that focuses on the study of traditional religious texts, primarily the Talmud and Torah study. Study is usually done through daily shiurim and in study pairs called chavrutas...
of Rabbi Moses Sofer
Moses Sofer
Moses Schreiber, known to his own community and Jewish posterity as Moshe Sofer, also known by his main work Chasam Sofer, , , was one of the leading Orthodox rabbis of European Jewry in the first half of the nineteenth century...
(no relation) in Pressburg, and was considered his "most distinguished student". He also attended the yeshiva of Rabbi Meir Eisenstaedter
Meir Eisenstaedter
Rabbi Meir Eisenstaedter - or Meir Ash - known as the Maharam Ash was one of the greatest Talmudists of the nineteenth century. He is best known as author of "Imre Esh" - the collection of his responsa published by his son in 1864...
in Ungvar, Hungary (now Uzhhorod
Uzhhorod
Uzhhorod or Uzhgorod is a city located in western Ukraine, at the border with Slovakia and near the border with Hungary. It is the administrative center of the Zakarpattia Oblast , as well as the administrative center of the surrounding Uzhhorodskyi Raion within the oblast...
, Ukraine).
In 1844, aged 23, he was hired to teach high-school students in a yeshiva in Mattersdorf, Hungary (now Mattersburg
Mattersburg
Mattersburg is a town in Burgenland, Austria. It is the administrative center of the District of Mattersburg and home to a Bundesliga football team, SV Mattersburg.- Location :...
, Austria). He subsequently served as the rabbi of the Orthodox Jewish communities in Gyömöre
Gyömöre
- External links :*...
, Hungary (1852) Sajószentpéter
Sajószentpéter
Sajószentpéter is a town in Borsod-Abaúj-Zemplén county, Northern Hungary. It lies in the Miskolc–Kazincbarcika agglomeration, 10 kilometres away from the county capital.-History:...
, Hungary (1859) and Munkacs, Hungary (now Mukachevo Ukraine (1868). While he was Chief Rabbi in Munkacs, Sofer was against introducing any "innovations" in Judaism. Nevertheless, he was not considered "progressive" enough and in 1879 was replaced by one of the Munkacs Hassidic rabbis.
In 1879 he was chosen rabbi of the Orthodox congregation in the newly merged city of Budapest
Budapest
Budapest is the capital of Hungary. As the largest city of Hungary, it is the country's principal political, cultural, commercial, industrial, and transportation centre. In 2011, Budapest had 1,733,685 inhabitants, down from its 1989 peak of 2,113,645 due to suburbanization. The Budapest Commuter...
, Hungary where he officiated until his death. His position was replaced by Rabbi Koppel Reich. Sofer died in Budapest on June 28, 1886, and was buried in Pressburg, the city of his birth.
Notable rulings
- According to HalakhaHalakhaHalakha — also transliterated Halocho , or Halacha — is the collective body of Jewish law, including biblical law and later talmudic and rabbinic law, as well as customs and traditions.Judaism classically draws no distinction in its laws between religious and ostensibly non-religious life; Jewish...
(Jewish law), abortionAbortionAbortion is defined as the termination of pregnancy by the removal or expulsion from the uterus of a fetus or embryo prior to viability. An abortion can occur spontaneously, in which case it is usually called a miscarriage, or it can be purposely induced...
is permitted when the life of the mother is in danger. Sofer ruled that once the baby is "partially born", one cannot even injure the baby to save the mother, unless non-interference will mean both mother and child die. According to J. David BleichJ. David BleichJ. David Bleich is an authority on Jewish law and ethics, including Jewish medical ethics. He is rabbi of Cong. B'nei Jehuda...
:
Interpreted in a similar manner the further provision of the Mishnah. . . "but once the major portion has emerged one may not touch it" [the fetus] implies that even the maiming of a partially born child or amputation of a limb is forbidden in order to save the mother. R. Chaim Sofer (Machaneh Chaim, Choshen Mishpat, no. 50) draws such an inference and indicates that the rationale motivating the decision is the fact that the physician "cannot guarantee with certainty" that the child will survive the surgical procedure. However, if non-interference will result in the loss of both mother and child, R. Sofer permits maiming of the child in an attempt to save the life of the mother.
Modernism
Sofer held that it was important that the Yiddish languageYiddish language
Yiddish is a High German language of Ashkenazi Jewish origin, spoken throughout the world. It developed as a fusion of German dialects with Hebrew, Aramaic, Slavic languages and traces of Romance languages...
be preserved and be established as a part of Jewish life. He was also opposed in general to the introduction of modern innovations to religious activity and services in the same vein as his mentor, Moses Sofer. His stance was in opposition to that of Azriel Hildesheimer
Azriel Hildesheimer
Esriel Hildesheimer was a German rabbi and leader of Orthodox Judaism. He is regarded as a pioneering modernizer of Orthodox Judaism in Germany and as a founder of Modern Orthodox Judaism.-Biography:...
who supported secular studies.
Works by Sofer
- Peles Chaim (Pressburg, 1854)
- Machne Chaim (4 vols., 2 editions), a collection of responsa
- Chillul Shabbat (Sajószentpéter)
- Kol Sofer, a commentary on the MishnahMishnahThe Mishnah or Mishna is the first major written redaction of the Jewish oral traditions called the "Oral Torah". It is also the first major work of Rabbinic Judaism. It was redacted c...
- Dibrei Sharei Chaim
- Sharei Chaim