Chaim Sofer



Chaim Sofer was a renowned Hungarian rabbi and "scholarly spokesperson for Orthodox Judaism during his time."

Biography

Chaim Sofer was born in Pressburg, Hungary on September 29, 1821. His father was Mordechai Efraim Fischel. Sofer attended the famous yeshiva of Rabbi Moses Sofer in Pressburg, and was considered his "most distinguished student". He also attended the yeshiva of Rabbi Meir Eisenstaedter in Ungvar, Hungary.
In 1844, aged 23, he was hired to teach high-school students in a yeshiva in Mattersdorf, Hungary. He subsequently served as the rabbi of the Orthodox Jewish communities in Gyömöre, Hungary Sajószentpéter, Hungary and Munkacs, Hungary. 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.

Notable rulings

According to J. David Bleich:

Modernism

Sofer held that it was important that the Yiddish language 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.

Works by Sofer