Erlau (Hasidic dynasty)
Encyclopedia
Erlau also spelled Erloy and Erloi, is a Hasidic
dynasty named for the town of Eger
, a Hungarian
city situated between Miskolc
and Pest. During the early Middle Ages
the town was named Erlau by the German, Avar
, and Slavonic
tribes living there. This name was adapted to Yiddish
and was used by the Jewish population there until World War II.
Erlau is one of the small-sized movements in Orthodox Judaism
, often considered Hasidic. It was established by Rabbi Yochanan Sofer
in Jerusalem, Israel
after World War II.
Rabbi Moshe Sofer
– Chasam Sofer, , (1762–1839) and his teachings are the cornerstone and foundation of the Erlau Dynasty, whose leaders were genealogically descended from him. Rabbi Moshe, known by his main work, Chasam Sofer ("Seal of the Scribe" and acronym for Chidushei Toras Moshe Sofer), was one of the leading Orthodox
rabbi
s of European Jewry
in the first half of the nineteenth century. He established a yeshiva
in Pressburg
which became the most influential yeshiva in Central Europe, producing hundreds of future leaders of Hungarian Jewry. He was a teacher to thousands of students, some of whom were his own sons and family relatives. These students continued his legacy by spreading throughout Europe and even to the Land of Israel (then Ottoman Palesine) teaching his classic approach to Torah and Judaism strengthening the Orthodox Jewish communities. As Rav of the city of Pressburg
(present-day Bratislava), he maintained a strong Orthodox Jewish perspective through communal life, first-class education, and uncompromising opposition to Reform and radical change.
This yeshiva continued to function until World War II; afterwards, it was relocated to Jerusalem under the leadership of the Chasam Sofer's great-grandson, Rabbi Akiva Sofer (the Daas Sofer).
(1815–1871) also known by his main work Ksav Sofer ("Writing of the Scribe"), succeeded his father Rabbi Moshe Sofer as Rabbi of Pressburg and rosh yeshiva
of the famed Pressburg Yeshiva
on the day of his death, October 3, 1839.
At age eighteen in 1833, he married Chavah Leah, the daughter of Rabbi Yitzchok Weiss of Görlitz, who gave a dowry and promised to support them for six years. The wedding was held in the town of Kamaren. The couple settled in Pressburg where Rabbi Shmuel Binyamin continued his studies and helped his father with the yeshiva.
Rabbi Avraham had 10 children, one named Rabbi Simcha Bunim Sofer known as the Shevet Sofer, who succeeded him as Rabbi of Pessburg and rosh yeshiva
of the famed Pressburg Yeshiva
on the day of his death, December 31, 1871.
Another son, Rabbi Shimon Sofer (II), settled in the Hungarian town of Erlau (Eger) and founded a yeshiva there continuing the heritage of his father, the Ksav Sofer, and grandfather, the Chasam Sofer.
(1850 – 1944) was the progenitor of the Erlau Hasidic
dynasty. He was the son of Rabbi Samuel Benjamin Sofer
, known as the Ksav Sofer, and grandson of Rabbi Moses Sofer
, the Chasam Sofer. (Shimon Sofer (II) bore the same name as his uncle, Rabbi Shimon Sofer, son of the Chasam Sofer and author of the Michtav Sofer.)
In 1881, Rabbi Shimon was appointed Rav of the city of Erlau (Eger). 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 the Chasam Sofer.
Rabbi Shimon Sofer authored two sefarim
, the Hisorerus Tshuva responsa and Shir Maon. Hence he is known to many simply as "the Hisorerus Tshuva".
In all, Rabbi Shimon Sofer led the Jewish community in Erlau for some 64 years.
of Erlau. Rabbi Shimon continued to be referred to by his congregation with the revered and affectionate title of "Rebbe".
Rabbi Moshe authored many works on the Torah, most of which were lost during the war. Remaining today is his responsa on the Shulchan Aruch
which he named Yad Sofer (Hand of the Scribe). This responsa was published by his son, Rabbi Yochanan, who added his own commentary and notations named Itur Sofrim (Ornament of the Scribes). These sefarim
were printed in 1949 in Budapest at Gewirtz Brothers Printery.
The Erlau Jewish community was deported to Auschwitz
by the Nazis
in 1944. On 12 June 1944 (21 Sivan
5704), at the age of 94, Rabbi Shimon Sofer (II) was murdered by the Nazis
together with his son, Rabbi Moshe Sofer (II), and many others from the city of Erlau.
Some of Rabbi Shimon's children survived the Holocaust. Rabbi Moshe's wife and four daughters were murdered by the Nazis, but he was survived by his sons, Avraham Shmuel Binyamin (II) and Yochanan.
(rabbinic ordination) from Rabbi Chaim Mordechai Roller (Be'er Chaim Mordechai) of Piatra Neamţ
, Romania
. Due to his humility, he refused an offer to head the renewed Chasam Sofer Yeshiva Pest, Hungary or to assume the mantle of leadership of the remaining Erlau community, most of which found refuge there. He bequeathed this holy task to his younger brother, Yochanan. Thereafter, they returned to Erlau where Yochanan was appointed Rabbi and was married. Avraham Shmuel Binyamin took an active role in the refounding of the community and yeshiva together with Yochanan, supporting this endeavor with personal savings from the business he established. He spent his spare time at the yeshiva engaged in Torah study with the students. He was known as a philanthropist and aid to Jewish war refugees. Never married, he died in 1948 and was buried in the Jewish cemetery in Erlau. His legacy remains in his hand-written Torah works, Divrei Sofer, later published by his brother, Yochanan, and printed by the Institute for Research of the Teachings of the Chasam Sofer .
was born to Rabbi Moshe Sofer (II) in Erlau during 1923. He was raised by his father and grandfather, from whom he received his rabbinical education. He also studied at the Verpleleter Yeshiva in Verpelet, Hungary, whose rosh yeshiva
was Rabbi Yosef Usher Pollack (1888 – 1944), Verpleleter Rav and author of Shearis Yosef Usher.
The young Rabbi Yochanan survived the Auschwitz concentration camp
and returned to Pest, Hungary after the war to rebuild the Jewish community and yeshiva. There he reinstated the Chasam Sofer Yeshiva together with Rabbi Moshe Stern (the Debretziner Rav).
In 1947, he re-established the Yeshiva in Erlau, with a small group of boys and adolescents (mostly orphans). Yochanan married and was appointed as Rabbi of the fledgling Orthodox Jewish community there.
Rabbi Yochanan has authored many Torah works. His main work is a commentary on the Talmud entitled Imrei Sofer (Proverbs of the Scribe)
He is today one of the main leaders of the Ashkenazi Orthodox Jewish community in Israel and is a one of five senior members presiding over the Moetzes Gedolei HaTorah
of Agudath Israel
.
in Jerusalem, which was headed by Rabbi Akiva Sofer (known as the Daas Sofer), a great-grandson of the Chasam Sofer. Rabbi Yochanan served there as a maggid shiur
.
During this time, Rabbi Yochanan became a close disciple of Rabbi Aharon Rokeach
, the Belzer
Rebbe. From him, Rabbi Yochanan acquired extensive knowledge of Hasidut, which eventually led him to preach numerous Hasidic customs.
In 1953 he founded the Erlau yeshiva and community in the Katamon neighbourhood of south-central Jerusalem, starting with the purchase of a few rooms in the building of the former Syrian Consulate on Yotam Street. The yeshiva was named "High Yeshiva of Rabbi Akiva Eiger" after the father-in-law of the Chasam Sofer. Later this yeshiva expanded to the whole building, where Sofer founded a dormitory and orphanage
for Holocaust survivors and students from needy families.
In 1961, Sofer constructed a new building in the empty lot adjacent to the yeshiva. It was named Ohel Shimon-Erlau after his grandfather, Rabbi Shimon Sofer. This new campus includes a beth midrash
which serves until today as the main synagogue
and study hall for the yeshiva gedola, a smaller study hall for the yeshiva ketana, dormitory, classrooms, library, kitchen, offices and Rebbe's sanctuary. In addition, he opened the Institute for Research of the Teachings of the Chasam Sofer. This Institute researches and deciphers handwritten documents of the Chasam Sofer, his pupils and descendants. It has brought to light and printed hundreds of sefarim
and distributed them worldwide.
.
In the late 1990s, Rabbi Yochanan nominated his son, Rabbi Avraham Shmuel Binyomin (III) Sofer, to head the main Erlau yeshiva in the Katamon neighborhood of Jerusalem, naming him rosh yeshiva
(dean). The yeshiva has graduated thousands of students from Israel and abroad, many of whom have become famous rabbis. To date, some 200 students study and live on campus.
Besides the yeshiva in Katamon, there are a score of Erlau synagogue
s, schools and kindergartens, across Israel and in the United States and Europe. All Erlau synagogues are named after the Rebbe's father as "Kehillot Yad Sofer," whilst the chadarim
(schools) are named after his great-grandfather as "Talmud Torah Ksav Sofer". The Erlau campus in Jerusalem's Gush 80 neighborhood is called "Beis Chasam Sofer".
Rabbi Yochanan Sofer assumes the mantle of leadership as "Rebbe
". He is known to the community and to the Jewish population as the Erlauer Rebbe (Yiddish) or Admor of Erlau (Hebrew). He continues to be actively involved in all aspects of the yeshiva, giving daily Torah lectures to both students and elderly members of the Erlau community and surrounding neighbourhood, and prays the daily prayers together with his pupils.
Hundreds of families belonging to the community travel to Katamon to participate in the High Holidays services together with the Rebbe. Special bleachers are built within the synagogue to accommodate worshippers. A large marquee spreads across the adjacent street, serving as a temporary dining area for the pilgrims. Meals are cooked by the yeshiva kitchen. This pilgrimage is repeated on the festival of Shavuot
.
, it is categorized as Hasidic. This may be due to its traditional code of dress and its pronunciation of Hebrew literature and prayer identical to that of the Hasidim. The Rebbe also conducts a tish
on Shabbat and Yom Tov. Notwithstanding, the nusach of the prayers at the Erlau synagogues are traditionally nusach Ashkenaz
, with daily practice and customs preached according to the teachings of the Chasam Sofer.
The Sofer family has married into many distinguished rabbinical families and Hasidic dynasties such as Vizhnitz
, Seret Vizhnitz,
Dushinsky
, Ungvar, Minchas Yitzchok, Strikov, Bobov, Biala
, Linsk, Zutchke, Nadvorna
and Zvhil.
Hasidic Judaism
Hasidic Judaism or Hasidism, from the Hebrew —Ḥasidut in Sephardi, Chasidus in Ashkenazi, meaning "piety" , is a branch of Orthodox Judaism that promotes spirituality and joy through the popularisation and internalisation of Jewish mysticism as the fundamental aspects of the Jewish faith...
dynasty named for the town of Eger
Eger
Eger is the second largest city in Northern Hungary, the county seat of Heves, east of the Mátra Mountains. Eger is best known for its castle, thermal baths, historic buildings , and red and white wines.- Name :...
, a Hungarian
Hungary
Hungary , officially the Republic of Hungary , is a landlocked country in Central Europe. It is situated in the Carpathian Basin and is bordered by Slovakia to the north, Ukraine and Romania to the east, Serbia and Croatia to the south, Slovenia to the southwest and Austria to the west. The...
city situated between Miskolc
Miskolc
Miskolc is a city in northeastern Hungary, mainly with heavy industrial background. With a population close to 170,000 Miskolc is the fourth largest city of Hungary It is also the county capital of Borsod-Abaúj-Zemplén and the regional centre of Northern Hungary.- Geography :Miskolc is located...
and Pest. During the early Middle Ages
Middle Ages
The Middle Ages is a periodization of European history from the 5th century to the 15th century. The Middle Ages follows the fall of the Western Roman Empire in 476 and precedes the Early Modern Era. It is the middle period of a three-period division of Western history: Classic, Medieval and Modern...
the town was named Erlau by the German, Avar
Eurasian Avars
The Eurasian Avars or Ancient Avars were a highly organized nomadic confederacy of mixed origins. They were ruled by a khagan, who was surrounded by a tight-knit entourage of nomad warriors, an organization characteristic of Turko-Mongol groups...
, and Slavonic
Slavic peoples
The Slavic people are an Indo-European panethnicity living in Eastern Europe, Southeast Europe, North Asia and Central Asia. The term Slavic represents a broad ethno-linguistic group of people, who speak languages belonging to the Slavic language family and share, to varying degrees, certain...
tribes living there. This name was adapted to Yiddish
Yiddish 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...
and was used by the Jewish population there until World War II.
Erlau is one of the small-sized movements in Orthodox Judaism
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...
, often considered Hasidic. It was established by Rabbi Yochanan Sofer
Yochanan Sofer
Rabbi Yochanan Sofer is the Rebbe of the Erlau Hasidic dynasty, a small-sized movement in Orthodox Judaism. He was born in Erlau , Hungary, where his father and grandfather served as Grand Rabbis...
in Jerusalem, Israel
Israel
The State of Israel is a parliamentary republic located in the Middle East, along the eastern shore of the Mediterranean Sea...
after World War II.
Rabbi Moshe Sofer – Chasam 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...
– Chasam Sofer, , (1762–1839) and his teachings are the cornerstone and foundation of the Erlau Dynasty, whose leaders were genealogically descended from him. Rabbi Moshe, known by his main work, Chasam Sofer ("Seal of the Scribe" and acronym for Chidushei Toras Moshe Sofer), was one of the leading Orthodox
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...
rabbi
Rabbi
In Judaism, a rabbi is a teacher of Torah. This title derives from the Hebrew word רבי , meaning "My Master" , which is the way a student would address a master of Torah...
s of European Jewry
Judaism
Judaism ) is the "religion, philosophy, and way of life" of the Jewish people...
in the first half of the nineteenth century. He established a 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...
in Pressburg
Bratislava
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...
which became the most influential yeshiva in Central Europe, producing hundreds of future leaders of Hungarian Jewry. He was a teacher to thousands of students, some of whom were his own sons and family relatives. These students continued his legacy by spreading throughout Europe and even to the Land of Israel (then Ottoman Palesine) teaching his classic approach to Torah and Judaism strengthening the Orthodox Jewish communities. As Rav of the city of Pressburg
Bratislava
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...
(present-day Bratislava), he maintained a strong Orthodox Jewish perspective through communal life, first-class education, and uncompromising opposition to Reform and radical change.
This yeshiva continued to function until World War II; afterwards, it was relocated to Jerusalem under the leadership of the Chasam Sofer's great-grandson, Rabbi Akiva Sofer (the Daas Sofer).
Rabbi Avraham Shmuel Binyomin Sofer – Ksav Sofer
Rabbi Shmuel Binyamin SoferSamuel Benjamin Sofer
Avraham Shmuel Binyomin Sofer, , also known by his main work Ksav Sofer , , was one of the leading rabbis of Hungarian Jewry in the second half of the nineteenth century and rosh yeshiva of the famed Pressburg Yeshiva.-Early years:Shmuel Binyomin Sofer was born in Pressburg on March 13, 1815...
(1815–1871) also known by his main work Ksav Sofer ("Writing of the Scribe"), succeeded his father Rabbi Moshe Sofer as Rabbi of Pressburg and rosh yeshiva
Rosh yeshiva
Rosh yeshiva, , , is the title given to the dean of a Talmudical academy . It is made up of the Hebrew words rosh — meaning head, and yeshiva — a school of religious Jewish education...
of the famed Pressburg Yeshiva
Pressburg Yeshiva (Austria-Hungary)
Pressburg Yeshiva, established in 1807 in the city of Pressburg, Austrian Empire by Rabbi Moses Sofer , was the largest and most influential yeshiva in Central Europe...
on the day of his death, October 3, 1839.
At age eighteen in 1833, he married Chavah Leah, the daughter of Rabbi Yitzchok Weiss of Görlitz, who gave a dowry and promised to support them for six years. The wedding was held in the town of Kamaren. The couple settled in Pressburg where Rabbi Shmuel Binyamin continued his studies and helped his father with the yeshiva.
Rabbi Avraham had 10 children, one named Rabbi Simcha Bunim Sofer known as the Shevet Sofer, who succeeded him as Rabbi of Pessburg and rosh yeshiva
Rosh yeshiva
Rosh yeshiva, , , is the title given to the dean of a Talmudical academy . It is made up of the Hebrew words rosh — meaning head, and yeshiva — a school of religious Jewish education...
of the famed Pressburg Yeshiva
Pressburg Yeshiva (Austria-Hungary)
Pressburg Yeshiva, established in 1807 in the city of Pressburg, Austrian Empire by Rabbi Moses Sofer , was the largest and most influential yeshiva in Central Europe...
on the day of his death, December 31, 1871.
Another son, Rabbi Shimon Sofer (II), settled in the Hungarian town of Erlau (Eger) and founded a yeshiva there continuing the heritage of his father, the Ksav Sofer, and grandfather, the Chasam Sofer.
Rabbi Shimon Sofer (II) - Hisorerus Tshuva
Shimon Sofer (II)Shimon Sofer (II)
Shimon Sofer was the Rav of the Hungarian city of Eger and the progenitor of the Erlauer Hasidic dynasty. His grandson, Rabbi Yochanan Sofer, is the present-day Erlauer Rebbe in Israel.-Early life and family:...
(1850 – 1944) was the progenitor of the Erlau Hasidic
Hasidic Judaism
Hasidic Judaism or Hasidism, from the Hebrew —Ḥasidut in Sephardi, Chasidus in Ashkenazi, meaning "piety" , is a branch of Orthodox Judaism that promotes spirituality and joy through the popularisation and internalisation of Jewish mysticism as the fundamental aspects of the Jewish faith...
dynasty. He was the son of Rabbi Samuel Benjamin Sofer
Samuel Benjamin Sofer
Avraham Shmuel Binyomin Sofer, , also known by his main work Ksav Sofer , , was one of the leading rabbis of Hungarian Jewry in the second half of the nineteenth century and rosh yeshiva of the famed Pressburg Yeshiva.-Early years:Shmuel Binyomin Sofer was born in Pressburg on March 13, 1815...
, known as the Ksav Sofer, and grandson 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...
, the Chasam Sofer. (Shimon Sofer (II) bore the same name as his uncle, Rabbi Shimon Sofer, son of the Chasam Sofer and author of the Michtav Sofer.)
In 1881, Rabbi Shimon was appointed Rav of the city of Erlau (Eger). 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 the Chasam Sofer.
Rabbi Shimon Sofer authored two sefarim
Sefer (Hebrew)
Sefer in simple Hebrew is a word that means any kind of "book" It is derived from the same Hebrew root-word as sofer , sifriyah and safrut ....
, the Hisorerus Tshuva responsa and Shir Maon. Hence he is known to many simply as "the Hisorerus Tshuva".
In all, Rabbi Shimon Sofer led the Jewish community in Erlau for some 64 years.
Rabbi Moshe Sofer (II) - Yad Sofer
As Rabbi Shimon aged, he appointed his son, Rabbi Moshe Sofer II, author of Yad Sofer ("Hand of the Scribe"), to be the active Rav and dayanBeth din
A beth din, bet din, beit din or beis din is a rabbinical court of Judaism. In ancient times, it was the building block of the legal system in the Biblical Land of Israel...
of Erlau. Rabbi Shimon continued to be referred to by his congregation with the revered and affectionate title of "Rebbe".
Rabbi Moshe authored many works on the Torah, most of which were lost during the war. Remaining today is his responsa on the Shulchan Aruch
Shulchan Aruch
The Shulchan Aruch also known as the Code of Jewish Law, is the most authoritative legal code of Judaism. It was authored in Safed, Israel, by Yosef Karo in 1563 and published in Venice two years later...
which he named Yad Sofer (Hand of the Scribe). This responsa was published by his son, Rabbi Yochanan, who added his own commentary and notations named Itur Sofrim (Ornament of the Scribes). These sefarim
Sefer (Hebrew)
Sefer in simple Hebrew is a word that means any kind of "book" It is derived from the same Hebrew root-word as sofer , sifriyah and safrut ....
were printed in 1949 in Budapest at Gewirtz Brothers Printery.
The Erlau Jewish community was deported to Auschwitz
Auschwitz concentration camp
Concentration camp Auschwitz was a network of Nazi concentration and extermination camps built and operated by the Third Reich in Polish areas annexed by Nazi Germany during World War II...
by the Nazis
Nazism
Nazism, the common short form name of National Socialism was the ideology and practice of the Nazi Party and of Nazi Germany...
in 1944. On 12 June 1944 (21 Sivan
Sivan
Sivan is the ninth month of the civil year and the third month of the ecclesiastical year on the Hebrew calendar. It is a spring month of 30 days...
5704), at the age of 94, Rabbi Shimon Sofer (II) was murdered by the Nazis
Nazism
Nazism, the common short form name of National Socialism was the ideology and practice of the Nazi Party and of Nazi Germany...
together with his son, Rabbi Moshe Sofer (II), and many others from the city of Erlau.
Some of Rabbi Shimon's children survived the Holocaust. Rabbi Moshe's wife and four daughters were murdered by the Nazis, but he was survived by his sons, Avraham Shmuel Binyamin (II) and Yochanan.
Rabbi Avraham Shmuel Binyamin (II)
Rabbi Avraham Shmuel Binyamin (II) was a Torah genius who received semichaSemicha
, also , or is derived from a Hebrew word which means to "rely on" or "to be authorized". It generally refers to the ordination of a rabbi within Judaism. In this sense it is the "transmission" of rabbinic authority to give advice or judgment in Jewish law...
(rabbinic ordination) from Rabbi Chaim Mordechai Roller (Be'er Chaim Mordechai) of Piatra Neamţ
Piatra Neamt
Piatra Neamț , , ; is the capital city of Neamţ County, in the historical region of Moldavia, eastern Romania. Because of its privileged location in the Eastern Carpathian mountains, it is considered one of the most picturesque cities in Romania...
, Romania
Romania
Romania is a country located at the crossroads of Central and Southeastern Europe, on the Lower Danube, within and outside the Carpathian arch, bordering on the Black Sea...
. Due to his humility, he refused an offer to head the renewed Chasam Sofer Yeshiva Pest, Hungary or to assume the mantle of leadership of the remaining Erlau community, most of which found refuge there. He bequeathed this holy task to his younger brother, Yochanan. Thereafter, they returned to Erlau where Yochanan was appointed Rabbi and was married. Avraham Shmuel Binyamin took an active role in the refounding of the community and yeshiva together with Yochanan, supporting this endeavor with personal savings from the business he established. He spent his spare time at the yeshiva engaged in Torah study with the students. He was known as a philanthropist and aid to Jewish war refugees. Never married, he died in 1948 and was buried in the Jewish cemetery in Erlau. His legacy remains in his hand-written Torah works, Divrei Sofer, later published by his brother, Yochanan, and printed by the Institute for Research of the Teachings of the Chasam Sofer .
Rabbi Yochanan Sofer - Imrei Sofer
Rabbi Yochanan SoferYochanan Sofer
Rabbi Yochanan Sofer is the Rebbe of the Erlau Hasidic dynasty, a small-sized movement in Orthodox Judaism. He was born in Erlau , Hungary, where his father and grandfather served as Grand Rabbis...
was born to Rabbi Moshe Sofer (II) in Erlau during 1923. He was raised by his father and grandfather, from whom he received his rabbinical education. He also studied at the Verpleleter Yeshiva in Verpelet, Hungary, whose rosh yeshiva
Rosh yeshiva
Rosh yeshiva, , , is the title given to the dean of a Talmudical academy . It is made up of the Hebrew words rosh — meaning head, and yeshiva — a school of religious Jewish education...
was Rabbi Yosef Usher Pollack (1888 – 1944), Verpleleter Rav and author of Shearis Yosef Usher.
The young Rabbi Yochanan survived the Auschwitz concentration camp
Auschwitz concentration camp
Concentration camp Auschwitz was a network of Nazi concentration and extermination camps built and operated by the Third Reich in Polish areas annexed by Nazi Germany during World War II...
and returned to Pest, Hungary after the war to rebuild the Jewish community and yeshiva. There he reinstated the Chasam Sofer Yeshiva together with Rabbi Moshe Stern (the Debretziner Rav).
In 1947, he re-established the Yeshiva in Erlau, with a small group of boys and adolescents (mostly orphans). Yochanan married and was appointed as Rabbi of the fledgling Orthodox Jewish community there.
Rabbi Yochanan has authored many Torah works. His main work is a commentary on the Talmud entitled Imrei Sofer (Proverbs of the Scribe)
He is today one of the main leaders of the Ashkenazi Orthodox Jewish community in Israel and is a one of five senior members presiding over the Moetzes Gedolei HaTorah
Moetzes Gedolei HaTorah
Moetzes Gedolei HaTorah refers to the supreme rabbinical policy-making council of any of several related Haredi Jewish organizations....
of Agudath Israel
Agudath Israel
Agudath Israel can refer to any of several related organizations, including:*World Agudath Israel, an international movement*Agudath Israel of America, an American organization*Agudat Yisrael, an Israeli political party...
.
Move to Jerusalem
Due to the Communist grip on Hungary and oppression of Judaism there, Sofer immigrated to Israel together with his yeshiva in 1950. For a short period of time, the yeshiva merged with the Pressburg YeshivaPressburg Yeshiva (Jerusalem)
Pressburg Yeshiva of Jerusalem is a leading yeshiva located in the Givat Shaul neighborhood of Jerusalem, Israel. It was founded in 1950 by Rabbi Akiva Sofer , a great-grandson of Rabbi Moses Sofer , who established the original Pressburg Yeshiva in the Austrian-Hungarian Empire in 1807...
in Jerusalem, which was headed by Rabbi Akiva Sofer (known as the Daas Sofer), a great-grandson of the Chasam Sofer. Rabbi Yochanan served there as a maggid shiur
Maggid shiur
The term Maggid Shiur literarly translates from Hebrew to mean "sayer of Shiur".This term is used to refer to the Rabbi that lectures in a Yeshiva or Kollel.A Maggid Shiur is generally a Rabbi who lectures on advanced and in-depth Talmudic studies....
.
During this time, Rabbi Yochanan became a close disciple of Rabbi Aharon Rokeach
Aharon Rokeach
Aharon Rokeach was the fourth Rebbe of the Belz Hasidic dynasty. He led the movement from 1926 until his death in 1957....
, the Belzer
Belz (Hasidic dynasty)
Belz is a Hasidic dynasty named for the town of Belz in Western Ukraine, near the Polish border. The town has existed since at least the 10th century, with the Jewish community being established during the 14th century. The town became home to Hasidic Judaism in the early 19th century...
Rebbe. From him, Rabbi Yochanan acquired extensive knowledge of Hasidut, which eventually led him to preach numerous Hasidic customs.
In 1953 he founded the Erlau yeshiva and community in the Katamon neighbourhood of south-central Jerusalem, starting with the purchase of a few rooms in the building of the former Syrian Consulate on Yotam Street. The yeshiva was named "High Yeshiva of Rabbi Akiva Eiger" after the father-in-law of the Chasam Sofer. Later this yeshiva expanded to the whole building, where Sofer founded a dormitory and orphanage
Orphanage
An orphanage is a residential institution devoted to the care of orphans – children whose parents are deceased or otherwise unable or unwilling to care for them...
for Holocaust survivors and students from needy families.
In 1961, Sofer constructed a new building in the empty lot adjacent to the yeshiva. It was named Ohel Shimon-Erlau after his grandfather, Rabbi Shimon Sofer. This new campus includes a beth midrash
Beth midrash
Beth Midrash refers to a study hall, whether in a synagogue, yeshiva, kollel, or other building. It is distinct from a synagogue, although many synagogues are also used as batei midrash and vice versa....
which serves until today as the main synagogue
Synagogue
A synagogue is a Jewish house of prayer. This use of the Greek term synagogue originates in the Septuagint where it sometimes translates the Hebrew word for assembly, kahal...
and study hall for the yeshiva gedola, a smaller study hall for the yeshiva ketana, dormitory, classrooms, library, kitchen, offices and Rebbe's sanctuary. In addition, he opened the Institute for Research of the Teachings of the Chasam Sofer. This Institute researches and deciphers handwritten documents of the Chasam Sofer, his pupils and descendants. It has brought to light and printed hundreds of sefarim
Sefer (Hebrew)
Sefer in simple Hebrew is a word that means any kind of "book" It is derived from the same Hebrew root-word as sofer , sifriyah and safrut ....
and distributed them worldwide.
Erlau dynasty today
Today the Erlau community numbers well over 500 families in Israel and many more abroad. The largest Erlau communities are located in Jerusalem (Gush 80), Bnei Brak, Ashdod, Beitar Illit, Elad and Borough Park, New YorkBorough Park, Brooklyn
Borough Park , is a neighborhood in the southwestern part of the borough of Brooklyn, in New York City in the United States....
.
In the late 1990s, Rabbi Yochanan nominated his son, Rabbi Avraham Shmuel Binyomin (III) Sofer, to head the main Erlau yeshiva in the Katamon neighborhood of Jerusalem, naming him rosh yeshiva
Rosh yeshiva
Rosh yeshiva, , , is the title given to the dean of a Talmudical academy . It is made up of the Hebrew words rosh — meaning head, and yeshiva — a school of religious Jewish education...
(dean). The yeshiva has graduated thousands of students from Israel and abroad, many of whom have become famous rabbis. To date, some 200 students study and live on campus.
Besides the yeshiva in Katamon, there are a score of Erlau synagogue
Synagogue
A synagogue is a Jewish house of prayer. This use of the Greek term synagogue originates in the Septuagint where it sometimes translates the Hebrew word for assembly, kahal...
s, schools and kindergartens, across Israel and in the United States and Europe. All Erlau synagogues are named after the Rebbe's father as "Kehillot Yad Sofer," whilst the chadarim
Cheder
A Cheder is a traditional elementary school teaching the basics of Judaism and the Hebrew language.-History:...
(schools) are named after his great-grandfather as "Talmud Torah Ksav Sofer". The Erlau campus in Jerusalem's Gush 80 neighborhood is called "Beis Chasam Sofer".
Rabbi Yochanan Sofer assumes the mantle of leadership as "Rebbe
Rebbe
Rebbe , which means master, teacher, or mentor, is a Yiddish word derived from the Hebrew word Rabbi. It often refers to the leader of a Hasidic Jewish movement...
". He is known to the community and to the Jewish population as the Erlauer Rebbe (Yiddish) or Admor of Erlau (Hebrew). He continues to be actively involved in all aspects of the yeshiva, giving daily Torah lectures to both students and elderly members of the Erlau community and surrounding neighbourhood, and prays the daily prayers together with his pupils.
Hundreds of families belonging to the community travel to Katamon to participate in the High Holidays services together with the Rebbe. Special bleachers are built within the synagogue to accommodate worshippers. A large marquee spreads across the adjacent street, serving as a temporary dining area for the pilgrims. Meals are cooked by the yeshiva kitchen. This pilgrimage is repeated on the festival of Shavuot
Shavuot
The festival of is a Jewish holiday that occurs on the sixth day of the Hebrew month of Sivan ....
.
Orientation
Though the Erlau dynasty is not historically connected to the Baal Shem Tov, the founder of HasidutHasidic Judaism
Hasidic Judaism or Hasidism, from the Hebrew —Ḥasidut in Sephardi, Chasidus in Ashkenazi, meaning "piety" , is a branch of Orthodox Judaism that promotes spirituality and joy through the popularisation and internalisation of Jewish mysticism as the fundamental aspects of the Jewish faith...
, it is categorized as Hasidic. This may be due to its traditional code of dress and its pronunciation of Hebrew literature and prayer identical to that of the Hasidim. The Rebbe also conducts a tish
Tish (Hasidic celebration)
A tish , also spelled tisch, is a gathering of Hasidim around their Rebbe. It may consist of speeches on Torah subjects, singing of melodies known as niggunim and zemirot , with refreshments being served. Hasidim see it as a moment of great holiness...
on Shabbat and Yom Tov. Notwithstanding, the nusach of the prayers at the Erlau synagogues are traditionally nusach Ashkenaz
Nusach Ashkenaz
Nusach Ashkenaz is a style of Jewish religious service conducted by Ashkenazi Jews, originating from Central and Western Europe.It is primarily a way to order and include prayers, and differs from Nusach Sefard , and still more from the Sephardic rite proper, in the placement and presence of...
, with daily practice and customs preached according to the teachings of the Chasam Sofer.
Family
Rabbi Sofer has 7 sons, who all hold rabbinical positions:- Rabbi Moshe Sofer (III)(Erlau Congregation – LondonLondonLondon is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
, UK) - Rabbi Yaakov Sofer (Erlau Congregation – Beitar Illit A, IsraelIsraelThe State of Israel is a parliamentary republic located in the Middle East, along the eastern shore of the Mediterranean Sea...
) - Rabbi Avraham Shmuel Binyomin Sofer (III) (Rosh Yeshiva – Katamon, IsraelIsraelThe State of Israel is a parliamentary republic located in the Middle East, along the eastern shore of the Mediterranean Sea...
) - Rabbi Shimon Sofer (III) (Baka Congregation – Baka, JerusalemBaka, JerusalemBaka , , is a neighborhood in southern Jerusalem, Israel. The neighborhood is bounded by Talpiot to the south, Mekor Chaim to the west, the Greek Colony and German Colony to the northwest, and Abu Tor to the east.-History:...
) - Rabbi Akiva Sofer (Erlau Congregation – Bnei Brak)
- Rabbi Zalman Sofer (Erlau Congregation – Borough Park, New YorkBorough Park, BrooklynBorough Park , is a neighborhood in the southwestern part of the borough of Brooklyn, in New York City in the United States....
) - Rabbi Aharon Sofer (Erlau Congregation – Elad, IsraelIsraelThe State of Israel is a parliamentary republic located in the Middle East, along the eastern shore of the Mediterranean Sea...
)
The Sofer family has married into many distinguished rabbinical families and Hasidic dynasties such as Vizhnitz
Vizhnitz (Hasidic dynasty)
Vizhnitz is the name of a Hasidic dynasty founded by Rebbe Menachem Mendel Hager. Vizhnitz is the Yiddish name of Vyzhnytsia, a village in present-day Ukraine.Followers of the rebbes of Vizhnitz are called Vizhnitzer chasidim....
, Seret Vizhnitz,
Dushinsky
Dushinsky (Hasidic dynasty)
Dushinsky is one of the few Hasidic dynasties not named after the place where it originated; instead, it is named after the surname of the Rebbe. It is a relatively new dynasty, as are many of the dynasties originating in Hungary. However, the Dushinsky dynasty truly became a dynasty in Jerusalem,...
, Ungvar, Minchas Yitzchok, Strikov, Bobov, Biala
Biala (Hasidic dynasty)
The Biala Hasidic dynasty originated from Poland. The Rebbes of Biala are descended from Rabbi Yaakov Yitzchok Rabinowicz, known as the Yid Hakodosh .-Lineage:...
, Linsk, Zutchke, Nadvorna
Nadvorna (Hasidic dynasty)
Nadvorna is a Hasidic rabbinical dynasty within Orthodox Judaism. The dynasty derives its name from the town of Nadvorna, known in Ukrainian as Nadvirna...
and Zvhil.
Lineage of Erlau dynastic leadership
- Rabbi Moshe SoferMoses SoferMoses 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...
(1762 – 1839), Rabbi of Pessburg and rosh yeshivaRosh yeshivaRosh yeshiva, , , is the title given to the dean of a Talmudical academy . It is made up of the Hebrew words rosh — meaning head, and yeshiva — a school of religious Jewish education...
of Pressburg YeshivaPressburg Yeshiva (Austria-Hungary)Pressburg Yeshiva, established in 1807 in the city of Pressburg, Austrian Empire by Rabbi Moses Sofer , was the largest and most influential yeshiva in Central Europe...
son in law of Rabbi Akiva EigerAkiva EgerRabbi Akiva Eger, or Akiva Güns, , was an outstanding Talmudic scholar, influential halakhic decisor and foremost leader of European Jewry during the early 19th century....
, (born: Akiva Güns), (1761–1837). - Rabbi Shmuel Binyamin SoferSamuel Benjamin SoferAvraham Shmuel Binyomin Sofer, , also known by his main work Ksav Sofer , , was one of the leading rabbis of Hungarian Jewry in the second half of the nineteenth century and rosh yeshiva of the famed Pressburg Yeshiva.-Early years:Shmuel Binyomin Sofer was born in Pressburg on March 13, 1815...
(1815 – 1871), Rabbi of Pessburg and rosh yeshivaRosh yeshivaRosh yeshiva, , , is the title given to the dean of a Talmudical academy . It is made up of the Hebrew words rosh — meaning head, and yeshiva — a school of religious Jewish education...
of Pressburg YeshivaPressburg Yeshiva (Austria-Hungary)Pressburg Yeshiva, established in 1807 in the city of Pressburg, Austrian Empire by Rabbi Moses Sofer , was the largest and most influential yeshiva in Central Europe...
son of Rabbi Moshe SoferMoses SoferMoses 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...
. - Rabbi Shimon Sofer (II)Shimon Sofer (II)Shimon Sofer was the Rav of the Hungarian city of Eger and the progenitor of the Erlauer Hasidic dynasty. His grandson, Rabbi Yochanan Sofer, is the present-day Erlauer Rebbe in Israel.-Early life and family:...
(1850 – 1944), Rav and dayan of ErlauEgerEger is the second largest city in Northern Hungary, the county seat of Heves, east of the Mátra Mountains. Eger is best known for its castle, thermal baths, historic buildings , and red and white wines.- Name :...
, Hungary. Son of the Ksav SoferSamuel Benjamin SoferAvraham Shmuel Binyomin Sofer, , also known by his main work Ksav Sofer , , was one of the leading rabbis of Hungarian Jewry in the second half of the nineteenth century and rosh yeshiva of the famed Pressburg Yeshiva.-Early years:Shmuel Binyomin Sofer was born in Pressburg on March 13, 1815...
and grandson of the Chasam SoferMoses SoferMoses 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...
. - Rabbi Moshe Sofer (II) (died 1944), known as the Yad Sofer, presided as Rav and dayan of ErlauEgerEger is the second largest city in Northern Hungary, the county seat of Heves, east of the Mátra Mountains. Eger is best known for its castle, thermal baths, historic buildings , and red and white wines.- Name :...
, alongside his aging father Rabbi Shimon Sofer (II)Shimon Sofer (II)Shimon Sofer was the Rav of the Hungarian city of Eger and the progenitor of the Erlauer Hasidic dynasty. His grandson, Rabbi Yochanan Sofer, is the present-day Erlauer Rebbe in Israel.-Early life and family:...
. - Rabbi Yochanan SoferYochanan SoferRabbi Yochanan Sofer is the Rebbe of the Erlau Hasidic dynasty, a small-sized movement in Orthodox Judaism. He was born in Erlau , Hungary, where his father and grandfather served as Grand Rabbis...
(b. 1920s), son of Rabbi Moshe Sofer (II) and First Erlauer Rebbe from 1945 to the present.