Yochanan Sofer
Encyclopedia
Rabbi Yochanan Sofer is the Rebbe
of the Erlau
Hasidic
dynasty, a small-sized movement in Orthodox Judaism
. He was born in Erlau
(nowadays Eger), Hungary
, where his father and grandfather served as Grand Rabbis. After surviving the Holocaust
, he continued their legacy by founding a yeshiva
and a movement in their name, first in Hungary and then in Jerusalem, Israel
.
(1762 – 1839), known as the Chasam Sofer. The Chasam Sofer was the Rav of Pressburg (present-day Bratislava
) and the leading rabbinical figure of Orthodox Judaism in the Austrian Empire
, as well as one of the greatest Talmud
ic scholars of his time.
The Chasam Sofer was succeeded as Rav of Pressburg by his son, Rabbi Samuel Benjamin Sofer
(1815 – 1872), known as the Ksav Sofer. The Ksav Sofer had 10 children — 6 sons and 4 daughters. One of the sons, Rabbi Shimon Sofer
, was born in the year 1850.
In 1881, Rabbi Shimon was appointed Rav of the Hungarian 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 Rabbi Shimon's grandfather, the Chasam Sofer.
As Rabbi Shimon aged, he appointed his son, Rabbi Moses Sofer (author of Yad Sofer) to be the active Rav and dayan
of Erlau. Rabbi Shimon continued to be referred to by his congregation with the revered and affectionate title of "Rebbe".
Rabbi Shimon led the Jewish community in Erlau for some 64 years. He and his community were deported to Auschwitz
by the Nazis
in 1944. Soon thereafter, at the age of 94, Rabbi Shimon was murdered by the Nazis together with his son, Rabbi Moses Sofer, and many others from the city of Erlau.
was Rabbi Yosef Usher Pollack (1888–1944), Verpleleter Rav and author of Shearis Yosef Usher.
While his father and grandfather were murdered at Auschwitz, the young Yochanan miraculously survived that concentration camp. After the war, he went to Pest, Hungary, where he was reunited with his brother, Avraham Shmuel Binyamin. Together with Rabbi Moshe Stern, the Debrecen
er Rav, Rabbi Yochanan reinstated the Chasam Sofer Yeshiva in Pest. Rabbi Avraham Shmuel Binyamin was asked to head the yeshiva, as well as to assume the mantle of leadership of the remaining Erlau community that had found refuge in Pest, but he declined out of humility.
In 1947, Rabbi Yochanan re-established the yeshiva in Erlau with a small group of boys and adolescents (mostly orphans). He married and was appointed rabbi of the fledgling Orthodox Jewish community there.
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 Yeshiva 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. Although Sofer's ancestors were not Hasidic and conducted themselves as rabbis, not rebbes, Sofer was influenced by the Belzer Rebbe and the Skverer
Rebbe to adopt numerous Hasidic customs.
In 1953 Sofer 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 and offices. In addition, Sofer 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.
(called by the name Yad Sofer), Talmud Torah
s (known as Ksav Sofer) and kollel
im (called by the name Chasam Sofer). The main communities are in Katamon, Ezrat Torah
, El'ad
, Bnei Brak, Beitar Illit, Ashdod and Haifa
. The community in Israel is estimated to number 500 families.
Sofer is known 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 shiurim to both students and elderly members of the Erlau community and surrounding neighbourhood, and prays the daily prayers together with his pupils.
authority with enormous influence on the Orthodox Jewish community, as well as an expert in Israeli politics and security issues. He is often called upon to voice his opinion on global Jewish issues.
The Rebbe was appointed to the Moetzes Gedolei HaTorah
of Agudath Israel
by Rabbi Yisrael Alter
(the Beis Yisrael) when he was only 38 years of age. At the time, the protocol was amended to allow this new member, as the original protocol allowed only rabbis above the age of 40 to join. He was also appointed a member of the administration of Mifal HaShas by that organization's founder, Rabbi Yekusiel Yehudah Halberstam
, the Klausenberger Rebbe.
Before 1948, the rabbinical authorities of the Sofer family and their disciples strongly opposed the various forms of modern Zionism
. They did not approve of the formation of a Jewish state nor the use of Hebrew for mundane purposes. Their firm belief was that the Mashiach must arrive prior to the liberation of the Holy Land and that the Hebrew language was designated solely for the use of Torah study and prayer. Once Israel declared independence in 1948, their approach remained the same, though the circumstances changed.
Sofer took on the approach to Zionism similar to that of his rebbe, Rabbi Aharon Rokeach of Belz. This ideology allows for dialogue with the Zionist leaders and for representation in the Knesset, though it does not give mandate or any halachic justification to the legislative system of the State of Israel as it does not conform to the laws of the Torah. Sofer actively advocates for the sanctity of the Shabbat
, the preservation of Torah Judaism and the purity of the Holy Land.
Sofer's view of the Arab-Israeli conflict maintains that as a matter of Jewish law, any territorial concession on Israel's part would endanger the lives of all the Jews in the Land of Israel and is therefore forbidden. He also insists that even discussing the possibility of such concessions shows weakness and would encourage Arab attacks, and thus endanger Jewish lives. He has been quoted as saying to Israeli Foreign Affairs Minister
Silvan Shalom
: "I am not prepared to cede even one grain of the Land of Israel to the Arabs". Sofer was also opposed to the unilateral pullout from Gaza and was quoted as saying, "Whoever leads to the transfer (of Jews from parts of Israel) is destroying the country".
Despite some ideological differences, Sofer is respected by leaders of Orthodox Jewish communities, including Satmar
, Edah HaChareidis, Litvish, Shas
– Sefardim
, Chabad-Lubavitch
, and the National Religious Party
/ National Union
.
Sofer is known to have a strong relationship with Rabbi Ovadia Yosef
(former Chief Rabbi
of Israel and spiritual leader of Shas
) and with Rabbi Yosef Shalom Elyashiv, spiritual leader of Degel HaTorah
.
Whilst Sofer is a presiding member of Moetzes Gedolei HaTorah of Agudath Israel, the Erlau community is part of the Shlomei Emunim faction within the United Torah Judaism
political party representing all Agudath Israel factions. Shlomei Emunim is represented in the Knesset by Rabbi Meir Porush.
Upon the initiative of the Rebbe, the Erlau community took an active part in the launch of the HaMevaser newspaper in the late 2008, which is owned and run by Rabbi Meir Porush.
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...
of the Erlau
Erlau (Hasidic dynasty)
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...
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, a small-sized movement 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...
. He was born in Erlau
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 :...
(nowadays Eger), Hungary
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...
, where his father and grandfather served as Grand Rabbis. After surviving the Holocaust
The Holocaust
The Holocaust , also known as the Shoah , was the genocide of approximately six million European Jews and millions of others during World War II, a programme of systematic state-sponsored murder by Nazi...
, he continued their legacy by founding 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...
and a movement in their name, first in Hungary and then 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...
.
Family history
Sofer is a great-great-grandson of Rabbi Moses SoferMoses 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...
(1762 – 1839), known as the Chasam Sofer. The Chasam Sofer was the Rav of Pressburg (present-day Bratislava
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...
) and the leading rabbinical figure of Orthodox Judaism in the Austrian Empire
Austrian Empire
The Austrian Empire was a modern era successor empire, which was centered on what is today's Austria and which officially lasted from 1804 to 1867. It was followed by the Empire of Austria-Hungary, whose proclamation was a diplomatic move that elevated Hungary's status within the Austrian Empire...
, as well as one of the greatest Talmud
Talmud
The Talmud is a central text of mainstream Judaism. It takes the form of a record of rabbinic discussions pertaining to Jewish law, ethics, philosophy, customs and history....
ic scholars of his time.
The Chasam Sofer was succeeded as Rav of Pressburg by his son, 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...
(1815 – 1872), known as the Ksav Sofer. The Ksav Sofer had 10 children — 6 sons and 4 daughters. One of the sons, Rabbi Shimon Sofer
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:...
, was born in the year 1850.
In 1881, Rabbi Shimon was appointed Rav of the Hungarian city of Erlau (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 :...
). 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 Rabbi Shimon's grandfather, the Chasam Sofer.
As Rabbi Shimon aged, he appointed his son, Rabbi Moses Sofer (author of Yad Sofer) to be the active Rav and dayan
Beth 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 Shimon led the Jewish community in Erlau for some 64 years. He and his community were 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. Soon thereafter, at the age of 94, Rabbi Shimon was murdered by the Nazis together with his son, Rabbi Moses Sofer, and many others from the city of Erlau.
Early life
Yochanan Sofer was born to Rabbi Moses Sofer in the town of Erlau in the early 1920s. He was raised on the knees of his grandfather and received his rabbinical education from his father. He studied at the Verpleleter Yeshiva in Verpelet, Hungary, whose rosh yeshivaRosh 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.
While his father and grandfather were murdered at Auschwitz, the young Yochanan miraculously survived that concentration camp. After the war, he went to Pest, Hungary, where he was reunited with his brother, Avraham Shmuel Binyamin. Together with Rabbi Moshe Stern, the Debrecen
Debrecen
Debrecen , is the second largest city in Hungary after Budapest. Debrecen is the regional centre of the Northern Great Plain region and the seat of Hajdú-Bihar county.- Name :...
er Rav, Rabbi Yochanan reinstated the Chasam Sofer Yeshiva in Pest. Rabbi Avraham Shmuel Binyamin was asked to head the yeshiva, as well as to assume the mantle of leadership of the remaining Erlau community that had found refuge in Pest, but he declined out of humility.
In 1947, Rabbi Yochanan re-established the yeshiva in Erlau with a small group of boys and adolescents (mostly orphans). He married and was appointed rabbi of the fledgling Orthodox Jewish community there.
Move to Israel
Due to the Communist grip on HungaryPeople's Republic of Hungary
The People's Republic of Hungary or Hungarian People's Republic was the official state name of Hungary from 1949 to 1989 during its Communist period under the guidance of the Soviet Union. The state remained in existence until 1989 when opposition forces consolidated in forcing the regime to...
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 Yeshiva in Jerusalem
Pressburg 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...
, 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. Although Sofer's ancestors were not Hasidic and conducted themselves as rabbis, not rebbes, Sofer was influenced by the Belzer Rebbe and the Skverer
Skver (Hasidic dynasty)
Skver is the name of a Hasidic dynasty founded by Rebbe Yitzchok Twerski in the city of Skver . Followers of the rebbes of Skver are called Skverer hasidim....
Rebbe to adopt numerous Hasidic customs.
In 1953 Sofer 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
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 and offices. In addition, Sofer 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.
Erlau communities
Sofer has set up a network of communities around Israel and abroad which include batei medrashBeth 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....
(called by the name Yad Sofer), Talmud Torah
Talmud Torah
Talmud Torah schools were created in the Jewish world, both Ashkenazic and Sephardic, as a form of public primary school for boys of modest backgrounds, where they were given an elementary education in Hebrew, the Scriptures , and the Talmud...
s (known as Ksav Sofer) and kollel
Kollel
A kollel is an institute for full-time, advanced study of the Talmud and rabbinic literature. Like a yeshiva, a kollel features shiurim and learning sedarim ; unlike a yeshiva, the student body of a kollel are all married men...
im (called by the name Chasam Sofer). The main communities are in Katamon, Ezrat Torah
Ezrat Torah
Ezrat Torah is a Haredi neighborhood in northern Jerusalem. It is bordered by Kiryat Sanz on the west, Golda Meir Blvd. on the north and east, and Tel Arza on the south.-History:...
, El'ad
El'ad
El'ad, also spelled Elad , is a city in the Center District of Israel. Located about east of Tel Aviv on Route 444 between Rosh HaAyin and Shoham.In 2007 the town had a total population of 31,300. Its current population is estimated at over 32,000...
, Bnei Brak, Beitar Illit, Ashdod and Haifa
Haifa
Haifa is the largest city in northern Israel, and the third-largest city in the country, with a population of over 268,000. Another 300,000 people live in towns directly adjacent to the city including the cities of the Krayot, as well as, Tirat Carmel, Daliyat al-Karmel and Nesher...
. The community in Israel is estimated to number 500 families.
Sofer is known to the Jewish population as the Erlauer Rebbe (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...
) or Admor of Erlau (Hebrew
Hebrew language
Hebrew is a Semitic language of the Afroasiatic language family. Culturally, is it considered by Jews and other religious groups as the language of the Jewish people, though other Jewish languages had originated among diaspora Jews, and the Hebrew language is also used by non-Jewish groups, such...
). He continues to be actively involved in all aspects of the yeshiva, giving daily shiurim to both students and elderly members of the Erlau community and surrounding neighbourhood, and prays the daily prayers together with his pupils.
Opinion and politics
Sofer is considered a leading halakhicHalakha
Halakha — 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...
authority with enormous influence on the Orthodox Jewish community, as well as an expert in Israeli politics and security issues. He is often called upon to voice his opinion on global Jewish issues.
The Rebbe was appointed to 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...
by Rabbi Yisrael Alter
Yisrael Alter
Yisrael Alter, , also known as the Beis Yisroel after the works he authored, was the fourth Rebbe of the Hasidic dynasty of Ger, a position he held from 1948 until 1977....
(the Beis Yisrael) when he was only 38 years of age. At the time, the protocol was amended to allow this new member, as the original protocol allowed only rabbis above the age of 40 to join. He was also appointed a member of the administration of Mifal HaShas by that organization's founder, Rabbi Yekusiel Yehudah Halberstam
Yekusiel Yehudah Halberstam
Yekusiel Yehudah Halberstam was an Orthodox rabbi and the founding rebbe of the Sanz-Klausenburg Hasidic dynasty....
, the Klausenberger Rebbe.
Before 1948, the rabbinical authorities of the Sofer family and their disciples strongly opposed the various forms of modern Zionism
Zionism
Zionism is a Jewish political movement that, in its broadest sense, has supported the self-determination of the Jewish people in a sovereign Jewish national homeland. Since the establishment of the State of Israel, the Zionist movement continues primarily to advocate on behalf of the Jewish state...
. They did not approve of the formation of a Jewish state nor the use of Hebrew for mundane purposes. Their firm belief was that the Mashiach must arrive prior to the liberation of the Holy Land and that the Hebrew language was designated solely for the use of Torah study and prayer. Once Israel declared independence in 1948, their approach remained the same, though the circumstances changed.
Sofer took on the approach to Zionism similar to that of his rebbe, Rabbi Aharon Rokeach of Belz. This ideology allows for dialogue with the Zionist leaders and for representation in the Knesset, though it does not give mandate or any halachic justification to the legislative system of the State of Israel as it does not conform to the laws of the Torah. Sofer actively advocates for the sanctity of the Shabbat
Shabbat
Shabbat is the seventh day of the Jewish week and a day of rest in Judaism. Shabbat is observed from a few minutes before sunset on Friday evening until a few minutes after when one would expect to be able to see three stars in the sky on Saturday night. The exact times, therefore, differ from...
, the preservation of Torah Judaism and the purity of the Holy Land.
Sofer's view of the Arab-Israeli conflict maintains that as a matter of Jewish law, any territorial concession on Israel's part would endanger the lives of all the Jews in the Land of Israel and is therefore forbidden. He also insists that even discussing the possibility of such concessions shows weakness and would encourage Arab attacks, and thus endanger Jewish lives. He has been quoted as saying to Israeli Foreign Affairs Minister
Foreign Affairs Minister of Israel
The Foreign Affairs Minister of Israel is the political head of the Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The position is one of the most important in the Israeli cabinet after Prime Minister and Defense Minister...
Silvan Shalom
Silvan Shalom
' , born 4 October 1958) is an Israeli politician, member of the Knesset for Likud and the country's Vice Prime Minister and Minister for Regional Development. He previously served as the country's Foreign Minister and Finance Minister.-Biography:...
: "I am not prepared to cede even one grain of the Land of Israel to the Arabs". Sofer was also opposed to the unilateral pullout from Gaza and was quoted as saying, "Whoever leads to the transfer (of Jews from parts of Israel) is destroying the country".
Despite some ideological differences, Sofer is respected by leaders of Orthodox Jewish communities, including Satmar
Satmar (Hasidic dynasty)
Satmar is a Hasidic movement comprising mostly Hungarian and Romanian Hasidic Jewish Holocaust survivors and their descendants. It was founded and led by the late Hungarian-born Grand Rebbe Yoel Teitelbaum , who was the rabbi of Szatmárnémeti, Hungary...
, Edah HaChareidis, Litvish, Shas
Shas
Shas is an ultra-orthodox religious political party in Israel, primarily representing Sephardic and Mizrahi Haredi Judaism.Shas was founded in 1984 by dissident members of the Ashkenazi dominated Agudat Israel, to represent the interests of religiously observant Sephardic and Mizrahi ...
– Sefardim
Sephardi Jews
Sephardi Jews is a general term referring to the descendants of the Jews who lived in the Iberian Peninsula before their expulsion in the Spanish Inquisition. It can also refer to those who use a Sephardic style of liturgy or would otherwise define themselves in terms of the Jewish customs and...
, Chabad-Lubavitch
Chabad
Chabad or Chabad-Lubavitch is a major branch of Hasidic Judaism.Chabad may also refer to:*Chabad-Strashelye, a defunct branch of the Chabad school of Hasidic Judaism*Chabad-Kapust or Kapust, a defunct branch of the Chabad school of Hasidic Judaism...
, and the National Religious Party
National Religious Party
The National Religious Party ) was a political party in Israel representing the religious Zionist movement. Formed in 1956, at the time of its dissolution in 2008, it was the second oldest surviving party in the country after Agudat Yisrael, and was part of every government coalition until 1992...
/ National Union
National Union (Israel)
The National Union is an alliance of nationalist political parties in Israel. In the 2009 elections the National Union consisted of four parties: Moledet, Hatikva, Eretz Yisrael Shelanu, and Tkuma.-Background:...
.
Sofer is known to have a strong relationship with Rabbi Ovadia Yosef
Ovadia Yosef
Ovadia Yosef is the former Sephardi Chief Rabbi of Israel, a recognised Talmudic scholar and foremost halakhic authority.He currently serves as the spiritual leader of the Shas political party in the Israeli parliament...
(former Chief Rabbi
Chief Rabbi
Chief Rabbi is a title given in several countries to the recognized religious leader of that country's Jewish community, or to a rabbinic leader appointed by the local secular authorities...
of Israel and spiritual leader of Shas
Shas
Shas is an ultra-orthodox religious political party in Israel, primarily representing Sephardic and Mizrahi Haredi Judaism.Shas was founded in 1984 by dissident members of the Ashkenazi dominated Agudat Israel, to represent the interests of religiously observant Sephardic and Mizrahi ...
) and with Rabbi Yosef Shalom Elyashiv, spiritual leader of Degel HaTorah
Degel HaTorah
Degel HaTorah is an Ashkenazi Haredi political party in Israel. For much of its existence it has been allied to Agudat Yisrael under the name United Torah Judaism.-Ideology:...
.
Whilst Sofer is a presiding member of Moetzes Gedolei HaTorah of Agudath Israel, the Erlau community is part of the Shlomei Emunim faction within the United Torah Judaism
United Torah Judaism
United Torah Judaism is an alliance of Degel HaTorah and Agudat Israel, two small Israeli Haredi political parties in the Knesset. It was first formed in 1992.The two parties have not always agreed with each other about policy matters...
political party representing all Agudath Israel factions. Shlomei Emunim is represented in the Knesset by Rabbi Meir Porush.
Upon the initiative of the Rebbe, the Erlau community took an active part in the launch of the HaMevaser newspaper in the late 2008, which is owned and run by Rabbi Meir Porush.
Children
Sofer's seven sons:- Rabbi Moshe Sofer, London, England - Born 1947
- Rabbi Yaakov Sofer, Rav of the Erlau community in Beitar Illit, Israel - Born 1948
- Rabbi Avraham Shmuel Binyomin Sofer, 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 Erlau Yeshiva Gedola, Jerusalem, Israel - Born 1949 - Rabbi Shimon Sofer, Rav of 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:...
, Israel - Born 1951 - Rabbi Akiva Menachem Sofer, Rav of the Erlau community in Bnei Brak, Israel - Born 1953
- Rabbi Zalman Sofer, Rav of the Erlau community in Borough ParkBorough Park, BrooklynBorough Park , is a neighborhood in the southwestern part of the borough of Brooklyn, in New York City in the United States....
, New YorkNew YorkNew York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
- Born 1954 - Rabbi Aharon Sofer, Rav of the Erlau community in EladEl'adEl'ad, also spelled Elad , is a city in the Center District of Israel. Located about east of Tel Aviv on Route 444 between Rosh HaAyin and Shoham.In 2007 the town had a total population of 31,300. Its current population is estimated at over 32,000...
, Israel - Born 1959