Moses Sofer (Schreiber), better known by the name of his work "Chatam Sofer", was one of the leading Orthodox rabbis of Austro-Hungarian Jewry in the first half of the 19th century. He was a teacher to thousands and a powerful opponent to the Reform Movement in Judaism, which was attracting many people from the Jewish communities in the Austrian Empire and beyond. He was born in Frankfurt to R. Shmuel Sofer, and studied under R. Nathan Adler, and R. Pinchas Horowitz (Hafla'ah). After he married, he became head of the yeshiva in Prostějov, after which he accepted a rabbinical position in Strážnice, and subsequently in Mattersdorf. In 1807, he was appointed rabbi of Pressburg (Bratislava), where he also founded a large yeshiva that produced many students who themselves became rabbis of note. As rabbi of the city of Pressburg, he maintained a strong Orthodox Jewish perspective through communal life, first-class education, and uncompromising opposition to Reform, and radical change. Sofer published very little during his lifetime, but his posthumously published works include more than a thousand responsa, novellae on the Talmud, sermons, biblical and liturgical commentaries, and religious poetry. He is an oft-quoted authority in Orthodox Jewish scholarship and many of his responsa are required reading for semikha (rabbinic ordination) candidates. He had ten children with his second wife, the daughter of R. Akiva Eiger, two of whom became renowned rabbis in their own right. The eldest, Avraham Shmuel Binyamin, known as the Ketav Sofer, inherited his father's position as rabbi of Pressburg. His second son, Shimon, known as the Michtav Sofer, served as rabbi of Krakow.
Works on Sefaria
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Chatam Sofer on Torah
Chidushei Chatam Sofer on Talmud
Responsa Chatam Sofer
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