Rav Yehuda (Leib) Sofer zt"l
הרב יהודה (לייב) בן אברהם שמואל בנימין סופר זצ"ל
Tammuz 13 , 5667
Rav Yehuda (Leib) Sofer zt"l
Rav Yitzchok Leib Sofer, born on the 24th of Elul 5608/1848, was the son of Rav Avrohom Shmuel Binyamin Sofer, the Ksav Sofer, son of the Chasam Sofer. He learned in the famed Yeshiva of his father.
In 5628/1868, he married the daughter of the naggid Rav Dovid Lindenbaum from Drohovitch. For a few years after his marriage he continued to learn in his father’s Yeshiva, where he was one of the leading talmidei chachamim. Later he moved to Drohovitch, the city of his father-in-law.
Rav Yitzchok Leib was wealthy, a fact which he utilized for the good of his brethren.
In 5647/1887, following the petirah of his uncle Rav Shimon Sofer, Rav of Cracow, Rav Yitzchok Leib was appointed Rav in his place.
All his life he worked to raise the honor and prestige of the Torah and those who learn it, at the same time waging a war against those who sought to uproot traditional Yiddishkeit.
In 5651/1891, when Rav Yitzchok Aharon Ittinger, Rav of Lvov, was niftar, Rav Yitzchok Leib was appointed to the prestigious post of Nasi of Eretz Yisrael in Poland.
Rav Yitzchok Leib was known for his open house. He was always available to help his brethren, most notably those who were most in need, orphans and widows.
His son Rav Avrohom Chaim Dovid succeeded him as Rav. He also left two sons-in-law: Rav Akiva Sofer, Rav of Pressburg (son of Rav Simcha Bunim Sofer, the Shevet Sofer), and Rav Avrohom Freidiger, Rosh Hakahal in Budapest.
He wrote two sefarim: Shem MiShimon, his hesped for his uncle Rav Shimon Sofer, and Sofer Mahir, a collection of his chiddushim on Shas.
Rav Yitzchok Leib was niftar on the 13th of Tammuz 5667/1907 at the age of fifty-eight.
Zecher tzaddik livrachah.
www.hamodia.com/features/day-history-13-tammuzjuly-11/
