Rav Yona Landsofer zt"l
הרב יונה בן אליהו לאנדסופר זצ"ל
Tishrei 9 , 5473
Rav Yona Landsofer zt"l
Rav Yona was born 5438 in Prague. He studied under many sages in Prague, his chief Rebbe being Rav Avrohom Broda.
Rav Yona grew in wisdom and became a great gaon and mekubol, a holy man who had many talmidim, who became Gedolei Yisrael, including the mechaber of Michtov MeEliyohu on Gittin. He was exceedingly humble and therefore published his Shu”t Me’il Tzedoka anonymously. He also authored Bnei Yona on Hilchos Sefer Torah and Mesores Osios, Kanfei Yona on Yoreh De’a, and Meorei Ohr on Hagohas Sefer Torah.
It is told in the sefer Chut HaMeshulosh that Rav Avrohom Broda and the Chochom Tzvi had an ongoing dispute between them. As the argument escalated and the machlokes grew, the Chochom Tzvi met the mechaber of Me’il Tzedoka and engaged Rav Yona Landsofer in a Torah conversation. When the Chochom Tzvi realized the extent of his mastery of Torah, he immediately concluded, “It is forbidden to continue in a machlokes with a person such as Rav Broda, who has such a great talmid such as Rav Yona,” and from then on the Chochom Tzvi esteemed Rav Broda greatly.
Rav Yona passed away on Erev Yom Kippur 5473 at the young age of 35, although his greatness was like that of his elders.
