The Jewish community of Hebron mourned the loss of Rabbi Yochanan Sofer, the
Erlau Rebbe who passed away at the age of 93 on February 22, 2016. He was remembered as
a great supporter of Hebron and the land of Israel often visiting the city and
expressing his love for the residents and children of the community.
Erlau Rebbe who passed away at the age of 93 on February 22, 2016. He was remembered as
a great supporter of Hebron and the land of Israel often visiting the city and
expressing his love for the residents and children of the community.
The Erlau Rebbe was born in Erlau, Hungary and survived the Nazi death camp of
Auschwitz. He was a great-great-grandson of Rabbi Moses Sofer (1762–1839), known as the
Chasam Sofer. After surviving the Holocaust at the end of World War II, he founded a
school in Budapest and later relocated to Israel where he lived in the Katamon
neighborhood of Jerusalem. Thousands attended his funeral procession on Monday.
For years he came to Hebron every year during the Ten Day of Repentance which preceded
the High Holidays of Rosh Hashannah and Yom Kippur. After prayer services at the Tomb of Machpela, ancient
burial site of the Biblical Patriarchs and Matriarchs he would hold a “tish”. Each visit
was an exciting celebration and he would give residents of Hebron words of
encouragement. The Rebbe stated that if not for the existence of the Jewish community of
Hebron, regular visits to the Tomb of Machpela would not be possible.
(Photo: Hasidic tish at the Gutnick Center in Hebron.)
The Rebbe had a special relationship with the children of the local Talmud Torah school
and encouraged study and good manners. Talmud Torah children would come each year to
visit with the Rebbe. He treated them with compassionate, listened patiently and gave
them each a piece of chocolate and a blessing, hence the name “chocolate tish”.
The Rebbe was both dedicated to Torah study an to Israel advocacy. He publicly came out
against the Hebron Accords
of 1997 which divided the city into the H1 and H2 sections. He tried to reach out
to Israelis of differing political views and to other rabbinical leaders,
maintained close contact with former Sephardic Chief Rabbi Ovadia Yosef (1920 – 2013)
and Rabbi Yosef Shalom Eliashiv (1910 – 2012).
After every terrorist attack and security incident, the Erlau Rebbe would call to offer
support to the Jewish community of Hebron.
Rabbi Hillel Horowitz, a long-time resident and community leader of Hebron
told Israel National News that, “he was something special. He
always showed concern and felt a responsibility to Hebron.”
told Israel National News that, “he was something special. He
always showed concern and felt a responsibility to Hebron.”
Footnotes:
For more information on visiting Hebron contact the offices of the Jewish Community
of Hebron at:
02-996-5333
office@hebron.com
Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/hebronofficial
In the United States contact:
The Hebron Fund
1760 Ocean Avenue
Brooklyn, NY 11230
718-677-6886
info@hebronfund.org
