Chaim Sofer

Rabbi Chaim Sofer (also known as the Machne Chaim, the name of his responsa) (September 29, 1821 – June 28, 1886 ) was a renowned Hungarian rabbi and "scholarly spokesperson for Orthodox Judaism during his time."

Biography Chaim Sofer was born in Pressburg, Hungary (now Bratislava, Slovakia), on September 29, 1821. His father was Mordechai Efraim Fischel. Sofer attended the famous yeshiva of Rabbi Moses Sofer (no relation He also attended the yeshiva of Rabbi Meir Eisenstaedter in Ungvar, Hungary (now Uzhhorod, Ukraine). His position was replaced by Rabbi Koppel Reich. Sofer ruled that once the baby is "partially born", one cannot even injure the baby to save the mother, unless non-interference will mean both mother and child die.

According to J. David Bleich: Interpreted in a similar manner the further provision of the Mishnah. . . "but once the major portion has emerged one may not touch it" [the fetus] implies that even the maiming of a partially born child or amputation of a limb is forbidden in order to save the mother. R. Chaim Sofer (Machaneh Chaim, Choshen Mishpat, no. 50) draws such an inference and indicates that the rationale motivating the decision is the fact that the physician "cannot guarantee with certainty" that the child will survive the surgical procedure. However, if non-interference will result in the loss of both mother and child, R. Sofer permits maiming of the child in an attempt to save the life of the mother. He was also opposed in general to the introduction of modern innovations to religious activity and services in the same vein as his mentor, Moses Sofer. His stance was in opposition to that of Azriel Hildesheimer who supported secular studies.

Works by Sofer

Peles Chaim (Pressburg, 1854) Machne Chaim (4 vols., 2 editions), a collection of responsa Chillul Shabbat (Sajószentpéter) Kol Sofer, a commentary on the Mishnah Dibrei Sharei Chaim Sharei Chaim