The Hatam Sofer and the Land of Israel

Abstract

Scholarly assessments of Rabbi Moses Sofer (known as the Hatam Sofer) and his position on immigration to the Land of Israel have varied widely. Many scholars have called attention to his negation of the Diaspora and some, such as Ben Zion Dinur, have claimed that Sofer’s teachings led to the beginning of the Jewish national awakening. Owing to the wide-ranging nature of Sofer’s thought and writings, and to changing conditions in the Jewish community and beyond, both Religious Zionists and the anti-Zionist Ultra-Orthodox have relied on his teachings to support their positions. Drawing on a wide array of sources, including sermons, biblical commentaries, correspondence, and rabbinic responsa, this essay analyzes Sofer’s views against the backdrop of his struggles against the religious reform movement and his efforts to strengthen traditional religious observance in response to the challenges of modernity in the nineteenth century.