Rabbi Yochonon Sofer (1923–2016), universally revered as the Erlauer Rebbe, was a prominent 20th-century Torah giant, halachic decisor (posek), and member of the Moetzes Gedolei HaTorah (Council of Torah Sages) of Agudath Israel.

He is unique in modern Jewish history for founding the Erlau Hasidic dynasty in Israel—a movement that beautifully blended the strict, intellectual halachic tradition of Hungarian Oberland Jewry with the spiritual lifestyle of Hasidism.

Royal Lineage: The Chasam Sofer Legacy

Born on January 1, 1923, in Eger (known in German and Yiddish as Erlau), Hungary, Rabbi Yochonon belonged to one of the most elite rabbinic families in Europe.

• He was a direct, fifth-generation descendant of Rabbi Moses Sofer (the Chasam Sofer), the legendary leader of Central European Orthodox Judaism.

• His grandfather, Rabbi Shimon Sofer, led the Jewish community of Erlau for 64 years.

• His father was Rabbi Moshe Sofer (the Yad Sofer), who served as the community's active rabbinical judge (dayan).

Surviving the Holocaust and Rescuing Orphans

In 1944, the Nazi occupation of Hungary shattered the Erlau community. Rabbi Yochonon’s father and grandfather were deported to Auschwitz, where they were murdered. Rabbi Yochonon miraculously survived the war by taking refuge in the famous "Glass House" in Budapest, a diplomatic safe house operated by Swiss diplomat Carl Lutz.

Immediately following liberation, the young Rabbi Yochonon returned to the blood-soaked soil of Erlau. He gathered a small, broken group of Jewish survivors—mostly young, traumatized orphans—and re-established the Yeshivas Chasam Sofer. He physically slept in the dormitory with the boys and refused to take a salary, acting as a father figure to heal their broken spirits. He was soon appointed the official communal Rabbi of Erlau's surviving Orthodox congregation.

Rebuilding in Jerusalem: The Birth of Erlau Hasidism

As the Soviet-backed Communist regime tightened its grip on Hungary, Rabbi Yochonon recognized that Jewish life in Europe was unsustainable. He urged his followers to escape to the land of Israel, leaving Europe himself only after ensuring that every single Jew under his care had successfully crossed the border.

Upon arriving in Israel, he chose to rebuild his community in the Katamon neighborhood of Jerusalem. In 1953, he laid the cornerstone for the Erlau Yeshiva and Community Center, which expanded rapidly into a sprawling network of institutions.

A Unique Spiritual Fusion

Though descended from non-Hasidic Oberland Hungarian lineage, Rabbi Yochonon officially adopted the title of "Rebbe" and structured his community along Hasidic lines. However, he carefully preserved the exact distinct customs (Minhagim) and meticulous legal precision of the Chasam Sofer:

• The Liturgical Accent: Unlike Polish or Russian Hasidim, Erlau retains the traditional Hungarian Ashkenazi pronunciation.

• Prayer Rites: They pray using the traditional Nusach Ashkenaz (rather than the Hasidic Nusach Sefard).

• The "Erlau" Cap: His Hasidim wear a distinctively shaped velvet cap, mimicking the style worn by historical Hungarian rabbinic judges.

Communal and Global Influence

Rabbi Yochonon was highly sought after by the greatest leaders of his generation for his vast Torah knowledge and insight. He was appointed to the Moetzes Gedolei HaTorah at the unprecedentedly young age of 38.

He was deeply respected across all factions of Orthodox Jewry. He maintained close relationships with Lithuanian Torah giants like Rabbi Yosef Shalom Elyashiv, Sephardic sages like Rabbi Ovadia Yosef, and Lubavitcher Rebbe, Rabbi Menachem Mendel Schneerson. Despite the heavy spiritual burden he carried, he was known for his extreme approachable warmth, soft speech, and a deep aversion to communal conflict.

Passing and Legacy

Rabbi Yochonon Sofer passed away on February 22, 2016 (13 Adar I, 5776) at the age of 93 after battling a severe case of pneumonia. Tens of thousands of mourners flooded the streets of Jerusalem for his funeral procession. He was laid to rest in the family plot on Har HaMenuchot.

He was succeeded as the Erlauer Rebbe by his eldest son, Rabbi Moshe Sofer, who continues to lead the dynasty's institutions across Jerusalem, Elad, Bnei Brak, Ashdod, and the United States.

You can watch a historical recording of The Erlauer Rov, Rabbi Yochanan Sofer visiting the Lubavitcher Rebbe, where the two discuss the global need for redemption and the authority of rabbinic rulings during a historic meeting in New York.