Moshe Sofer

Biography

Moshe Sofer was born in Frankfurt to Shmuel and Reizel.His ancestors were ritual scribes, and from this profession the family name was derived. On his father's side he was a descendant of the Yalkut Shimoni and a descendant of Rashi, likewise he was the great-grandson of Rabbi Shmuel Shattin Katz, called the Maharshal"kh of Frankfurt. At the age of six he began learning Torah with Rabbi Meshulam Zalman Hasid, and by seven, he offered Torah insights of his own. At the age of nine he studied in the yeshiva of Rabbi Nathan Adler in Frankfurt, and after Adler was excommunicated Sofer accompanied him on his travels. At the age of thirteen he was preaching on matters of Halakha. He also studied with Rabbi Pinchas Horowitz, author of the book Hafla’ah, with Rabbi David Tebli Shayar in Mainz and other rabbis. Aside from Torah, he also studied mathematics, astronomy and general history with Rabbi Tebli.