Ketav Sofer: Shemot

The 19th of Tevet is the Yahrtzeit of Avraham Shmuel Binyamin Sofer, the Kesav Sofer (1815-1872). Born and died in Pressburg, Hungary, oldest son of the Chasam Sofer and grandson of Rav Akiva Eiger via his mother, Rebetzen Sorel. After his father’s death in 1839, the Ksav Sofer succeeded him as Rav and Rosh Yeshiva in Pressburg, at the unusually young age of 24. He served Pressburg for 33 years, the exact number of years his father had served before him.

“Why did you not complete your requirement to make bricks, as yesterday and before yesterday, even yesterday and even today?” (Exodus 5:15)

The first part of a person’s final judgment is to evaluate how much Torah he studied. If he argues that God forced him to work in order to support his wife and family, and therefore he is not liable, he will be asked, “Did you use your money to support those who did study Torah?”

If he did not, it is considered as if he did not desire to share in their merit, and God says to him, “Why did you not complete your requirement?”