Day of Hilula
the Hatam Sofer
כ״ה בתשרי
Pressburg, Hungary
In Jewish tradition, the day of a tzadik's passing — the 'Hilula' — is not a day of mourning, but a day of spiritual elevation and awakening. According to the teachings of Kabbalah, on this day the soul of the tzadik ascends to a higher realm, and their light and merits shine upon the world. Many Jews mark the day through Torah study, reciting Tehillim, lighting a memorial candle, and good deeds for the elevation of the soul — to connect with the tzadik's path and qualities.
His Life and Legacy
The Hatam Sofer (Rabbi Moses Sofer) was the rabbi of Pressburg and the leading authority of Hungarian Jewry. He fought against the Reform movement and religious innovation, championing a traditionalist conservative stance. He famously declared: "The new is forbidden by the Torah."
"The new is forbidden by the Torah."