The Handwriting of the Chasam Sofer

The Chasam Sofer was known to write his responsa very quickly, with no second thoughts or regret. Once an issue concerning an aguna was brought to him, and as was his habit, he wrote a swift reply and handed it to his son, Rav Shimon, to deliver to the Bais Din in Nikolsburg.

Rav Shimon thought that because the matter was so grave, he would hold the letter for a while, in case his father had written in haste and wished to review it. A few days later the Chasam Sofer asked whether he had delivered it. When his son said no, and explained why, the Chasam Sofer said, “In every generation Hashem sets one person as the Godol HaDor, with siyata dishmaya, and the halachic answers follow Hashem’s will. In this generation, I was chosen for this task. Please deliver the answer immediately.”

When the Bais Din of Nikolsburg received the long responsum, Rav Mordechai Banet opened it and read only the last few lines. The Bais Din asked why he had not read the whole psak din. He answered, “In truth, all I need to see is the final word, whether the Chasam Sofer said muttar or assur. But I read the last few lines because the handwriting of the Chasam Sofer itself brings great yiras shomayim.”