שרגא פייבל הלוי הורוביץ

Shraga Feivel Ha-Levi Horowitz (1796-1845), rabbi. From 1836 he served as "av bet din" of Paks in Hungary (then part of the Austrian Empire) and from 1841 to 1845 as rabbi of Papa, Hungary. The Reform movement which was born in Germany also influenced the Jews of Hungary, causing frequent disputes between the Orthodox and the Reformers. The Orthodox circles realized the necessity to appoint strictly traditional rabbis for the benefit of Orthodox Jewry. Horowitz organized an assembly of rabbis to discuss the situation and was appointed its chairman when it assembled in Paks in 1844. It was attended by 25 rabbis, among them Judah Asad and Eliakim Goetz Schwerin of Baja. At this assembly Loeb Schwab put forward proposals for moderate reform in education and in liturgy, but he was opposed by the other rabbis, and after he and Schwerin left the meeting various resolutions proposed by Horowitz were adopted. They included the division of the Orthodox Jewish communities of Hungary into four regions, the organizing of a national assembly of rabbis, and the setting up of a national conference which would meet every three years. The assembly also discussed the problems of relations between Jews and Christians in the sphere of commerce.

On receiving authority to prepare the second convention of rabbis at Ofen, Horowitz attempted to open a dialogue with the reform Jews, for which he was rebuked by Judah Asad. As a result of the death of Horowitz in 1845, the second assembly did not take place. Horowitz was in halakhic correspondence with Moses Sofer, Judah Asad, Meir Eisenstadt, and Isaac Moses Perles, and is mentioned in their responsa. A eulogy on him appears in the "Derashot ha-Rosh" (1904) of A. Shag-Zwebner.
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