31:
334:
institutions undoubtedly owed much to
Levinsohn's suggestions. The government appreciated his services, and, besides monetary rewards, offered him important positions, which he declined. The failure of his health compelled him to decline also appointment as member of the Jewish commission that sat in St. Petersburg in 1843, and in 1853 he again refused an appointment as member of the special commission on Jewish affairs. The following words were inscribed, at his own request, on his tombstone: "Out of nothing God called me to life. Alas, earthly life has passed, and I shall sleep again on the bosom of Mother Nature, as this stone testifies. I have fought the enemies of God not with the sharp sword, but with the Word. That I have fought for truth and justice before the Nations,
431:, which was "to expose to Christian eyes the world of Jewish spiritual life founded on the principles of highest morality, a world then unknown to Ukrainian Christians." He wished, also, to make his work of educational value to the Jewish people, so that uninstructed coreligionists would see Judaism in its true light. At the same time he found himself obliged to exercise great care in the treatment of the subject in order to avoid creating undue antagonism. Levinsohn presents in his "Bet Yehudah" a wonderfully clear and logical exposition of Jewish religious philosophy. According to him the Jewish religion may be summed up in two principles of belief: faith in
413:
480:
299:, a work destined to leave an indelible impression on a whole generation of Ukrainian Jews. It was finished in 1823, but was not published until 1828. The book attempted to solve many problems of contemporary Jewish life in Ukraine. It urged the study of the Scriptures before the Talmud, and the necessity of studying secular languages, particularly that of one's country of residence. It urged also the study of science and literature, and the great importance for the Jews of engaging in agricultural and industrial work. It strongly counselled the abandoning of petty trade and of other uncertain sources of livelihood.
206:
380:?", "Who was the author of it?", "When, where, and in what language was it written?", "Have the Jews other books of such authority?", "Is there anything sensible in the Talmud? It is stated that it is full of improbable legends and fables.", "How could the authors of the Talmud permit themselves to add to, or detract from, the commandments of the Torah, which forbids that?", "What is the object of the numerous rites that consume so much useful time?", "Is it true that the Jews are the descendants of those
562:, completed in 1853. This latter work was published, in part, by his nephew David Baer Nathansohn (Leipzig, 1863); the entire work was published later in Warsaw (1876). This work, which occupied twelve years, and was continued through sickness and suffering, was not only a defense of Judaism, but also an exposition of the value of traditional law in the Jewish religion, and of the great wisdom and moral force of its expounders and teachers. The
722:
670:
447:, enumerates the contributions of the Jews to learning and civilization, and at the end suggests a plan for the reorganization of Jewish education in Ukraine. He urges the necessity of founding rabbinical seminaries fashioned after the German institutions, training the Jewish youth in religious and secular learning, opening elementary Jewish schools throughout the
503:, in defense of the accused Jews. But the necessary means not being forthcoming, he was obliged to spend his own money in collecting material and information. "The purpose of my book," says Levinsohn, "is to acquit the Jews before the eyes of Christians, and to save them from the false accusation of using Christian blood."
389:
is it that the Jews are expecting?", "Is it true that the Jews expect to rule the entire world when the
Messiah arrives, and that members of other religions will be excluded from participation in the after-life?", and "How can a Jew be admitted into Christian society and be accorded full civic rights
302:
Levinsohn's advice did not please the
Hasidim, who opposed him in many ways and so embittered his existence that he was compelled to leave Kremenetz. Repairing to Berdychev, he became a private tutor in the family of a wealthy Jew, and, gathering about him a circle of progressive friends, organized a
401:
saw the light. "It was not the yearning for fame," says
Levinsohn in the preface, "that impelled me to write this book. ... Friends seeking truth and light asked me to point out to them the true way of life; they wish to know what learning, aside from the Talmud and its commentaries, it is necessary
320:
In 1823, Levinsohn was compelled by failing health to return to
Kremenetz. Soon after his arrival there he was confined to his bed by a sickness that kept him bedridden for twelve years. Notwithstanding this, he never resigned himself to mental inactivity, and during these long years of suffering he
232:
Some of
Levinsohn's first literary efforts were in the domain of Hebrew poetry. Among others, he wrote a patriotic poem on the expulsion of the French from the Russian Empire, which was transmitted to the minister of the interior by General Giers, the commandant of the Radzivilov garrison. Levinsohn
463:
exerted a powerful influence on the Jews of
Russian Empire and gave a plan of action to the progressive elements in Russian Empire Jewry. The book acquired renown outside of the Russian Empire also. It was translated into Polish, and the scholar Geiger read several chapters of it before an audience
166:
His father, Judah Levin, was a grandson of
Jekuthiel Solomon, who settled in Kremenetz and acquired considerable wealth, and a son of Isaac, who had married the daughter of Zalman Cohen, famed for his wealth and scholarship. Levinsohn's father was a wealthy merchant and was popular among Jews and
311:
of the
Russian Empire. When the prince heard of Levinsohn's arrival he invited him to his house, assigned him a suite of rooms, and kept him there through the entire summer. The field-marshal liked to pass his evenings in conversation with the learned Jew, and often followed the latter's advice.
384:
whom the lawgiver of the
Christians had accused of lying and superstition?", "Is it true that the Talmud forbids the Jews the study of foreign languages and science, as well as the pursuit of agricultural occupations?", "What is Ḥasidism, and who was its founder?", "In what towns mainly do the
333:
gave the last careful consideration. It is known, also, that the emperor wrote Levinsohn a personal letter in regard to this plan, but its contents are not known. The establishment of Jewish agricultural colonies in Bessarabia in 1838–39 and later and the organization of Jewish educational
303:
society for the promotion of culture. Regarding it as his special mission to carry enlightenment to the young generation, he resided successively in Ostrog, Nemirov, and Tulchin. On his way to the last named place Levinsohn stopped at Kaminka, the estate of
499:; many families were imprisoned, and the entire community was in despair. Levinsohn's opponents then laid aside their enmity and turned to him as the only man capable of proving the falsity of the accusation. In spite of his sickness Levinsohn began his
519:, Simias, and the chief rabbi in the Jewish synagogue there. The book shows the remarkable dialectic talent of the author. It was completed in 1834, published in 1837, republished three times, and was translated into English at the time of the "
324:
Levinsohn laboured assiduously for the well-being of his coreligionists in Ukraine. He worked out and submitted to the government various projects for the amelioration of the condition of the Jews, such as the plan he submitted to the
645:
have suggested that Levinsohn may have been the first Jewish figure to discuss "the modern question of vegetarianism." According to Jacobs and Eisenstein, Levinsohn justifies the strictness of the rules of
276:, and Krochmal was so favorably impressed with the work that he offered to contribute toward the expense of publication. Unfortunately, it was never printed, and only a part of it was incorporated in
233:
himself regarded his verses as mere literary exercises, and did not attempt to print them; the greater part of them was lost. Excessive study brought on nervous disorders, and Levinsohn journeyed to
385:Ḥasidim reside?", "Do the Jews possess schools or learned books?", "How do the Jewish masses regard their schools?", "Can the condition of the Jews be improved? and, if so, by what means?", "What
253:. Though engaged as a bookkeeper in the local bank, he found time to continue his studies. Before long he passed the teacher's examinations and was appointed to teach Hebrew at the gymnasium of
329:
in 1823, his memorandum to the minister of education in 1831, his project in regard to the censorship of Jewish books in 1833, and his plan for the establishment of Jewish colonies in 1837.
443:. He shows by numerous citations that the latter means the love not only of one Jew for another, but the love for any neighbour, irrespective of faith. He presents a history of the various
368:
Levinsohn presented the manuscript, with an explanatory statement, to the Russian Imperial government, which accepted it with much favor, and awarded Levinsohn, on the representations of
394:
and to other works in various languages, transmitted to him concise answers to his questions, and promised to write a book in which these questions would be discussed in detail.
372:, a thousand rubles "for a work in Hebrew having for its object the moral education of the Jewish people." In the same year the minister of public instruction, Prince
193:
by heart. Thanks to his great mental power and industry, he rapidly familiarized himself with the rabbinical literature. At eighteen he married and settled in
390:
when he keeps himself aloof from the Christians and takes no interest in the welfare of the country where he resides?" Levinsohn referred the minister to his
30:
779:
272:, an authority on all questions of rabbinical learning and Jewish custom. In 1817 he submitted to Krochmal his first critical study, entitled
241:, in order to consult the local physicians. There the future reformer of the Ukrainian Jews found a congenial atmosphere in the circle of the
827:
326:
660:
to their vegetarian diet. The good morals and keen intellect of the Jews, he says, are largely due to their scant eating of meat.
531:. It was translated also into Russian (1883) and German (1884; another German edition appeared in 1892). Another polemical work,
822:
812:
535:, Levinsohn proves the absurdity of the accusations against Judaism and the Talmud. This work was left by him in manuscript.
512:
479:
516:
376:, submitted to Levinsohn thirty-four questions on Jewish religion and history, among them the following: "What is the
197:, supporting himself by teaching and translating; his married life, however, was unhappy, and he divorced his wife.
321:
made himself familiar with Arabic, Greek, and Syriac, and studied the classics, political economy, and philosophy.
832:
578:
In addition to these, Levinsohn wrote on Hebrew etymology and comparative philology. In this field he published
817:
308:
602:(Warsaw, 1893), both containing philological studies arranged in alphabetical order, and also corrections of
189:
work that elicited the praise of scholars and rabbis. At ten he was versed in Talmudic lore, and knew the
250:
680:
444:
586:, and includes studies of Hebrew roots; the second part comprises articles on various subjects, and
412:
728:
150:
837:
807:
770:
737:
689:
603:
642:
205:
582:, the first and second parts of which appeared in Vilna in 1841; the first part is entitled
802:
797:
652:
with reference to vegetetarianism, and he attributes the longevity of the generations from
330:
402:
for a Jew to acquire for the perfection and refinement of his nature as a man and a Jew."
8:
217:
528:
448:
304:
261:, through whose influence he secured an instructorship at the Hebrew college of Brody.
134:
185:, where he soon manifested unusual aptitude for learning; and at nine he composed a
551:
524:
265:
108:
774:
567:
520:
288:
172:
168:
86:
732:
684:
791:
674:
638:
369:
221:
611:
558:(London, 1839), and constitutes an introduction to Levinsohn's larger work
225:
496:
440:
258:
246:
213:
673: This article incorporates text from a publication now in the
432:
416:
142:
783:. Translated by Aronson, I. Michael. New Haven: Yale University Press.
381:
346:
194:
50:
716:
714:
508:
492:
436:
254:
238:
186:
130:
126:
96:
54:
711:
453:
386:
269:
377:
373:
264:
Levinsohn's new position brought him into close relations with
190:
181:
176:
146:
693:. Vol. 8. New York: Funk & Wagnalls. pp. 42–45.
648:
234:
614:. Levinsohn left a number of works in manuscript, including
741:. Vol. 12. New York: Funk & Wagnalls. p. 405.
657:
653:
468:
was completed in 1829, it remained unpublished until 1838.
115:; October 13, 1788 – February 13, 1860), also known as the
175:(at that time a rare accomplishment), and was a thorough
471:
457:, and establishing agricultural and industrial schools.
295:. Returning to Kremenetz in the same year, he began his
550:
is directed against the work of the English missionary
179:
scholar. At the age of three Levinsohn was sent to the
149:
contributions to civilization in an effort to improve
626:, correspondence with contemporary scholars; and
257:. There he soon became intimate with the scholar
789:
727:Jacobs, Joseph; Eisenstein, Judah David (1906).
726:
633:
594:. After Levinsohn's death Nathansohn published
538:Other polemical works written by Levinsohn are
573:
120:
780:YIVO Encyclopedia of Jews in Eastern Europe
161:
491:Around this time, the Jewish community of
29:
678:
427:Levinsohn now undertook his larger work,
364:In 1827, a year before the appearance of
287:About this time he wrote a satire on the
630:, letters, poetry, and humorous papers.
478:
411:
209:Image of Levinsohn (centre) with fellow
204:
790:
768:
464:in the Breslau synagogue. But though
125:), was a Jewish scholar of Hebrew, a
249:, the Hebrew satirist, and later of
245:. He soon made the acquaintance of
167:Gentiles alike. He was a master of
121:
112:
13:
618:, on the period of the Canticles;
523:" in 1840, at the instance of Sir
14:
849:
828:People from Volhynian Governorate
762:
435:, which involves the negation of
133:leader. He has been called "the
720:
668:
451:, abolishing the institution of
745:
699:
405:
1:
663:
315:
823:Writers from Ternopil Oblast
813:Jews from the Russian Empire
634:Discussions of vegetarianism
507:is written in the form of a
156:
16:Ukrainian writer (1788–1860)
7:
610:, which was republished by
495:in Volhynia was accused of
357:
10:
854:
769:Zalkin, Mordechai (2008).
679:Rosenthal, Herman (1904).
574:Levinsohn as a philologist
151:Jewish-Christian relations
517:Greek Church in Jerusalem
475:and other polemical works
237:, then the centre of the
200:
92:
82:
74:
60:
37:
28:
21:
622:, miscellaneous essays;
566:is directed against the
548:Aḥiyyah Shiloni ha-Ḥozeh
540:Aḥiyyah Shiloni ha-Ḥozeh
162:Early life and education
141:(1837), he formulated a
771:"Levinzon, Yitsḥak Ber"
738:The Jewish Encyclopedia
690:The Jewish Encyclopedia
441:love of one's neighbour
352:
327:crown prince Konstantin
833:People of the Haskalah
735:; et al. (eds.).
687:; et al. (eds.).
681:"Isaac Baer Levinsohn"
643:Judah David Eisenstein
556:The Paths of the World
488:
424:
349:on February 13, 1860.
229:
818:People from Kremenets
755:, Book 4, chapter 51.
482:
415:
208:
542:(Leipzig, 1841) and
171:, wrote fluently in
105:Isaac Baer Levinsohn
23:Isaac Baer Levinsohn
598:(Warsaw, 1877) and
297:Te'uddah be-Yisrael
218:Samuel Joseph Fuenn
137:of Russia." In his
113:יצחק בער לעווינזאהן
70:Kremenetz, Volhynia
708:, ii. 126, note 2.
608:Otzar ha-Shorashim
590:, a supplement to
489:
425:
305:Prince Witgenstein
230:
102:
101:
93:Literary movement
64:February 13, 1860
845:
784:
775:Hundert, Gershon
756:
749:
743:
742:
724:
723:
718:
709:
703:
694:
672:
671:
584:Shorashe Lebanon
552:Alexander McCaul
546:(Odessa, 1863).
529:Adolphe Crémieux
525:Moses Montefiore
266:Nachman Krochmal
251:Solomon Rapoport
173:classical Hebrew
124:
123:
114:
67:
48:October 13, 1788
47:
45:
33:
19:
18:
853:
852:
848:
847:
846:
844:
843:
842:
788:
787:
765:
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759:
750:
746:
733:Singer, Isidore
729:"Vegetarianism"
721:
719:
712:
704:
700:
685:Singer, Isidore
669:
666:
636:
628:Eshkol ha-Sofer
576:
521:Damascus Affair
487:(1884 edition).
477:
423:(1878 edition).
410:
362:
355:
342:bear witness."
318:
293:Dibre Tzaddikim
203:
164:
159:
129:, a writer and
69:
65:
49:
43:
41:
24:
17:
12:
11:
5:
851:
841:
840:
838:Ukrainian Jews
835:
830:
825:
820:
815:
810:
808:Jewish writers
805:
800:
786:
785:
764:
763:External links
761:
758:
757:
744:
710:
697:
696:
665:
662:
635:
632:
575:
572:
564:Ta'ar ha-Sofer
544:Ta'ar ha-Sofer
483:Title page of
476:
470:
409:
404:
361:
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145:and described
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68:(aged 71)
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675:public domain
661:
659:
655:
651:
650:
644:
640:
639:Joseph Jacobs
631:
629:
625:
624:Be'er Yitzḥak
621:
617:
616:Pittuḥe Ḥotam
613:
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588:Abne Millu'im
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497:ritual murder
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309:field-marshal
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222:Solomon Rubin
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36:
32:
27:
20:
778:
752:
747:
736:
705:
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688:
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647:
637:
627:
623:
619:
615:
607:
599:
596:Toledot Shem
595:
591:
587:
583:
579:
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563:
559:
555:
547:
543:
539:
537:
533:Yemin Tzidki
532:
504:
500:
490:
484:
472:
465:
460:
459:
452:
445:Jewish sects
437:idol-worship
428:
426:
420:
406:
398:
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391:
370:D. N. Bludov
365:
363:
358:
344:
339:
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277:
273:
263:
242:
231:
226:Abraham Mapu
210:
180:
165:
138:
116:
104:
103:
66:(1860-02-13)
803:1860 deaths
798:1788 births
751:Levinsohn,
706:Bet Yehudah
592:Bet Yehudah
580:Bet ha-Oẓar
505:Efes Dammim
501:Efes Dammim
485:Efes Dammim
473:Efes Dammim
466:Bet Yehudah
461:Bet Yehudah
429:Bet Yehudah
421:Bet Yehudah
407:Bet Yehudah
345:He died in
282:Bet Yehudah
259:Joseph Perl
247:Isaac Erter
214:Isaac Erter
187:Kabbalistic
139:Bet Yehudah
135:Mendelssohn
792:Categories
753:Zerubbabel
664:References
600:Ohole Shem
560:Zerubbabel
511:between a
454:melammedim
417:Title page
340:Efes Damim
336:Zerubbabel
331:Nicholas I
316:Later life
195:Radzivilov
143:philosophy
75:Occupation
44:1788-10-13
554:entitled
513:patriarch
382:Pharisees
366:Te'uddah,
347:Kremenetz
291:entitled
274:Ha-Mazkir
157:Biography
51:Kremenetz
620:Yizre El
612:Letteris
568:Karaites
509:dialogue
399:Te'uddah
397:In 1828
392:Te'uddah
359:Te'uddah
278:Te'uddah
255:Tarnopol
243:Maskilim
239:Haskalah
211:Maskilim
177:Talmudic
131:Haskalah
127:satirist
97:Haskalah
83:Language
55:Volhynia
777:(ed.).
677::
649:ṭerefah
604:Ben Zeb
515:of the
493:Zaslavl
433:one God
387:Messiah
289:Hasidim
270:Zolkiev
109:Yiddish
725:
439:; and
378:Talmud
374:Lieven
307:, the
224:, and
201:Career
191:Tanakh
169:Polish
147:Jewish
87:Hebrew
78:Writer
773:. In
731:. In
683:. In
235:Brody
182:ḥeder
122:ריב״ל
117:Ribal
658:Noah
654:Adam
641:and
527:and
449:Pale
353:Work
338:and
280:and
61:Died
38:Born
656:to
606:'s
419:of
268:of
794::
713:^
570:.
284:.
220:,
216:,
153:.
111::
53:,
228:.
119:(
107:(
46:)
42:(
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