How the Haskalah Changed the Way Jews Experienced Judaism

A Torah scroll. Photo: Wikimedia Commons.

The word “Haskalah” conjures up a period of upheaval in 18th century European Jewish life. If you were to ask anybody what the term Haskalah refers to nowadays, in Israel you will be told that “Haskalah Gevoha” means higher education. But once upon a time, Haskalah was a scandalous word to some, and stood for intellectual freedom to others.

It was Moses Mendelssohn (1729-1786) who was (perhaps unfairly) regarded as the founder of Haskalah ...