Haskalah

American  

[hah-skuh-lah, hah-skaw-luh, hah-skah-lah] / ˌhɑ skəˈlɑ, hɑˈskɔ lə, hɑ skɑˈlɑ /

noun

1. an 18th–19th-century movement among central and eastern European Jews, begun in Germany under the leadership of Moses Mendelssohn, designed to make Jews and Judaism more cosmopolitan in character by promoting knowledge of and contributions to the secular arts and sciences and encouraging adoption of the dress, customs, and language of the general population.

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Etymology

Origin of Haskalah

From the Hebrew word haśkālāh enlightenment

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

Haskalah

This was true of the swift progress of Haskalah during the reign of Alexander II.

From The Haskalah Movement in Russia by Raisin, Jacob S.

It had been established by Meïr Horn, Moses Landau, and Hirsh Hurwitz, all of whom were indefatigable laborers in the cause of Haskalah in the Ukraine.

From The Haskalah Movement in Russia by Raisin, Jacob S.

Hasidim, 65;   their teachings, 66, 67, 150;   spread, 69;   persecuted by the Mitnaggedim, 76, 131;   efforts at reconciliation with Mitnaggedim, 120-121, 260;   reformed, 122;   united with Mitnaggedim against Haskalah, 134;   fought by Maskilim, 168.

From The Haskalah Movement in Russia by Raisin, Jacob S.

But the Gaon's influence on the Haskalah movement by far surpassed his influence on the study of the Talmud or on the ceremonials of the synagogue.

From The Haskalah Movement in Russia by Raisin, Jacob S.

Livonia, Jewish merchants of, 22;   Gentiles remonstrate on behalf of Jews of, 57;   stronghold of Haskalah, 193-194.

From The Haskalah Movement in Russia by Raisin, Jacob S.