MARGOLIOTH, JUDAH LOEB

MARGOLIOTH, JUDAH LOEB (1747–1811), rabbi and preacher, one of the precursors of the Haskalah in Eastern Europe. Margolioth, who was born in Zborov, Galicia, served as rabbi in various East European communities and from 1805 in Frankfurt on the Oder. He was familiar with medieval and contemporary Hebrew scientific literature as well as with contemporary Haskalah literature. In his books of sermons, he emphasized social justice and criticized the rich. He opposed Ḥasidism but also objected to the study of philosophy which he regarded as undermining faith. Thus he criticized *Mendelssohn for advocating freedom of ideas in Judaism in his book, Jerusalem, but advocated the study of Hebrew grammar, the sciences, and mathematics. He wrote Or Olam al Ḥokhmat ha-Teva ("Light of the World – On Science," Frankfurt on the Oder, 1777). The main point of the book is the classification of the "wisdoms" into science, mathematics, physics, and metaphysics; and the art of leading men: politics, economics, and ethics. The book was well received and was enthusiastically praised by Russian and Polish rabbis. His other works include interpretations of the Torah, responsa, sermons, and linguistic studies. Margolioth's books give expression to the mood of Eastern European Jews in the early days of the Haskalah, and demonstrate the initial willingness among certain Orthodox elements to accept social reforms and even secular studies, but their disillusionment when they witnessed the radical results of Enlightenment.

bibliography:

Zinberg, Sifrut, 3 (1957), 290–1, 314–7; 5 (1959), 137–40; Kressel, Leksikon, 2 (1967), 419; Klausner, Sifrut, 1 (1952), 85–86; B. Dinur, Be-Mifneh ha-Dorot (1955), 264–5; R. Mahler, History of the Jewish People in Modern Times, 4 pt. 1 (1956), 40–44.

[Yehuda Slutsky]