Abraham Dob Bär Lebensohn
Encyclopedia
Abraham Dob Bär Lebensohn (born in Vilna, Russia, (now Vilnius
, Lithuania
) about 1789/1794; died there November 19, 1878) was a Russian Hebraist, poet, and grammarian.
ist, but became interested in Hebrew grammar and punctuation when, at the age of eleven, he was instructed in reading in public the weekly portions of the Law
. He was married, according to the custom of those times, as soon as he had celebrated his bar mitzvah; and he spent the following eight years with his wife's parents in Michailishok, in the government of Vilna. This gave him the surname "Michailishker," by which he was popularly known; and it also accounts for the last letter in his pen-name "Adam" (formed from the initials of Abraham Dob Michailishker), while the family name "Lebensohn," which he adopted, is a literal translation of "ben Ḥayyim." He afterward lived about four years in Osmiyany, in the government of Vilna, where he attempted to establish himself as a merchant. He was now an accomplished rabbinic scholar; but he devoted most of his leisure time to the study of Hebrew poetical and grammatical works. On returning to his native city, where he remained for the rest of his life, he engaged in teaching, a profession which he followed until his old age, except for about fifteen years in which he was engaged in the business of a broker.
, one of the most powerful noblemen of Lithuania. It was followed by Ebel Kabed (ib. 1825), an elegy on the death of R. Saul Katzenellenbogen; this established the author's reputation as a Hebrew poet. The publication of the first volume of his poetry, entitled Shire Sefat Ḳodesh (Leipzig, 1842; 2d ed. Vilna, 1863), marks the beginning of a new epoch in Neo-Hebrew literature in Russia
. It is the first poetical work of the rejuvenated literature that can be favorably compared with the works of that nature which were produced in western European countries. It was received with unbounded enthusiasm. Thousands of young men in sympathy with the Haskalah
movement, of which Lebensohn became the leading exponent in Lithuania
, learned to recite the songs of Shire Sefat Ḳodesh by heart; and the fame of the author spread to all centers of Hebrew learning.
When Sir Moses Montefiore
visited Vilna in 1846, Lebensohn prepared for his perusal an article on the condition of the Jews in Russia and the means by which it was to be improved. This interesting document, embodying the views held by the Maskilim of that period, summarized the evils from which the Jews suffered and boldly stated that they were themselves to blame for their troubles. Lack of education and of skill in handicrafts, too early marriages, the ignorance of the rabbis and teachers, and extravagance were described as the four abot neziḳin or chief faults; and relief was proposed, as was customary in those times, through governmental intervention (see I. M. Dick, Ha-Oraḥ, and Lebensohn, Yeter Shire Adam, pp. 67 et seq.).
. Also in 1848, he began, conjointly with the bibliographer Benjacob, the publication of a new edition of the Bible
, with a German translation, himself adding valuable glosses to the bi'ur (Miḳra'e Ḳodesh, Vilna, 1848-53). Some of his commentaries on the Bible were later printed separately as a supplement to that edition (Bi'urim Ḥadashim, ib. 1858). A second volume of Shire Sefat Ḳodesh appeared in Vilna in 1856 (2d ed., ib. 1869); and in 1869 was published Yeter Shire Adam, the third volume of the same work, containing also poems written by his son Micah Joseph Lebensohn
. The most important of his later works are the allegorical drama Emet we-Emunah (ib. 1867; 2d ed., ib. 1870), which has for its theme the harmonization of science and religion; and Yitron le-Adam (ib. 1874), a commentary on Ben-Ze'eb's well-known Hebrew grammar, Talmud Leshon 'Ibri, with which it has been often reprinted. A new edition of the three volumes of Shire Sefat Ḳodesh appeared in Vilna in 1895.
Lebensohn was the author of several other, unimportant, works and of numerous articles in the periodicals. He exercised almost as much influence by his powerful personality as by his literary efforts, and was recognized in his later years as the pioneer of haskalah in northwestern Russia. The Maskilim of Vilna considered themselves as his pupils, while the fanatics saw in him the embodiment of all the objectionable features of the progressist movement.
He had two sons, Micah Joseph Lebensohn, cited above, and Aryeh Löb Lebensohn, who was a prominent businessman in Vilna.
Vilnius
Vilnius is the capital of Lithuania, and its largest city, with a population of 560,190 as of 2010. It is the seat of the Vilnius city municipality and of the Vilnius district municipality. It is also the capital of Vilnius County...
, Lithuania
Lithuania
Lithuania , officially the Republic of Lithuania is a country in Northern Europe, the biggest of the three Baltic states. It is situated along the southeastern shore of the Baltic Sea, whereby to the west lie Sweden and Denmark...
) about 1789/1794; died there November 19, 1878) was a Russian Hebraist, poet, and grammarian.
Life
Like all Jewish boys of that time in Russia he was educated as a TalmudTalmud
The Talmud is a central text of mainstream Judaism. It takes the form of a record of rabbinic discussions pertaining to Jewish law, ethics, philosophy, customs and history....
ist, but became interested in Hebrew grammar and punctuation when, at the age of eleven, he was instructed in reading in public the weekly portions of the Law
Torah
Torah- A scroll containing the first five books of the BibleThe Torah , is name given by Jews to the first five books of the bible—Genesis , Exodus , Leviticus , Numbers and Deuteronomy Torah- A scroll containing the first five books of the BibleThe Torah , is name given by Jews to the first five...
. He was married, according to the custom of those times, as soon as he had celebrated his bar mitzvah; and he spent the following eight years with his wife's parents in Michailishok, in the government of Vilna. This gave him the surname "Michailishker," by which he was popularly known; and it also accounts for the last letter in his pen-name "Adam" (formed from the initials of Abraham Dob Michailishker), while the family name "Lebensohn," which he adopted, is a literal translation of "ben Ḥayyim." He afterward lived about four years in Osmiyany, in the government of Vilna, where he attempted to establish himself as a merchant. He was now an accomplished rabbinic scholar; but he devoted most of his leisure time to the study of Hebrew poetical and grammatical works. On returning to his native city, where he remained for the rest of his life, he engaged in teaching, a profession which he followed until his old age, except for about fifteen years in which he was engaged in the business of a broker.
As poet
His first poetical work to be published was the Shir Ḥabibim (Vilna, 1822), in honor of the marriage of Count TyszkiewiczTyszkiewicz
The Tyszkiewicz family was a wealthy and influential magnate family of Ruthenian/Lithuanian nobility with roots traced into the times of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania...
, one of the most powerful noblemen of Lithuania. It was followed by Ebel Kabed (ib. 1825), an elegy on the death of R. Saul Katzenellenbogen; this established the author's reputation as a Hebrew poet. The publication of the first volume of his poetry, entitled Shire Sefat Ḳodesh (Leipzig, 1842; 2d ed. Vilna, 1863), marks the beginning of a new epoch in Neo-Hebrew literature in Russia
Russia
Russia or , officially known as both Russia and the Russian Federation , is a country in northern Eurasia. It is a federal semi-presidential republic, comprising 83 federal subjects...
. It is the first poetical work of the rejuvenated literature that can be favorably compared with the works of that nature which were produced in western European countries. It was received with unbounded enthusiasm. Thousands of young men in sympathy with the Haskalah
Haskalah
Haskalah , the Jewish Enlightenment, was a movement among European Jews in the 18th–19th centuries that advocated adopting enlightenment values, pressing for better integration into European society, and increasing education in secular studies, Hebrew language, and Jewish history...
movement, of which Lebensohn became the leading exponent in Lithuania
Lithuania
Lithuania , officially the Republic of Lithuania is a country in Northern Europe, the biggest of the three Baltic states. It is situated along the southeastern shore of the Baltic Sea, whereby to the west lie Sweden and Denmark...
, learned to recite the songs of Shire Sefat Ḳodesh by heart; and the fame of the author spread to all centers of Hebrew learning.
When Sir Moses Montefiore
Moses Montefiore
Sir Moses Haim Montefiore, 1st Baronet, Kt was one of the most famous British Jews of the 19th century. Montefiore was a financier, banker, philanthropist and Sheriff of London...
visited Vilna in 1846, Lebensohn prepared for his perusal an article on the condition of the Jews in Russia and the means by which it was to be improved. This interesting document, embodying the views held by the Maskilim of that period, summarized the evils from which the Jews suffered and boldly stated that they were themselves to blame for their troubles. Lack of education and of skill in handicrafts, too early marriages, the ignorance of the rabbis and teachers, and extravagance were described as the four abot neziḳin or chief faults; and relief was proposed, as was customary in those times, through governmental intervention (see I. M. Dick, Ha-Oraḥ, and Lebensohn, Yeter Shire Adam, pp. 67 et seq.).
As commentator
In 1848, Lebensohn was made one of the principal teachers in the newly established rabbinical school of Vilna, a position which he creditably filled for nearly twenty years, until he was forced by age and impaired eyesight to relinquish it. He was succeeded by his son-in-law Joshua SteinbergJoshua Steinberg
Joshua Steinberg was a Russian Jewish writer and educator.-Life:He graduated from the Wilna rabbinical school, and then for a short time occupied the position of rabbi at Białystok, being called to Wilna in 1861 to fill a similar position...
. Also in 1848, he began, conjointly with the bibliographer Benjacob, the publication of a new edition of the Bible
Bible
The Bible refers to any one of the collections of the primary religious texts of Judaism and Christianity. There is no common version of the Bible, as the individual books , their contents and their order vary among denominations...
, with a German translation, himself adding valuable glosses to the bi'ur (Miḳra'e Ḳodesh, Vilna, 1848-53). Some of his commentaries on the Bible were later printed separately as a supplement to that edition (Bi'urim Ḥadashim, ib. 1858). A second volume of Shire Sefat Ḳodesh appeared in Vilna in 1856 (2d ed., ib. 1869); and in 1869 was published Yeter Shire Adam, the third volume of the same work, containing also poems written by his son Micah Joseph Lebensohn
Micah Joseph Lebensohn
Micah Joseph Lebensohn Russian Hebrew poet.His father, the poet Abraham Bär Lebensohn, implanted in him the love of Hebrew poetry, and Micah Joseph began very early to translate and to compose Hebrew songs. He suffered from consumption during the last five or six years of his short life...
. The most important of his later works are the allegorical drama Emet we-Emunah (ib. 1867; 2d ed., ib. 1870), which has for its theme the harmonization of science and religion; and Yitron le-Adam (ib. 1874), a commentary on Ben-Ze'eb's well-known Hebrew grammar, Talmud Leshon 'Ibri, with which it has been often reprinted. A new edition of the three volumes of Shire Sefat Ḳodesh appeared in Vilna in 1895.
Lebensohn was the author of several other, unimportant, works and of numerous articles in the periodicals. He exercised almost as much influence by his powerful personality as by his literary efforts, and was recognized in his later years as the pioneer of haskalah in northwestern Russia. The Maskilim of Vilna considered themselves as his pupils, while the fanatics saw in him the embodiment of all the objectionable features of the progressist movement.
He had two sons, Micah Joseph Lebensohn, cited above, and Aryeh Löb Lebensohn, who was a prominent businessman in Vilna.