Abraham Maskileison

Who was Abraham Maskileison?

Abraham Maskileison was a Jewish scholar, rabbi and author active in Russia during the first half of the 19th century.

Rabbi Maskileison was a descendant of another Talmudic scholar, Israel Jaffe of Shklov, author of "Or Yisrael". Maskileison discharged his rabbinical duties in many cities and, in his later years, went to Minsk, where he remained until his death at the age of about 60. Having no desire to use his cabalistic knowledge for gain, as was done by the miracle-working rabbis, he devoted his whole life to study of the Torah and the Talmud. He lived in comparative poverty, being satisfied with only a small income.