By Herman Rosenthal and Peter Wiernik, this article charts the beginnings of the Haskalah movement in Germany through to Galicia and Russia, and its influence on Jewish education there. This educational dimension is said to have culminated in the 'Society for the Promotion of Culture Among the Jews in Russia' (1863), whose greatest achievement is regarded to be the creation of a "Neo-Hebrew literature" and a "large Neo-Hebrew reading public."

Established in Germany in 1778 by Isaac Daniel Itzig and his brother-in-law David Friedlaender, this was the first Haskalah school established; as such it is often regarded to mark the beginning of the Haskalah movement. This entry briefly outlines its work.

It is noted here that when the founders of the movement became organized in 1763, it was then that they invoked the term 'Haskalah', 'the enlightenment'. Whilst very successful in France and Germany, the movement found a great deal more resistance in Russia from orthodox Jews. Eventually, however, its efforts bore fruit. Said here to be the most influential Haskalah writer of the 19th century, several of Chayim Nachman Bialik's poems are even used in the Yom Kippur liturgy.

The Haskalah refers to the Jewish enlightenment, lasting from the 1770's to the 1880's. Shira Schoenberg here provides background to this movement, as well as an account of its influence upon Jewish education, language, literature, jobs, and even orthodox Jewry who were largely hostile to Haskalah. Also discussed, among other themes, is the movement's anti-messianism.