A Popular Dictionary of Judaism
ELIJAH BEN SOLOMON ZALMAN
(1720–1797) (The Vilna Gaon). Lithuanian scholar and tireless opponent of *Hasidism.
Elijah was regarded as the spiritual leader of the *Mitnaggedim and his reputation made Vilna an important centre of Jewish learning. He wrote Biblical commentaries, annotations on the *Midrash, *Talmud and *Zohar and in his *halakhic decisions, he based his rulings on the plain meanings of the text. Although he encouraged the study of natural science, he forbade philosophy and was adamantly opposed to the *Haskalah and its effects on the Jewish Community, (see also *HASIDISM, *HASKALAH, *MITNAGGEDIM).
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