Maskileison, Abraham ben Judah Leib, 1788-1848

Abraham ben Judah Leib (Löb) Maskileison (Hebrew: אברהם משכיל לאיתן); (b.1788– d.1848) was a Jewish scholar, rabbi and author active in Russia during the first half of the 19th century. Rabbi Maskileison was a great-grandson of another Talmudic scholar, Rabbi Israel ben Aaron Jaffe of Shklov (1640–1702), author of Or Yisrael. Born in Radoshkovichy, Maskileison studied under his father Yehuda (Judah) Leib Jaffe (1723–1783), who was av beit din of Khotimsk in Mogilev. His designation and family name Maskileison takes its name from the Ashkenazi pronunciation of the title (from Ps. 88:1) of his book Maskil le-Eitan. Maskileison discharged his rabbinical duties in many cities, serving as av beit din in Novogrudok. He later moved to Minsk, where he lived 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.