Seforimchatter Divrei Sholom V'Emes: The Maskilic Manifesto and The Controversy (with Prof. Shmuel Feiner)
Jan 11, 2026
Prof. Shmuel Feiner, a leading authority on modern Jewish history, discusses the impactful work of Vesely in shaping Jewish education. He delves into the revolutionary concepts of Torah Ha'adam versus Torah Elohim and their implications in the 18th century. Feiner reveals Vesely's connections with Moses Mendelssohn and highlights the resulting tensions with rabbinic authority. He also explores Vesely's innovative curriculum proposals and their lasting influence on modern Jewish schooling, advocating for a balance between tradition and modernity.
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Two Realms Of Knowledge
- Naftali Herz Wessely introduced a decisive split between 'Torah Ha'adam' (general knowledge) and 'Torah HaElohim' (Jewish knowledge).
- That distinction reframed Jewish education as two complementary spheres rather than a single narrowly Talmudic focus.
Wessely's Peripatetic Life
- Wessely moved across Hamburg, Copenhagen, Amsterdam and Berlin and earned recognition as a pioneer of modern Hebrew poetry.
- He wrote major works like Shirat Eretz and later requested burial in the Spanish section of Altona's cemetery.
Maskilim Revived Hebrew And Lost Knowledge
- Early Maskilim republished scientific and philosophical works in Hebrew to rescue neglected knowledge for Jews.
- Figures like Wessely emphasized Hebrew revival through poetry, grammar, translation, and textbooks rather than sciences alone.
