What is a maskil?

A maskil is a type of Hebrew literature that emerged during the Haskalah, or Jewish Enlightenment, in the 18th and 19th centuries. The term "maskil" comes from the Hebrew word for "enlightened" or "wise", and it refers to a person who was part of the movement to modernize and secularize Jewish culture and society.

Maskilim wrote poetry, prose, and plays that often reflected the ideals of rationalism, humanism, and secularism. They sought to promote literacy, education, and critical thinking among the Jewish community, and to integrate Jewish culture and traditions with the broader intellectual and cultural trends of their time.

Some famous maskilim include Moses Mendelssohn, the father of the Haskalah movement, as well as writers like Isaac Meir Dik, Shalom Aleichem, and Mendele Mocher Sforim. Their works were instrumental in shaping modern Jewish identity and culture, and continue to be studied and celebrated today.