Mughal Administration c18.s4.5

c18.s4.5

the *Haskalah* (Enlightenment) movement, which had begun in Germany with Moses Mendelssohn, was now making its influence felt in the Russian Empire. The *Maskilim* (adherents of the Enlightenment) sought to modernize Jewish education, encourage the study of secular subjects, and promote the use of the Russian language alongside Hebrew and Yiddish. They believed that by integrating into the broader society, Jews could improve their economic and social standing. However, this movement faced significant opposition from the traditionalist *Hasidim* and *Mitnagdim*, who feared that secular education would lead to assimilation and the abandonment of Jewish religious practices.