The Religious Philosophy of Rabbi Zvi Hirsch Kalischer

Abstract

Kalischer presented the essence of Jewish philosophical thought in a simple and persuasive manner. This was an important contribution towards strengthening the religious consciousness of this period. His work had a profound influence both in Germany and especially in Poland and Russia, where the Haskalah movement was just beginning.1 This influence was felt for years after the original publication of Emunah Yesharah. Thus in 1913 a portion of his work was reprinted in Warsaw, under the title Sefer Petah HaDaat, for the purpose of strengthening religious belief among the younger generation.