Editing The Alter Rebbe (section)

== With the Haskalah Movement ==
The maskilim (followers of the Jewish Enlightenment) during that period managed to penetrate Vilna, which was the largest Torah center at that time and also the center of opposition to Chassidus. The Torah scholars in Vilna, led by the Gra (Vilna Gaon), viewed favorably the pursuit of secular studies alongside Torah learning, particularly the study of Hebrew grammar. The maskilim exploited this opening to penetrate the central layers of Torah scholars and transfer their children to education according to their approach, which led many young people to foreign studies in Berlin and from there to the Haskalah. Simon Lillienthal ("Simon the Heretic") took an active part in this, disguising himself as a God-fearing teacher and transferring many children to education in the way of the Haskalah. Simon tried to find a way to influence the Chassidic community as well, and for this purpose made a long journey to White Russia and even met with the Alter Rebbe, but despaired when he saw the greatness of the Chassidim's faith and their connection to the Rebbe.