WILNA, TZAMBI ELIAS (1720-971. A name applied to Elijah or Elias ben Solomon, one of the greatest of Hebrew seholors, born at \Vilna (Vilna), in Lithuania: also known as Elijah Gaon and The Gaon of \Vilna. As a ehild he lli-tplayed remarkable gifts of memory and reasoning powers, and, beginning the study of the Talmud at the age of seven. he speedily mastered the subject. Ile was almost entirely self-taught, and to this was probably due the originality of method which he applied to Tal mudic study. Unlike most Talmudists, whose efforts were directed to weaving, about the text elaborate webs of the most subtle casuistry lead ing nowhere in particular, he made it lnia chief object always to arrive at the simple meaning of words. He even applied. in some degree, the methods of philology and higher eritieism to the emendation of time Talmudic text, and at a time when the Talmud was practically the exclusive subject of study among the Jews, he laid great stress on the value of the biblical literature and the importance of Hebrew grammar. Be went further still in a dVOCa t lug the cultivation of the profane sciences, a view at that time amounting almost to heresy, and himself did work of a very high order in the fields of mathematics and astronomy. He had also a great fondness for the
Cabbala. With the exception of some travels in his youth he spent his entire life in semi-seclu sion at \Vilna. declining numerous calls which his great reputation brought him, and content to impart instruction in grammar, the Billie, and the Alishna to a select number of pupils. The only event of moment in his life was his struggle with the Chasidim (q.v.), of whom he was one of the most inveterate persecutors; he repeatedly excommunicated them and forbade intermarriage with them. Ile wrote eommentaries in every classic field of Hebrew literature. none of which, however, were published during his lifetime. These include on the Pentateneh, the Prophets and the Ilag,iographa, on portions of the Babylonian and Jerusalem Talmud, and on thelacha, Hogg:Ida, and Cabbala (qq•v•t• e.g. the Situkhan Alma and the Zohar. Ile was also the author of a Hebrew grammar and treatises on geometry, algebra, trigonometry, and astronomy.