His first poetical work to be published was the Shir Ḥavivim (Vilnius, 1822), in honor of the marriage of Count Tyszkiewicz, one of the most powerful noblemen of Lithuania.

In 1828, he published his book Teudah beyisra’el (A Testimony in Israel), a work that became the springboard for the formation of the Haskalah movement in Russia.

When Sir Moses Montefiore visited Vilnius in 1846, Lebensohn prepared an article on the condition of the Jews in Russia and the means by which it was to be improved.

This interesting document, embodying the views held by the Maskilim of that period, summarized the evils from which the Jews suffered and stated that they were to blame for their troubles.

Lack of education and of skill in handicrafts, too early marriages, the ignorance of the rabbis and teachers, and extravagance were described as the four avot neziḳin or chief faults; and relief was proposed, as was customary in those times, through governmental intervention.

[6] In 1848, Lebensohn became one of the principal teachers in the newly established rabbinical school of Vilna, a position which he filled for nearly twenty years, until he was forced by age and impaired eyesight to relinquish it.

Also in 1848, he began, conjointly with the bibliographer Benjacob, the publication of a new edition of the Bible, with a German translation, himself adding valuable glosses to the bi'ur (Miḳra'e Ḳodesh, Vilna, 1848–53).