Me'assefim

In the bi'ur or commentary which he added to this translation, he dwelt on the beauty of the Hebrew language, its wealth of imagery, and its adaptability for poetic expression.

By his comments on scripture, also, he largely stimulated Hebrew, grammatical, and exegetic studies.

While reading and discussing Mendelssohn's scriptural expositions, Isaac Abraham Euchel and Mendel Bresslau, who were at that time tutoring in the house of David Friedländer at Königsberg, conceived the idea of causing Hebrew as a literary language to be used more widely among the Jews.

Assured of the material support of Simon and Samuel Friedländer, they issued in the spring of 1783 an appeal to all Jews to assist in establishing a society for the study of Hebrew (Chebrat Doreshe Leshon 'Eber).

Mendelssohn and even the aged Naphtali Herz Wessely promised their support and contributed to Ha-Me'assef, the former anonymously.

The first number of the periodical was announced April 13, 1783, in a prospectus, Nachal ha-Besor, signed by Euchel, Bresslau, and Samuel and Simon Friedländer.

Responsa on religious questions, e.g., on the speedy burial of the dead, have also been collected in its pages.