He was born in Sataniv, Podolia, where he had a traditional Jewish education supplemented by studies in science, mathematics, and medieval philosophy.
He spent most of his life living in Galicia, and had great influence on Nachman Krochmal and Joseph Perl.
"[1] He campaigned in favor of adding general education to the standard curriculum in Jewish schools, and he was a fierce opponent of Hasidic Judaism and Kabbalah, which he viewed as "nonsense.
"[citation needed] In 1791, he published a French-language pamphlet advocating for Jewish reform, criticizing the Hasidic movement for opposing integration.
[2] Among his influential works is a Musar text titled Cheshbon Ha-Nefesh (Moral Accounting), which was published in 1808, based in part on the ethical program described in the autobiography of Benjamin Franklin.