Haskalah, also known as the Jewish Enlightenment, was an intellectual movement that emerged in the late 18th century among European Jews. It aimed to modernize Jewish life by encouraging education, secular knowledge, and integration into broader society while maintaining Jewish identity. The movement sought to promote rational thought and critical inquiry, often challenging traditional religious practices. Key figures of the Haskalah included Moses Mendelssohn, who advocated for the study of philosophy and science alongside Jewish texts. The movement led to significant changes in Jewish communities, fostering a new sense of identity and paving the way for later developments such as Reform Judaism and Zionism.