Baruch Schick of Shklov

Life & Legacy

Baruch Schick of Shklov (1744–1808) was a Polish–Lithuanian-born rabbi, author, scholar, talmudist, physicist, and scientist. He is famous for having translated many scientific works into Hebrew upon the request of the Vilna Gaon. He wrote about topics ranging from medicine to hygiene, and was known as one of the many pioneers of the Haskalah movement (Jewish Age of Enlightenment). He served as a dayan in the communities of Minsk and Slutsk throughout his life. Baruch descended from the famous Jewish families of Schick and Ginzberg. He was acknowledged as the first Jew to translate from English to Hebrew.