HOLLAENDERSKI, LÉON LÖB BEN DAVID:
Polish scholar and author; born at Wistiniecz, government of Suwalki, Russian Poland, 1808; died in Paris Dec. 20, 1878. He studied at Königsberg, Prussia, and on his return in 1833 was appointed an interpreter at the tribunal of Suwalki. There, in 1835, he founded the first printing and lithographic establishment in the government, as well as three bookstores. His Polish sympathies, however, soon attracted the attention of the Russian government. He was denounced, his property was confiscated, and he barely escaped with his life to Paris (1843).
Through the recommendation of Arago he obtained a position in one of the railroad offices, and employed his leisure time in literary pursuits, which gave him in after years considerable reputation as a philosopher, moralist, historian, and bibliographer.
Of his published works may be mentioned: "Céline la Nièce de l'Abbé" (1832); "Histoire des Juifs en Pologne," the first in its field (1846); "Trilogie Philosophique et Populaire: Moschek," a romance in which are faithfully depicted the Polish customs of that time; "Dix-huit Siècles de Prejugés Chrétiens"; "Dictionnaire Universel Français Hébreu"; "L'Exemple," an essay on morals; "Israel et Sa Vocation," published in "Arch. Isr." (Paris, 1863-64). Besides these works, he is the author of the following, in verse: "Méditations d'un Proscrit Polonais"; "L'Amour et l'Hymen"; "La Liberté de Franc-Maçons"; "Lamentation de Juifs Polonais sous Nicolas 1er." He also translated Ibn Ezra's "Ma'adanne Melek," under the title of "Délices Royales ou le Jeu des Echecs"; "Mémoire de Kilinsky" from the Polish into French; and the third part of Berakot (Paris, 1871).
His numerous contributions to periodical literature as well as his works appeared variously under the names of "Holland," "Hollander," "Hollaender," and "H. I."
- Larousse, Dict.;
- Zeitlin, Bibl. Jud.
