R. Judah Loeb Margolioth (1747–1811), a rabbi and preacher, was a grandson of R. Mordecai Jaffe. R. Margolioth was one of the precursors of the Haskalah in Eastern Europe. He was born in Zborov, Galicia, served as rabbi in was successively rabbi at Busnow, Szebrszyn, Polotsk, Lesla, and, from 1805, in Frankfort on the Oder. He was familiar with medieval and contemporary Hebrew scientific literature as well as with contemporary Haskalah literature. In his books of sermons, he emphasized social justice and criticized the rich. He opposed Hasidism but also objected to the study of philosophy which he regarded as undermining faith. Thus he criticized Mendelssohn for advocating freedom of ideas in Judaism in his book, Jerusalem, but advocated the study of Hebrew grammar, the sciences, and mathematics. He wrote Or Olam al Hokhmat ha-Teva ("Light of the World—On Science," Frankfort on the Oder, 1777). The main point of the book is the classification of the "wisdoms" into science, mathematics, physics, and metaphysics; and the art of leading men: politics, economics, and ethics. The book was well received and was enthusiastically praised by Russian and Polish rabbis. His other works include interpretations of the Torah, responsa, sermons, and linguistic studies. Margolioth's books give expression to the mood of Eastern European Jews in the early days of the Haskalah, and demonstrate the initial willingness among certain Orthodox elements to accept social reforms and even secular studies, but their disillusionment when they witnessed the radical results of Enlightenment. Some of thes titles are Korban Reshit," responsa and discussions on Rosh ha-Shanah (Frankfort-on-the-Oder, 1778); Tal Orot," treatises on the essence of the soul, on immortality, etc. (Frankfort-on-the-Oder, 1751); "Or 'Olam," treatises on natural philosophy, to which is appended Saadia Gaon's commentary on Canticles (ib. 1777); "Bet Middot," on ethics, in prose and verse (Dyhernfurth, 1778); "'Aze Eden," homilies on belief, philosophy, pride, and humility, with a criticism of Mendelssohn's "Jerusalem" (ib. 1802); "Amirah Ne'imah," on the Haggadah and the Pentateuch (in manuscript); "Iggeret ha-Melizah," on style (Novidvor, 1794); "Sefer Tov ve-Yafeh," collection of poems on dogmatic, grammatical, and liturgical subjects (Frankfort-on-the-Oder, 1770). He was probably the first Judæo-Polish author to write on natural philosophy.

בשנת מזרה' י'ש'ר'א'ל' י'קבצנו בשער: "וחלק ראשון מזה החבור הנקרא תורה אחת". חלק זה לא נדפס כנראה.