Samuel David Luzzatto (1800-1865) emerged as one of the nineteenth century's most prolific yet underappreciated Jewish scholars, whose unwavering religious faith shaped a unique approach to biblical criticism and Hebrew linguistics. Morris B. Margolies' comprehensive biography illuminates how Luzzatto, known by the Hebrew acronym ShaDaL, navigated between traditional Judaism and modern scholarship while facing personal hardships and mounting secular pressures. Drawing from extensive research in Italy and a wealth of primary sources, Margolies reveals Luzzatto's groundbreaking contributions, including the discovery of Yehuda Halevi's poetry collection and development of a biblical exegesis method that bridged traditional interpretation with scientific analysis. His influential theory of "Abrahamism versus Atticism" distinguished Jewish emotional-spiritual values from Greek rational-intellectual approaches, leading him to challenge rationalist thinkers like Maimonides while championing faith-centered scholars such as Rashi. Though firmly grounded in tradition, Luzzatto maintained vibrant scholarly networks across Europe and advocated for dynamic theological development within Orthodox boundaries, opposing rigid codification of Jewish law. This balance between tradition and scholarship established him as a distinctive voice in nineteenth-century Jewish intellectual history.