How did Abraham Mapu’s The Hypocrite criticize social problems?

In his novel 'Ayit tzavua' (1857–69; "The Hypocrite"), Abraham Mapu shifted from the romanticized biblical themes of his earlier work to a direct critique of contemporary life within the Jewish ghetto.12

The novel serves as a sharp attack on social and religious injustice, specifically targeting what the author perceived as orthodox obscurantism. By portraying the maskil—an adherent of the Haskalah (Enlightenment) movement—as a central figure, Mapu depicted a struggle against traditionalist resistance to modernization and reform. Through this narrative, Mapu sought to expose the hypocrisy and systemic failings he observed in the traditional Jewish society of his time.12