Ilya Ilyich Kazas

Ilya Ilyich Kazas studied at Faculty of Oriental Studies of the St. Petersburg University. Training under Daniel Chwolson is recorded. Borys Eliaszewicz is recorded as having studied under Ilya Ilyich Kazas. The recorded working language is Biblical Hebrew and Russian. The field of work recorded is oriental studies, study of the Hebrew language and pedagogy. Distinctions recorded are Order of Saint Anna, 2nd class, Order of Saint Stanislaus, 2nd class, Order of St.

After graduating from the model Aben-Yashar Lutsk's school and "writing a poem on the majestic language of the Bible" he worked for 6 months as a clerk in one of the most fashionable stores in Odessa. From 1853 to 1855 Kazas studied at Moscow University, but in October 1855 before completing his studies, he entered the Faculty of Oriental Languages of St. Petersburg University. On September 16, 1859, Kazas graduated from the course, by defending his Ph.D., and became the first of the Crimean Karaites to be educated to that level with a scientific higher education degree. From St. Petersburg, Kazas moved to Odessa where, in 1859, he opened a private school, working there only for a short time. In 1863 he moved to Simferopol taking up a position as a history teacher at Simferopol gymnasium №1, where he worked for 18 years. In 1872, Kazas was the author of the project to create Simferopol Tatar Teachers' School. From 1881 to 1894 he worked as an inspector. Furthermore, he held the post of censor the newspaper "Переводчик-Терджиман" (before 1905) and chaired the "Tsar Alexander Karaim Spiritual Academy". His high prestige among the Crimean Karaites is clearly evidenced by the fact that he was an adviser to Hakham S. M. Pampulov. He has published books such as "לרגל הילדים" ("Guide for children") (written in Hebrew in 1868–1869) and "Russian textbook for elementary schools Tatar", written in 1873–1875. Ilya Ilyich distinguished himself vividly as a brilliant translator. Thanks to his efforts his contemporary compatriots gained access to many famous literary works, such as "Torat Gaadam" ("Principles of Ethics") and "Kivshono Shel Olam" ("World Secrets"), in which Kazas summarized and processed the works of French authors Paul Janet and Jules Simon. He edited the Odessa published Karaim Journal "Davul" ("Drum") and Simferopol newspaper "Tauris". He died in Yalta on 14 January 1912 and was buried in the Yevpatorian Karaim cemetery. The tombstone from the grave of Kazas is located in the lapidarium Karaim Kenesa in Yevpatoria.

He was married to Byubyush Berahovna Pampulova, a cousin of Hakham S. M. Pampulov. Together they had eight children: • Ilya born July 3, 1860 • Beraha (Boris) – 14 December 1861 • Azari – May 15, 1865 • Anne – 13 December 1867 • Mordechai (Mark) – 18 July 1870 • Michael – 21 May 1872 • Emanuel – January 31, 1875 r • Sarah – 21 February 1876