Leeser, Isaac

Leeser, Isaac a noted Jewish theologian and religious writer, was born at Neukirch, in Westphalia, in 1806. In 1825 he emigrated to America, and became in 1829 rabbi of the principal synagogue of Philadelphia. This position he resigned in 1850, and died in that city in 1868. Leeser was a superior scholar and preacher, and among his people his memory will ever be respected and honored. His works, which are completely cited in Allibone, Dict. of British and American Authors, vol. 2, s.v., are mainly contributions to Jewish literature — principally Jewish history and theology. In 1843 he assumed the editorship of the Jewish Advocate (or Occident). Very valuable is his edition of the O.-T. Scriptures in the original, based on the labors of Van der Hooght, and published by Lippincott and Co. (Philadel. 1868, 8vo).