Isaac Leeser

Isaac Leeser ( born December 12, 1806 New Churches / Rheine, Westphalia, when Isaac Leeser, † February 1, 1868 in Philadelphia ) was an American rabbi German origin, shaped the development of Conservative Judaism in America significantly, and prolific writer, especially of religious literature, as well as enemy of Reform Judaism, which he held for a temporary time of publication.

He attended primary school in Dülmen, later a school in Münster. In 1824 he emigrated to America, first to Richmond, Virginia. Since 1828, he was a preacher and a rabbi since 1857 in Philadelphia. He founded in 1843 the first Jewish American journal The Occident and American Jewish Advocate at a time when there was not more than 15,000 Jews were in America. She appeared in Philadelphia a month later, a week ( until 1868 ). Her last editor was Mayer Sulzberger from the known family of publishers (New York Times).

Isaac Leeser was also the author of the then common English translation of the Bible, was the basis for the translation of the Jewish Publication Society. This translation was also the first Jewish translation of the Bible into English.

Isaac Leeser died unmarried and was buried in Philadelphia.