Early life Moses Philippson was born into a Jewish family from
Krakow, known for its many scholars, rabbis, educators, journalists, doctors, bankers, and scientists. The family's lineage traces back to the 16th century to
Rabbi Joshua Hoeschel ben Joseph (ca. 1578–1648). His father, Philipp Moses (or Phoebus ben Moses Arnswald), a
wandering scholar from
Arnswalde, came to Sandersleben, married the shoemaker's daughter Rebecca Loeb, and settled as a small trader and peddler. The couple had six children. Moses, the eldest, attended the
Yeshiva (Talmudic high school) in Halberstadt at twelve and later studied the
Talmud in Braunschweig and
Frankfurt (Oder).
Teacher, Writer, and Publisher Since 1799, Philippson taught at the Jewish Franzschule in Dessau, where independent work and thinking were encouraged in the spirit of the
Enlightenment. Alongside, he began his writing career and founded a printing press for Hebrew books. He printed Bible translations in German using Hebrew letters. His most famous work was the textbook "Kinderfreund und Lehrer" (Children's Friend and Teacher), published in two parts in 1808 and 1811. Among his five children, the following became well-known: •
Phöbus Moses Philippson (1807–1870), German physician and writer •
Ludwig Philippson (1811–1889), German writer and rabbi == Works ==