Furst Julius

Furst, Julius, was born of Jewish parents at Zerkowo, Posen, in 1805. Destined for the rabbinical career, he acquired a sound knowledge of Hebrew, and went to the University of Berlin. Poverty compelled him to interrupt his studies until 1827, when he broke loose from Jewish orthodoxy and betook himself first to Breslau and then to Halle. At the latter place he enjoyed the teaching of Gesenius, Wegschneider, and Tholuck. In 1839, having begun the publication of his Lehrigebdude der Araindischen Idioute, he obtained a professorship at Leipsic, where he remained until his death in 1873. Among the many erudite works which he produced may be mentioned a Hebrew and Chaldee Dictionary, toncordantia, an edition of Buxtorf's great compilation, Histories of the Karaites, and of Biblical literature, and Bibliotheca Judaica. He also edited Ber Orient, a Jewish periodical.