Dr. Ludwig Philippson (1811–1889) achieved renown as the founder (1837) of the Allgemeine Zeitung des Judentums and its editor until his death. Ludwig was an avid student of both Hebrew and classical literature. After graduation from Berlin University (1833), he took up the position of preacher in the Magdeburg Jewish community. Though following the practice of Reform Judaism - he preached in German and introduced the organ and the rite of confirmation - he tried to steer a middle course between Reform and Orthodoxy. He was among the initiators of the Rabbinical Synods of Brunswick (1844), Frankfort (1845), and Breslau (1846), but was critical of their decisions. One of his projects was the establishment of a modern institution for training scholars, rabbis, and teachers. His newspaper was also dedicated to the struggle for emancipation in all parts of Germany and Europe and fought discrimination and anti-Semitism. Philippson published a popular translation of the Bible which went through three editions (1854, 1858, 1878) together with a revised edition illustrated by Dore (1875). Along with I. M. Jost and A. Jellinek he founded the Institut zur Foerderung der Israelitischen Literatur (1854) whose main achievement was the publication of H. Graetz's history. In 1862 he had to resign as rabbi of Magdeburg because he had become almost blind; nevertheless, he continued his journalistic and literary work in Bonn until his death.