The Rigors of Jewish Historiography

Born in Bernburg, Germany, Isaac Markus Jost was an educator, historian, and community activist. After studying at the universities of Göttingen and Berlin, he settled in Frankfurt, where he taught for twenty-five years. In addition to his pedagogical works, Jost wrote histories of the Jews from the time of the Maccabees up to his own day. Jost contributed extensively to Jewish newspapers and periodicals and was known for actively defending Judaism against criticism and threats of legal encroachment. He devoted considerable time to charitable work, including aid to orphans.