He studied at the universities of Göttingen and Berlin. In Berlin he began to teach, and in 1835 received the appointment of upper master in the Jewish commercial school (called the Philanthropin) at Frankfort-on-the-Main. Here he remained until his death, on November 22, 1860. The work by which he is chiefly known is "Geschichte der Israeliten seit den Zeit der Maccabaer", in 9 volumes (1820–1829). This work was afterwards supplemented by "Neuere Geschichte den Israeliten von 1815–1845" (1846–1847), and "Geschichte des Judenthums und seiner Sekten" (1857–1859). He also published an abridgment under the title "Allgemeine Geschichte des israelitischen Volkes" (1831–1832), and an edition of the Mishna with a German translation and notes (6 volumes, 1832–1834). Between 1839 and 1841 he edited the "Israelitische Annalen", and he contributed extensively to periodicals.