This is the first systematic presentation of the life and work of the Frankfurt-based philosopher and Christian cabbalist F.J. Molitor (1779-1860) against the background of his dealings with Judaism.

Molitor represented the utopia of the Christian cabbala, which sees the oldest evidence of divine revelation in Jewish esotericism. His occupation with Jewish literature over a period of more than 40 years led to his being admired by the great intellectuals of his time, but also resulted in his poverty and social isolation. This study restores a hitherto largely neglected thinker to his rightful place in German intellectual history in the first half of the 19th century.

Autorentext

Katharina Koch, Freie Universität Berlin.