Zionist library for boys and girls · 1908-01-01 · 2 · p. [Seite]

place for ell-know men, and a centre for disputes and discussions. Moses Mendelsohn was a religious. Jew and a Hebraist0 He .fought for the emancipation of the Jew inside his own community and outside in the Christian world. Ho always tried to make clear to the Jews as well as to the non-Jews, that the Jew could "be a good Jew and at the same time a good German citizen. He tried to do this by making the Jews under stand and appreciate the greatness of" Jewish thought and religion on the one hand,- and by stressing the necessity of learning science and literature on the other.' His followers however and the generation that followed him, completely misunderstood .his aims. They were no longer at all concerned about Judaism, but tried to become as German as the Germans. This possibility was given to the rich Jews, as the State was at that time in need of Bonkers, and coin-makers and the Jews in those professions were protected and favoured. following uppn this, there soon developed a Jewish bourgeoisie., in whose houses the German aristocrats met. $?hese meeting places were called nsalonsn and were fostered by rich and beautiful Jewesses.' The generation that grew up. anionst this rapidly growing class of rich Jews were completely assimilated. It wafc regarded as a great offence to spc ak "Yid dish" t J c\1 ish 1 earn ing b ecame unimpor tant, end everything was done in order to become' a German, including Baptism, w)iich spread like an epidemic, through all circles of Jewry. . It seemed for a time that by becoming a Christian, all personal restrictions could be lifted end life'bo enjoyed fulljr. Soon the German authorities became frightened by this rapid Influx of Jews into their ranks, and a Police deeree was Issued allowing Baptism only to those granted at special Police permission. As soon as the number of Baptised Jews became