Sendschreiben an Seine Hochwürden, Herrn Oberconsistorialrath und Probst Teller zu Berlin von einigen Hausvaetern jüdischer Religion

AUCTION 1 |
Thursday, November 14th,
1996 at 1:00
Fine Judaica: Books, Manuscripts and Works of Art
Lot 128
[FRIEDLAENDER, DAVID]
Sendschreiben an Seine Hochwürden, Herrn Oberconsistorialrath und Probst Teller zu Berlin von einigen Hausvaetern jüdischer Religion
Berlin (third, Leipzig): 1799
Est: $700 - $1,000
PRICE REALIZED $500
Following the death of Moses Mendelssohn in 1796, David Friedlaender became his intellectual successor and pioneer of the ideology of assimilation, occupying a prominent position in both Jewish and non-Jewish circles in Berlin. In 1799 Friedlaender sent this famous anonymous petition to Berlin’s Pastor Teller “In the Name of Some Jewish Householders,” requesting admittance to the Church - although without the requirement of accepting Christ or performing Christian ritual. Friedlaender believed Christianity and Judaism shared a common natural religion free of ritual. His request was denied, but a significant and contentious debate followed the “Open Letter” calling forth many replies. The letter indicates the level of despair among quarters of German Jews in their struggle for civil equality