(FRIEDLAENDER, DAVID).

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 gentile 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 obligation 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 certain groups of assimilated German Jews in their struggle for civil equality.