Modern Jewish history is filled with depth and knowledge that has captivated and cultivated the religion into what it became. The ideologies and philosophies of Moses Mendelssohn are an important part of the story. Considered the first modern Jewish philosopher and one of the founders of Judaism, Mendelssohn marked the beginning of what would become the Jewish Enlightenment. Being the first to translate the Bible from Hebrew into German, he opened the door for Jews to rediscover and deepen their knowledge. Writer and philosopher, several of his writings enjoyed great success and were considered the heralds of a new way of thinking. While many of his writings have received praise from people from different walks of life, criticism has arisen, notably from Dohm and an anonymous writer, who have attacked and challenged his philosophies. As a fair and critical thinker, Mendelssohn offered refutations or explanations to the ideas and philosophies that made him the father of the Jewish Enlightenment. Early in Mendelssohn's career, a man named Johann Caspar Lavater attempted to challenge and convert Mendelssohn to Christianity. In trying to get him to convert, Lavater offered him to prove and prevent the evidence against Christianity or thus convert to Christianity. Mendelssohn did not respond directly to Lavater's proposal and attack. Instead, he quickly declared his firm alliance and loyalty to Judaism. Lavater's attack upset Mendelssohn, as he did not want to make much of his religious background and wondered why Lavater was even bothering him. Following Lavater's attack, Mendelssohn devoted all his efforts to trying to get Jews to explore the German past. and make them members of Jewish society. In doing so, he trans...... middle of paper ......e The French Revolution was a period of widening societal and political spectrums. One of the results of the French Revolution included a declaration that attempted to establish freedom and the right to practice any religion. Following this Declaration, the emancipation of the Jews in France occurred with the help of Napoleon. Following the Declaration, Napoleon aimed to discover Jewish origins and whether or not they were suitable to join French society. His efforts brought about equal religious freedoms and certain rights for Jews that did not exist before his reign. Napoleon essentially aided the rights of Jews in France during his regime and helped them gain a place in society. Works Cited Flohr, Paul R. and Jehuda Reinharz. “2.” The Jew in the Modern World: A Documentary History. 3 ed. New York: Oxford University Press, 1980. Print.