Debate #1 - Mendelssohn (Danny Kopilnick)

Danny Kopilnick

10/1/13

Debate #1: Mendelssohn

            When responding to von Dohm, Mendelssohn is mainly talking about the fact that Jews can be active normal citizens without declaring citizenship and having to follow the Christian faith.  He is saying that the Jews are worthy of being respected as producers as well as consumers because they are very capable of doing all of the different jobs required of both sides.  Jews are able to do all the different jobs that it takes to make things and create things as well as sell them. And if they are capable of selling and creating goods then they are definitely worth enough to buy goods as well.  He also talks about the fact that the Jews came to Holland and Amsterdam because that’s where they were allowed to practice their religion freely as well as the fact that there were jobs there for the Jews.  He says that any other man would do the same because men flock to where the jobs are and where they can make money. 

When talking about Michaelis’ opinion, Mendelssohns’ talks about the fact that Jews are equal to everyone else and just because they are not Christian does not mean that they are bad people.  He questions the fact that Michaelis only calls the Jews, Jews and not Germans like everyone else.  He questions why Michaelis believes that Jews can’t be in the Army.  Mendelssohn talks a lot about the fact that Jews are just as equal to everyone else because they work as hard as everyone else and they have done nothing wrong to anyone. He questions the fact that people believe the Jews are stealing by making goods and other products.  He says that everyone is out trying to better themselves just like the Jews are.  He believes that the Jews should be looked as equals to the regular citizens and not looked down because they are Jewish.  Mendelssohn talks about the fact that it would be easier for everyone if the Jews were accepted because the Jews can actually help the economy and everyone that lives in these areas. Mendelssohn doesn’t understand how long it could take for Jews to be looked at as equals, he thinks that if everyone were to just stop fighting about who can live where that everyone would be better off for it because it could make everyone more money and grow the country stronger.