Vom "jüdischen Geist"

The author summarizes the main tendencies and streams of antisemitism, and then refutes them by looking at Judaism as a whole and its core principles. The author urges his audience to look at Judaism with an open mind before judging it – first of all at its prayers. He condemns the tendencies of antisemites to look at the “bad apples” and apply their shortcomings on the whole community. He sees the biggest danger in fanaticism, with Jews being its first victims. The author then discusses supposed Jewish influence in Greek and Roman culture, the enlightenment and capitalism. He pleads with the words of Moses Mendelsohn “In what blissful world would we live, if all people could accept and practice the truths that the best Christians and Jews have in common.”