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Era of the Enlightenment
Ideology of Enlightement advances and spreads, clashing with traditional Rabbinic Judaism. -
Spinoza excommunicated (Amsterdam)
Spinoza charged with not believing in angels -
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Spinoza lives as first secular Jew,
Spinoza lives in solitude, advancing his ideology of a rational truth and a natural God. -
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Mendelssohn
transformed Jewish culture by claiming that a Jew could be both thoroughly European and compatible with the enlightenment, and maintain traditional Judaism to great extent -
Berr Isaac Berr's "Letter to His Fellow Jews"
States that Jews must a) "fulfill the duties that come with citizenship", b) adopt more open-minded policeis towards French ideaology, especially their emphasis on individual and physical labor c) Assimilate their NATIONAL identity with those of the French, ie be patriotic -
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American Revolution
Fought in response to America's Declaration of Independance, which was written largely based off of Enlightenment principles. -
Establishment of Juedische Freishule (Germany)
New reform-minded Jewish school which taught general studies as well as Judaic studies, and taught general studies classes in German -
Edict of Toleration (Germany)
Gave Jews new rights and repsonsabilities: Jews could live outside the Jewish Quarter, needed to take surnames, Jews can send their children to public school, Jews to not have to pay poll tax, Jews can own factories -
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French Revolution
A revolution also based on principles of the Englightenment, namely liberty and equality. -
Emancipation of the Jews of France
Established that Jews are citizens, annuls all restrictions on Jews, granting freedom to all INDIVIDUAL Jews who wish to maintain their religous practices privately, but to abolish any sense of Jewish nationalism. -
Establishment of Hamburg Synagogue
First Reform Synagogue. Set itself apart by incorporating music into prayer, having speeches given in the Vernaculr, and eliminating prayers calling for national restoration.