Rabbi Jacob Emden, Sabbateanism and Frankism: Attitudes toward Christianity in the eighteenth century.

Abstract

In his analysis of the attitude of early Maskilim to Maimonides, Allan Nadler noted how they were more attracted to the biography of Maimonides, to the drama of his life as halakhist, doctor, and philosopher, than to the actual content of his philosophy, which they found irrelevant and unappealing.110 We have seen how Mendelssohn was attracted to Emden, but for the opposite reason, for Emden’s conceptual perspective rather than for the way he lived his life. For if Emden had a remarkably tolerant attitude to Christianity, which Mendelssohn appreciated and wanted to access, and which continues to interest both modern historians and those engaged in interfaith activity, it did not express itself in his personal life. Theoretically analyzing the issue in the privacy of his study was one thing; looking out his window was something else entirely. (from Conclusion)