Über die bürgerliche Verbesserung der Juden

Christian Wilhelm von Dohm, a German historian, economist, and diplomat was among the first to advocate "reformation" of the Jews and their customs, as well as improvement of their civil status. "On the Improvement of the Jews as Citizens", was undertaken at the insistence of Moses Mendelssohn who had asked him to draw up a memorandum in favor of the Jews of Alsace. The book became very important as a focal point for the public discussion in Germany. Dohm argued against the anti-Jewish agitator Johann Eisenmenger by stating that the grant of equal economic and civil opportunities to the Jews would be worthwhile to enlightened governments aiming at justice and the increase of their population. The Jews are preferable to new settlers since "they are more deeply rooted in the countries they inhabit than a foreigner can be." Dohm aroused German public opinion to consider the Jewish problem as of political and social significance