I ADORE Mendelssohn!

So do I.

With Moses Mendelssohn, Jews became more acceptable at least to German intellectuals.

born and widely known as Felix Mendelssohn,[n 2] was a German composer, pianist, organist and conductor of the early romantic period. Mendelssohn wrote symphonies, concertos, oratorios, piano music and chamber music. His best-known works include his Overture and incidental music for A Midsummer Night's Dream, the Italian Symphony, the Scottish Symphony, the overture The Hebrides, his mature Violin Concerto, and his String Octet. His Songs Without Words are his most famous solo piano compositions. After a long period of relative denigration due to changing musical tastes and antisemitism in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, his creative originality has been re-evaluated. He is now among the most popular composers of the romantic era.

A grandson of the philosopher Moses Mendelssohn, Felix Mendelssohn was born into a prominent Jewish family. He was brought up without religion until the age of seven, when he was baptised as a Reformed Christian. Felix was recognised early as a musical prodigy, but his parents were cautious and did not seek to capitalise on his talent.'>>>

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Felix_Mendelssohn

In the 3rd act is the famous Parable of the Three Rings.

When Saladin the Muslim asks Nathan the Jew, whose daughter loves a Christian Crusader, which of the 3 religions is true, Nathan tells him the parable of the 3 rings.

After a story of a king with 3 sons (the 3 religions) fighting over the inheritance, the conclusion/moral is that in order to determine which of the 3 religions is true you have to examine the actions of their followers.

This was a shocking view in the 18th century. For this and other reasons Lessing was at times viewed with suspicion and accused of being a heretic.

Note: Lessing is a major figure in German literary history, and his plays are still performed today.