Moses Mendelssohn: A New Jewish Faith'Among the precepts and statutes of the Mosaic law there is no one who says “you will believe” or “you will not believe”; everyone says “you will do” or you won't. Faith does not accept commands; she accepts only what comes to her through reasoned conviction. All the commandments of the divine law are addressed to the will, to the ability to act of man." (Glatzer 511). In considering who is Jewish we must first grasp a concrete conception of Judaism. Moses Mendelssohn offers helpful material in “A Definition of Judaism,” which can be found in The Judaic Tradition. Mendelssohn's interpretation agrees with the views of some political philosophers, in his discussion of Judaism as a religion based primarily on reason. His belief that "revelation... concerns precepts of conduct and laws of action..." makes Judaism appear to be a very different religion from its relatives. Mendelssohn's characterization of faith as an idea arrived at through reason and understanding reveals much about individual Jews. «Among the precepts and statutes of the Mosaic law there is no one who says 'you will believe' or 'you will not believe'; everyone says 'You will' or you won't” (Glatzer 511). Mendelssohn's first goal with this passage is to develop a definition of Judaism as a religion with a form different from that of Christianity. Christianity, a religion deeply rooted in the traditional notion of faith, first demands that its followers believe in Jesus Christ as their savior and reaffirm this belief through custom. Mendelssohn openly rejects this concept of faith, arguing that “true faith is based only on reason and is therefore equally accessible to all men” (Glatzer 509). Conscious action and thought in Judaism are held in higher esteem than passive belief. Those who question their own beliefs and begin to understand divine legislation develop a stronger understanding of Judaism and grow closer to God. By saying that "faith does not accept commands..." Mendelssohn implies that those who develop one's faith as a result of an energetic command (e.g. “Believe!”) loses the meaning of the concept. A Jew's faith "accepts only what comes to it through reasoned belief." Mendelssohn highlights an integral part of what it means to be Jewish by discussing the acquisition of faith through reason. Moses transmitted to the Jews the commandments of the Lord of the divine law without a specific teaching to believe, but rather a law "addressed to the will, to the ability to act of man.