Moses Mendelssohn–German 1729-1786 (57 yrs) Philosopher whose ideas gave rise to the Jewish Enlightenment or Haskalah. Very close to Lessing,prominent German playwright and author. The German Cultural Garden was dedicated to Lessing and a joint celebration was held with the predecessor Hebrew Garden as a result of Mendelssohn’s and Lesser’s close friendship. Bible commentator and first translator of the Tanach into High German. Father of the composers Fanny and Felix Mendelssohn.