In order to achieve a proper perspective of the life and activities of Naphtali Herz Wessely, we need as a background the ideals and influences of the German or Berlin Haskalah. To describe, however, this German or Berlin Haskalah, which is the first period of the general Haskalah Movement, and to evaluate its activities and influences are not within the scope of this dissertation, for that is a subject which contains material for many dissertations. Nevertheless, some brief sketch of the period and its antecedents may prove of value here.