In this video from the PBS series The Story of the Jews, Felix Mendelssohn’s emergence as a major composer is placed in the framework of the era of Romantic Nationalism that launched the 19th century in Europe. During this period following the French revolution, ghetto walls were torn down and Jews were expected to forgo their Jewish identity in exchange for the privileges of full European citizenship. Many European Jews, including Moses Mendelssohn’s son Abraham and his family, converted to Christianity during this time.