Montefiore Endowment – Preserving and developing the legacy of Sir Moses Montefiore

Browse the beautiful collections

The Montefiore Collections include items and papers once belonging to Sir Moses as well as manuscripts, books, silver and vestments.

Montefiore Testimonials

Over 400 of which have been digitised and published online, were sent as tributes to Sir Moses from all over the world, mostly on the occasion of his 100th birthday.

The Montefiore Censuses,

Published here online, were compiled between 1839 and 1875 and cover the Jewish inhabitants of the Holy Land, Alexandria, Sidon and Beirut.

The College

The Montefiore College, established by Sir Moses in memory of his wife Judith who died in 1866, runs programmes of advanced Torah education. Its Semicha course was established to produce a new generation of rabbis for the Anglo-Jewish community. Many of its students have already graduated as rabbis; and new courses start every four years, or more frequently according to demand.
Its Dayanut course, delivered at the Montefiore College in London by Eretz Hemdah, Jerusalem, is now preparing over twenty qualified senior rabbis in the English-speaking world and beyond with advanced halachic knowledge in the topics of Marriage, Divorce and Conversion for Semicha 'Yadin Yadin for the Diaspora'. The Gap-Year Fellowship Scheme assists school leavers to spend a year in yeshiva/seminary in Jerusalem.

Sir Moses

The life and times of Sir Moses Montefiore, Bart., described at the peak of Britain's imperial power as "the most famous Jew in the world"; the history and the current activities of the Montefiore Endowment, which has continued until now to administer Sir Moses's bequest in accordance with British Charity Law and in a manner that its trustees are confident he would have approved. The Spanish and Portuguese Jews' Congregation, London of which Sir Moses was a member, the oldest synagogue in England and the one which he led for many years.

The Montefiore Synagogue and Mausoleum in Ramsgate. Information and how to book visits.

The Collections

The Montefiore Collections include items and papers once belonging to Sir Moses as well as manuscripts, books, silver and vestments from the Montefiore College and Synagogue.
Montefiore Testimonials. Over 400 of which have been digitised and published online, were sent as tributes to Sir Moses from all over the world, mostly on the occasion of his 100th birthday.
The Montefiore Censuses, published here online, were compiled between 1839 and 1875 and cover the Jewish inhabitants of the Holy Land, Alexandria, Sidon and Beirut.
Work is now in progress to catalogue the hundreds of Montefiore Petitions sent to Sir Moses from all over the world during his visits to the Holy Land.

The Montefiore Ethos

The Montefiore Endowment aims to promote the values of tolerance, social harmony and mutual understanding for wide public benefit in accordance with the teachings of the Torah and as demonstrated in the life and works of Sir Moses Montefiore. It does this through its Conferences and its planned Leadership Courses.

The Montefiore Ethos is also promoted by The Montefiore College in its Semicha Course and in the Gap-Year Fellowship Scheme

Browse Latest News Articles

MEMORABLE SEPHARDI VOICES

By Lucien Gubbay December 7, 2020 February 14, 2021 Uncategorized

Just published by the Montefiore Endowment, Memorable Sephardi Voices is intended to strengthen ‘orthodox’ Judaism’s much threatened middle ground. It deals with many issues including contemporary ones for which no resolution is yet in sight. The book contains a selection of the views of those Sephardi sages who have promoted Jewish… Continue reading

THE MONTEFIORE SYNAGOGUE AND MAUSOLEUM IN RAMSGATE – CLOSED

By admin November 5, 2020 November 5, 2020 Uncategorized

Following the government guidelines we are now closed for visitors until further notice. Continue reading

THE MONTEFIORE ENDOWMENT HAS MOVED

By Lucien Gubbay October 5, 2020 November 5, 2020 Uncategorized

The Montefiore Endowment has moved its office, library and teaching facilities from Ashworth Road, London W9 to new premises at the Schaller House Campus, 44a Albert Road, Hendon, London NW4 2SJ which are better suited to accommodate its expanding educational programmes and other activities. The move from one set of… Continue reading

Queries addressed to the Website

By Lucien Gubbay October 5, 2020 October 5, 2020 Uncategorized

Inquirers should note that the Montefiore Endowment owns, preserves and maintains its books and manuscripts in its library at Schaller House Campus, 44a Albert Road, London NW4 2SJ and those on loan to the libraries of University College London. All items are listed on our website www.montefioreendowment.org.uk Items are available… Continue reading

Existing Activities and Coronavirus Precautions

By Lucien Gubbay August 23, 2020 November 5, 2020 Uncategorized

The Semicha Course and the Dayanut Programmes are continuing by Zoom for the present. The Gap-Year Fellowship Scheme has started in Jerusalem as planned, Fellows having received the necessary permission to travel by the authorities The start of the new Montefiore Diploma Course for lay men and women will start… Continue reading

Montefiore Diploma Course for lay men and women

By Lucien Gubbay January 12, 2020 February 14, 2021 Uncategorized

Based on the Montefiore Endowment’s successful record in teaching Torah, the learning is presented in English and directed to lay men and women seeking to improve their halachic and general Jewish knowledge. Starting at 8.00 pm on Monday 11th January 2021, the course will last for one year with the… Continue reading