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 Montefiore Endowment

The Montefiore Endowment aims to promote higher Torah learning for future rabbis, teachers and lay leaders of the ‘orthodox’ Jewish community as well as teaching the values of tolerance, social harmony and mutual understanding for wide public benefit in accordance with the teachings of the Torah and as demonstrated by Sir Moses Montefiore.. Its current policy is based on its trustees’ interpretation of the way in which Sir Moses himself might have wished his Endowment to be administered in the very different circumstances of today’s world – all subject to regulation by the Charity Commission, The Charity’s educational arm is The Montefiore College, with its Dayanut Programme, Semicha Course, Diploma Course, Gap-year Programmes, Ph.D Scholarships, Learned Publications, Public Conferences and Leadership Courses. It also supports other organisations and courses with similar aims to its own, including the London School of Jewish Studies and Manchester Montefiore Kollel. The Endowment sponsors carefully selected Ph.D students at university, relevant learned publications and a number of other charities and educational courses with similar aims. It maintains and develops for public access its rich collection of manuscripts, books, ritual silver and textiles as well as maintaining the Montefiore synagogue and Mausoleum at Ramsgate. It also owns and maintains the Ramsgate Jewish cemetery.

The College

The Judith Lady Montefiore College, established by Sir Moses in memory of his wife Judith who died in 1862, runs programmes of advanced Torah education and leadership training.
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 cycles of study start every four years or so.
Its Dayanut Programme, delivered at the Montefiore College in London by Eretz Hemdah, Jerusalem, is now preparing over thirty highly 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'.
Its Diploma Course caters for lay men and women striving to enhance their knowledge of practical Halalacha as well as deepen their spiritual understanding.
Its Gap-Year Fellowship Scheme assists school leavers to spend a year in yeshiva/seminary in Jerusalem and, whilst there, provides them with an additional course of supplementary lectures designed to broaden their understanding of contemporary issues.
Its PhD Scholarship Programme is designed for community Rabbis and educationalists to develop high-level skills with the aim of enhancing their capacity to inspire others and apply innovative approaches to programme development.

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.
The 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 Alexandria and the Holy Land, including Sidon and Beirut.
Work is 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.

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 continues 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 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.

Mrs Julia Samuel (former Joint Administrator)

By Lucien Gubbay October 13, 2021 October 13, 2021 Uncategorized

On the conclusion of her year of office as a Joint Administrator of the Montefiore Endowment, its trustees thank Julia for the valuable work she carried out in that role. They hope that she may continue to assist the Endowment from time to time as an independent consultant and wish… Continue reading

THE MONTEFIORE SYNAGOGUE AND MAUSOLEUM IN RAMSGATE – OPEN

By admin May 19, 2021 June 22, 2021 Uncategorized

The Synagogue and Mausoleum are now open for pre-booked socially distant timed visits in line with UK Government Guidelines. More details will be available on booking a visit. Continue reading

New Appointments

By admin April 18, 2021 June 22, 2021 Uncategorized

Two of our semicha students have accepted posts in the Community prior to their graduation. Udi Ibgi has been appointed ‘Rabbi’ of Tiferet Eyal in Hendon and is leading the services and giving shiurim there. Michael Gabai is acting as ‘Interim Rabbi’ at Wembley S&P and will be filling in… Continue reading

Rabbi Jeff Berger appointed Rabbi of the Wembley Sephardi Synagogue

By Lucien Gubbay March 12, 2021 March 12, 2021 Uncategorized

Rabbi Jeff Berger, a Montefiore Semicha graduate, has been appointed Rabbi of the S&P Sephardi Community’s Wembley Sephardi Synagogue. Continue reading

Dayan Daniel Kada. The first graduate of the Montefiore Dayanut Programme

By Lucien Gubbay March 12, 2021 October 13, 2021 Uncategorized

The Montefiore Endowment takes much pleasure in announcing the first graduate in its Dayanut Programme delivered by Eretz Hemdah, Institute of Advanced Jewish Studies, Jerusalem. Rabbi Daniel Kada has been awarded semicha ‘Yadin Yadin for the Diaspora’* after passing his final examinations with distinction. Rabbi Kada, who recently gained a… Continue reading

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 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 June 23, 2021 Uncategorized

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