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. Fifteen of its students have already graduated as rabbis; and new courses start every four years, or more frequently according to demand. A third intake commenced their studies in November 2013.
Its Dayanut course, delivered at the Montefiore College in London by Eretz Hemdah, Jerusalem, is now preparing some 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; and 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.
NEW!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

Retirement of Jack Taylor from the Montefiore Council

By Lucien Gubbay January 31, 2020 January 31, 2020 Uncategorized

After very many years of involvement, Jack Taylor has retired from membership of the Montefiore Advisory Council. It is due entirely to his work, both personal and in the engaging and supervising an outside expert, that our Core Collection of manuscripts and books has now been satisfactorily conserved for future… Continue reading

Montefiore Diploma Course for lay men and women

By Lucien Gubbay January 12, 2020 January 12, 2020 Uncategorized

The Montefiore Diploma Course for lay men and women is planned to start in Spring 2020. The Course will last for two academic years and consist of classes on one evening a week in term time, plus a weekly revision session on Skype. Based on the Montefiore Endowment’s successful experience… Continue reading

Congratulations to Rabbi Binyomin Marks

By Lucien Gubbay January 9, 2020 January 9, 2020 Uncategorized

Many congratulations to Rabbi Binyomin Marks on his appointment as Safra Dedayna (Secretary) of the highly respected Bet Din of the Federation of Synagogues. Rabbi Marks is presently learning with the Montefiore Dayanut Programme. Continue reading

Rabbi Alex Goldberg has been appointed senior chaplain at the University of Surrey

By Lucien Gubbay September 25, 2019 September 25, 2019 Uncategorized

Montefiore graduate Rabbi Alex Goldberg, has been appointed senior chaplain at the University of Surrey to lead a community of 18,000 students and staff for several months. A barrister and human rights activist, he is the first non-Anglican to take on this role at the university. Rabbi Goldberg will also… Continue reading

Dayan Ofer Livnat

By Lucien Gubbay February 11, 2019 April 28, 2019 Uncategorized

Dayan Ofer Livnat, the Instructing Dayan of the Montefiore Dayanut Programme, has been appointed as a Dayan of the Beth Din of the Spanish and Portuguese Congregation London Continue reading

View the Semicha Programme

Link

By admin December 12, 2016 December 15, 2016 Uncategorized

Click here to view The London Montefiore Semicha Programme

Queries addressed to the Website

By Lucien Gubbay March 9, 2014 December 8, 2017 Uncategorized

Inquirers should note that the Montefiore Endowment owns, preserves and maintains its books and manuscripts in its library at 2 Ashworth Road, London W9 1JY 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 for inspection and… Continue reading