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CLIFTON AVENUE - CINCINNATI 10, 01110

DETROIT JEWISH CHRONICLE and

December 27, 1940

SIR MOSES MONTEFIORE

He Devoted His Life to Alleviate Sufferings of His
Brethren; Visited Palestine Seven Times;
Died 55 Years Ago

S

the Legal Chronicle

TOWN

OPEN HOUSE

New Year's Eve

By GEORGE OFFIN

In the year 1784 a London prising, how the Jews are being
banker and his wife made a trip held here in such esteem; in my
to Italy. When they visited Leg- country they don't amount to
horn the wife gave birth to a anything, I would sell them at a
boy whom they named Moses. piatak each. (A piatak has the
Throughout his long life the son value of five kopeks, equivelant
of that banker endeavored to to approximately two cents.)"
make himself worthy of bearing Sir Moses Montefiore, who was
the name of the great emanci- one of the guests heard the re-
pator. mark and promptly replyed: "I
No money nor effort was accept your offer, Your Majesty."
spared to give Moses a good edu- Sometimes later Montefiore
cation, and he grew up in an en- made a." trip to Russia to con-
vironment that inspired him with dude the deal. On his way to St.
love and admiration for his peo- Petersburg he stopped off at
ple. Vilna, where he was advised by
While his father was engaged some officials not to continue his
in the banking business, Moses journey. He took the hint and
became a successful merchant turned back.
and prominent broker. Cooperat- " The "Damascus Affair" was
ing with the house of Rotshchild one of the most complicated in-
he was instrumental in establish- ternational cases of the 19th cen-
ing the Provincial Bank of Ire- tury. The ritual murder"accusa-
land. Gas illumination was then tion (lid not affect only those
a new development; he realized Jews that were held in prison,
the great possibilities of that in- but the local synagogue was de-
dustry and became a promoter stroyed, sacred scrolls of the law
of gas companies in large cities were ruined, pamphlets were dis-
of Europe, and in all his business tributed all over Europe accusing
transactions Moses Montefiore the Jews of practicing ritual
nces
consequeonte
set high the standard of Jewish mu rder. Disastrous Moses
M-
w
ere
feare.
integrity.
In 1837 he was elected Sheriff fiore, in company with Adolph
and in the same year he was Cremieux and other prominent
honored with the title "Baronet". Jews, went to Damascus and
As occupied as he was with pleaded with the Chediv, and
the various enterprises, Sir Moses later went to Constantinople to
Montefiore always had at heart reason with the Sultan, and did
the wellbeing of his people. He not rest until the case was de-
joined the Board of Deputies of dared groundless and the prison-
British Jews, an organization for ers were freed.
As early as 1845 Sir Moses
the protection of members of
their faith, and a few years later Montefiore recommended the set-
he became president of the board. tlement of Jews in Palestine. He
Being fiancially secured, he re- firmly believed that it would re-
tired from active participation in lieve the less fortunate of his
business and, together with his brethren from the hardships they
wife, the Lady ,Montefiore, trav- suffer in many lands. As a re-
elled extensively through many sult of that recommendation com-
countries, such as Turkey, Mor- mittees of wealthy Jews were
occo, Russia and other places and formed for the establishment of
visited Palestine seven times, Jewish colonies; they succeeded
making his last visit in his ninety- in obtaining a grant from the
second year, and wherever they six hundred acres, on which they
found their people afflicted, they Sultan of Turkey for a tract of
extended their help by establish- established an agricultural school
ing schools and hospitals, giving for Jewish youth. Many descend-
their money liberally. Montefiore ants of the graduates, from that
was also entrusted by wealthy school are now living on their
Jews with funds for the use of own farms in Palestine. The
philanthropic p u r poses. The movement for Jewish colonization
American philathropist Judah steadily grew, and it is worth
Touro of Newport, R. I. be- noting that the "Katowich" con-
queathed $50,000 to Moses Mon- activities of the various colon-
tefiore for distribution among ference for the unification of the
needy Jews of Europe. ization societies was held on the
About Montefiore's trip to Rus- 100th birthday of Sir Moses Mon-
sia the following anecdote was tefiore, Nov. 6, 1884. On that
told: day the centenarian received
When the Russian Czar Nich- many congratulatory messages
olas I visited England, a banquet from all over the world, from
was given by the State in his Jews and non-Jews, including one
honor, at which were present from Queen Victoria.
After a long, useful and hon-
members of the Royalty, nobility
and high officials, among whom orable life Sir Moses Montefiore
were also several Jews. Seeing died in 1885, at the age of 101.
Jews among the guests, the Czar The death of "this pious Jews
made the following remark: "Sur- was mourned as a loss of a hu-
manitarian and philanthropist,
whose benevolence was not con-
fined to those of his own race,
but of one who also gave gen-
A Joyous Chanukah to All
erously to hospitals and chari-
table institutions of other creeds.

Monroe Waste
Paper Co.

1418 HASTINGS ST.

A Joyous Chanukah to All

Edward C. Levy,
Inc.

TRUCKING CONTRACTOR

Cinders, Slag for all purposes

8810 DIX AVE.

VINEWOOD 2.0771

A Joyous Chanukah to All

NATIONAL CASH
REGISTER CO.

MR. E. L. BLAKE
Sales Agent

3456 WOODWARD AVE.

Gifts to North End Clinic

North End Clinic has received
the following contributions:
From Mr. and Mrs. Saul Jack-
son: in honor of the 83rd birth-
day of Mrs. Adolph Sloman, from
Mrs. Harry Frank and Mrs. Leon
Frank; in honor of 75th birthday
of Miss Hattie Silberman from
Miss Marcia Ermann and Mrs. A.
Ermann; in memory of Herbert
Newman, from Mrs. Harry Frank,
Mrs, Leon Frank and Mr. and
Mrs. Louis Lambert; in memory
of Mrs. Esther Dreifus from Mr.
and Mrs. Louis Lambert, Mrs.
Harry Frank, Mrs. Leon Frank;
in memory of Mrs. Ettie S. Har-
ris from Mrs. Harry Frank and
Mrs. Leon Frank; in memory of
Adolph Hartman from Mrs. Harry
Frank and Mrs. Leon Frank; in
memory of Louis Aaronson from
Mrs. Harry Frank - and Mrs. Leon
Frank; in memory of Mrs. Claire
D. Mahler from the Mahler
Family; in memory of Barney
Wetsman from Mr. and Mrs.
Harry Frank; in memory of Miss
Lois Roth from Mr. and Mrs.
Harry Frank; in memory of Mrs.
Rebecca Fenton and in memory
of Louis Brady from Koenig Coal
and Supply Company; in memory
of Abe Gelbard from Mr. and Mrs.
Max Smitt; in memory of Mrs.
Ida Schwartz from Miss Sarah
Bennett and Mr. and Mrs. Jack
Weiss; in honor of the birthday
of Maurice Aronsson from Mr.
and Mrs. Max Smitt; in memory
of Nathan Finley from Mr. and
Mrs. Samuel A. Singer.

Stop in any time

of the evening

For finer foods and drinks.
The longest bar in Michigan.
Open 7 a. m. to 2 a. m.,
including Sundays
and. holidays.

or night

Wm.
BOESKY'S

DEXTER AT COLLINGWOOD

(

Famous for excellent
food and liquors

iii

"FROM A CORNED BEEF SANDWICH TO AN INSTITUTION"

I lot oton: Joe I . ntiltrlot old

It ,n.

r. I), t

1'0 , 11 1 1 21 1 )1 or

We wish you all a Joyous Chanukah

—BILL BOESKY —JOE FREEDMAN

An Old Friend Says:

A JOYOUS CHANUKAH

We greet you warmly on this, your
Holiday! We genuinely appreciate the
patronage and good will with which
you have favored us through nearly
three decades now – and we'll sincerely
strive to be more-than-ever deserving
of it through the coming year!

CROWLEY'S

IT PAYS TO ADVERTISE IN THE CHRONICLE