16 Facts About Claude Montefiore

Claude Montefiore was a significant figure in the contexts of modern Jewish religious thought, Jewish-Christian relations, and Anglo-Jewish socio-politics, and educator.

Claude Montefiore was born in London on 6 June 1858, the youngest son of Nathaniel Montefiore and Emma Goldsmid.

Claude Montefiore had two sisters, Alice Julia and Charlotte Rosalind and one brother, Leonard.

Claude Montefiore remarried at the West London Synagogue on 24 July 1902.

Claude Montefiore died at his home in Marylebone on 9 July 1938.

Part of Claude Montefiore's childhood was spent at his family's Coldeast estate in Sarisbury Green, Hampshire.

Claude Montefiore was educated at Balliol College, Oxford, where he obtained a first-class honours degree in the classical final examination, and where he came under the influence of Benjamin Jowett and T H Green.

Claude Montefiore nevertheless continued to be a spiritual teacher and preacher, though in a lay capacity, and published a volume of sermons, in conjunction with Israel Abrahams, entitled Aspects of Judaism.

In 1888 Claude Montefiore founded and edited, in conjunction with Israel Abrahams, the Jewish Quarterly Review, a journal that stood on the very highest level of contemporary Jewish scholarship, and in which numerous contributions from his pen have appeared.

Claude Montefiore provoked considerable controversy for what was perceived by many to be an overly sympathetic attitude towards Jesus and Paul of Tarsus.

Claude Montefiore assisted Rev Simeon Singer in preparing the standard Anglo-Jewish prayer book.

Claude Montefiore was one of the leading authorities on questions of education.

Claude Montefiore was mainly instrumental in enabling Jewish pupil teachers at elementary schools to enjoy the advantages of training in classes held for the purpose at the universities.

Claude Montefiore showed great sympathy with all liberal tendencies in Jewish religious movements in London and was president of the Jewish Religious Union.

Claude Montefiore ranked as one of the leading philanthropists in the Anglo-Jewish community and held office in various important bodies.

Claude Montefiore was a founder of British Liberal Judaism at the turn of the 20th century, considered to be the most original Anglo-Jewish religious thinker of his day, and still remains a highly controversial figure.