He took an active role in the life of British Jewry, holding high positions in communal organizations, and received a Baronetcy from Quen Victoria for his services on behalf of the Jewish people. In 1864 Montefiore went to Russia to study the situation of the Jews. Carrying a letter of introduction from the Queen, he was received by the Czar with great honor. he made a tour of the Jewish sections of Russia and, on his return to England, requested more leniency for the Jews in Russia.
In Israel he bought land near Jerusalem and moved Jews out of the ghetto-like quarters of the Old City to the new quarters, called Yemin Moshe in his honor. He aided efforts to settle Jews in Palestine and contributed large sums to alleviate the suffering of the poor. The affection which his magnetic personality and native goodness inspired, cannot be exaggerated.
Montefiore lived to enjoy a one hundredth birthday on which occasion he was honored by Jews the world over. When a few months later he died, he left most of his estate to aid the poor of Eretz Israel and the Diaspora.
Montefiore Society Synagogue
Lowell in the 1890's was a city of destiny. The mill days were at their
acme. Sourthern competition had not stepped in to decimate the thriving
spindle economy ... growth was a Lowell keyword and to the city of
opportunity, the Jewish immigrants came ... from Germany as well as Eastern
Europe and the East Side of New York.
Earliest records show the establishment (about 100 years ago) of the Paris Court Synagogue which was the first Jewish house of worship. It was located in an alley off Middlesex Street near the Boston and Maine RR Station. Some of the congregants were the Messrs. Samuel Silverblatt, Abraham Neyman, Abraham Barlofsky and Julius Richard.
Many more Jews came to live in Lowell and a larger synagogue was needed - so the McIntire Street Synagogue was organized (1900). This synagogue was also in the same vicinity - off Middlesex Street. The congregants who attended this synagogue were largely responsible for the formation of the Lowell Hebrew Community Center and Temple Beth-El.
Six years later the Montefiore Society Synagogue was organized and received its charter on December 9, 1896. Land on the corner of Howard Street and Railroad Street was purchased in 1899 for $1750.00. In 1905 two cornerstones were laid, one by Mr. Mendel Cohen and one by Mr. Abraham Wolff. While awaiting the construction of the building, services were held in the home of Mr. Abram Klain.
Anshe Sfard Synagogue
Approximately three years after the
Montefiore Society Synagogue
came into being, another group of immigrants, this time from Russia, set up
their own congregation and called it The Anshe Sfard Synagogue or more
fondly, "The Russeshe Shull". The Yiddish spoken here was with a different
accent they davened somewhat differently than at the Montefiore Society
Synagogue.