1831-1833.
LORD BROUGHAM AND THE JEWS--THE JEWISH POOR IN LONDON--MR MONTEFIORE
HANDS HIS BROKER'S MEDAL TO HIS BROTHER--DEDICATION OF THE SYNAGOGUE
AT HERESON--THE LORDS REJECT THE JEWISH DISABILITIES BILL.
On his return to London he called on Mr Wood at the Earl Marshal's
office, and paid him L32, 17s. 6d., the fees on the grant for having
the word Jerusalem in Hebrew characters in his crest.
In October 1831 his friends brought him the account of the Reform Bill
having been thrown out at its second reading by the Lords--majority,
41. Mr Montefiore, on hearing that Lord-Chancellor Brougham had spoken
in a very illiberal spirit of the Jews, observed, "So much for Whig
friends." Still he did not despair, and entertained the belief that
their just cause would ultimately meet with better success.
A month later he attended an important meeting of the Board of
Representatives of the Spanish and Portuguese Community, established
to watch over the general sanitary condition of the poor of the
congregation. He generously contributed to the funds to enable the
Board to purchase warm clothing, blankets, &c., for the poor.
In the same year he completed the purchase, and took possession of, a
cottage and garden near the site on which his Synagogue was being
erected.
The Rev. Dr Hirschel having submitted for his approval a number of
circular letters addressed to the Hebrew communities in America,
wherein he reminds them of their duty to support their indigent
brethren in the Holy Land, Mr Montefiore affixes his name to each
letter as requested by the Chief Rabbi, in token of his appreciation
of the good cause.
Among the entries referring again to financial matters is the
following interesting record:--
"On the 31st of January 1815 I was admitted a sworn broker of the city
of London. This day, 16th May 1831, I signed over my medal to my
brother Horatio, free; it cost me L1625. May heaven prosper his
endeavours with it."
On the 25th of the same month he gave L100 to be handed to the Lord
Mayor for the transfer of the said medal.
Happily in our days it is less difficult for a Jew to become a sworn
broker. A gentle breeze of justice for all human beings alike has
begun to disperse the dark clouds of prejudice and oppression, and the
more the light of wisdom and truth illumines the world, the greater
will be the happiness and loyalty of those who have hitherto been
deprived of the rights of ordinary citizens.
On Wednesday evening, the 27th of June 1832 (5592-3 A.M.),
corresponding this year to the Hebrew date of the anniversary of their
wedding day, they took possession of East Cliff Lodge, Mr Montefiore
having, in accordance with an injunction of the Sacred Scriptures
(Deuteronomy vi. 9), previously affixed mezuzas (phylacteries) to all
the doors.
Mr and Mrs Montefiore had intended to have an inscription placed over
the entrance to the Synagogue. It appears, however, that the idea was
finally abandoned, though there is a square moulding over the door,
and a parallelogram on the northern wall of the Synagogue purposely
made for it. I once asked him the reason of this omission, and from
his reply I gathered that he did not wish the building to unduly
attract the attention of strangers. The modest appearance of the
Synagogue as it now stands, having neither steeple nor turret, windows
in the walls nor arches over the door, evidently confirms this idea.
Mr H. Lehren, of Amsterdam, a gentleman well known for the interest he
took in promoting the welfare of the inhabitants of Jerusalem, had
appealed to him this year for his intercession in a lawsuit which
brought him to England, and Mr Montefiore gladly helped him by his
personal exertions to accomplish his object. Mr Lehren, thus
encouraged, asked of Mr Montefiore yet another favour, which was to
permit his name to be enlisted in the ranks of the "Friends of Zion."
Mr Montefiore, in answer, assured Mr Lehren that his heart had ever
been filled with a love for Jerusalem, and that he had been a staunch
supporter of a resolution, recently adopted at a Committee consisting
of members of his congregation, to the effect that L60 should be sent
annually to the Holy Land as a contribution to the fund intended for
the support of the poor. Mr Lehren expressed great satisfaction at
what he had heard, and enquired in what proportion the above amount
would be distributed among the four Holy Cities. Mr Montefiore
informed him that the Committee had divided the sum into thirty
shares, of which they gave twelve to Jerusalem, seven to Safed, six to
Hebron, and five to Tiberias.
To complete the number of Sacred Scrolls which Mr Montefiore wished to
deposit in his Synagogue, he made a purchase of one particularly
recommended to him, and also procured prayer-books for the members of
the congregation.
In this year, 1833, Mr and Mrs Montefiore had the happiness of seeing
their heartfelt wish realised in the completion of the Synagogue at
Hereson.
Invitations were sent out on the 23rd of May to the ecclesiastical
chiefs of both the Spanish and Portuguese and the German
congregations; to the readers, wardens, and other officers of the
Synagogue; to presidents and representatives of all important
institutions, and to more than two hundred private friends and
acquaintances, requesting the honour of their company at the
dedication of the Synagogue at Ramsgate on Sunday, the 16th of June,
at 5 o'clock, and at dinner after the ceremony at East Cliff Lodge.
Bands of music and first-class singers were engaged, 4000 lamps for
the illumination of the gardens were ordered, fireworks and balloons
tastefully prepared, and a large temporary room erected, occupying the
whole quadrangle of the court at East Cliff Lodge. Handsome
chandeliers and large tablets beautifully inscribed with the prayer
for the Royal Family were ordered for the Synagogue.
[Illustration: View of Interior of Ramsgate Synagogue, taken from the
Ladies' Gallery. _See Vol. I., page 89._]
The morning of the 16th was ushered in by a deluge of rain and a heavy
gale of wind, much to the mortification of the visitors. Mr Montefiore
and his brother Horatio, who had brought a silver cup and spice-box as
a present for the Synagogue, went together to Ramsgate, and engaged
all the sedan chairs in the town to take the ladies from the public
road to the Synagogue, and ordered several loads of sand to cover
the walk. About two o'clock the Rev. Dr Hirschel arrived. The rain was
actually falling in torrents at the moment, but he consoled Mr and Mrs
Montefiore, saying, "All things must not go as we wish, since the
destruction of the Temple in Jerusalem." He had, however, scarcely
been in the house ten minutes when the clouds dispersed and the sun
appeared. At ten o'clock, when they had a rehearsal in the Synagogue,
all were much out of spirits at the deplorable appearance of the
weather; but by three the rain had ceased, and the evening proved
delightful.
The dedication commenced at six o'clock. The founder and his friends
brought the Sacred Scrolls of the Law to the door of the Synagogue,
where, standing, they chanted: "Open unto us the gates of
righteousness, we will enter them and praise the Lord." "This is the
gate of the Lord, the righteous shall enter therein." The doors being
then opened, they said on entering: "How goodly are thy tents, O
Jacob! thy tabernacle, O Israel! O Lord, I have ever loved the
habitation of Thy house and the dwelling-place of Thy glory. We will
come unto Thy Tabernacle and worship at Thy footstool." They then
advanced, and the readers and choristers sang, "Blessed be he who
cometh in the name of the Lord: we will bless ye from the House of the
Lord," and other verses from the Sacred Scriptures bearing on the same
subject.
The procession then went round the almember in the Synagogue seven
times, during each circuit one of the seven Psalms--xclxi., xxx.,
xxiv., lxxxiv., cxxii., cxxx., c.--being chanted, after which Mr
Montefiore ascended the pulpit and offered up a Hebrew prayer, of
which the following is a translation:--
"Almighty God! whose eyes are upon all the ways of the sons of men,
and by whose will their paths are established; wherewith shall I come
before Thee, how shall I acknowledge the kindness Thou hast shown me
from my youth? How great the goodness Thou hast vouchsafed unto me, in
granting the fulfilment of the ardent desire Thou didst awaken in my
heart and in that of the companion of my life, to visit the
inheritance of our forefathers, to traverse the sea and behold the
Holy Land, a land which is under Thy special providence. Thou hast
protected us on our departure and aided our return: our steps failed
not, we have passed through the Land, our feet have stood within thy
gates, O Jerusalem! From the sight of our own eyes are we conscious of
the refulgent light that once shone brightly on our country, and which
yet faintly glimmers, though she has become desolate. Thou hast
inspired us with a contrite spirit to perceive and declare Thy
Almighty power over all the inhabitants of the world, therefore has
Thy servant found in his heart to offer this public thanksgiving for
Thy past bounties, and earnestly to implore Thy future protection in
this humble sanctuary. Out of Thine own gifts I dedicated it to Thee
as a freewill offering and a lasting testimony to show forth Thy
loving-kindness in the morning and Thy faithfulness every night. O
Lord God of Israel! incline Thine ear to the prayer of Thy servant.
Bless, I beseech Thee, my revered and honoured mother, grant her
length of days in the fulness of joy, and happiness with me, my
beloved wife, my brothers and sisters, and with all their descendants,
even unto the third and fourth generation. Strengthen our hearts to
observe Thy precepts at all times. Truly nothing has failed of that of
which Thou hast forewarned us through Moses Thy servant, for we have
broken Thy covenant and not observed Thy Commandments; so are we
surely convinced that we shall receive from Thee the promised good,
and our days will be renewed as of old; Thou wilt fulfil Thy words
unto Ezekiel Thy prophet, that 'The nations shall know that I the Lord
rebuild the ruined places and plant that which was desolate; I the
Lord have spoken it; I will do it.' Let our prayer and supplication,
which we offer towards Thy chosen city, ascend to heaven, Thy
dwelling-place. Gather together our dispersed in our days and in the
lifetime of the whole House of Israel, that all nations, even from the
ends of the earth, shall approach Thee, to call, all of them, on the
name of the Lord, and the Lord shall be King over all the earth. Then
the Lord alone shall be acknowledged, and His name be one. Amen."
Mr Montefiore, having concluded the prayer, descended from the pulpit,
and the congregation chanted several Hebrew hymns. The prayer for the
Royal Family was then said, and the service concluded with Psalm cl.
"At eight o'clock," writes Mr Montefiore, "the dedication finished,
all delighted with the ceremony as well as with the music. May
Heaven's blessing attend it."
At nine about eighty-two sat down to dinner. The gardens were
beautifully illuminated, and during dessert a band played in the tent.
The next morning Mr Montefiore accompanied Dr Herschel to the
Synagogue, followed by all their friends and visitors. After prayers
they returned to East Cliff Lodge, where the time was spent in
receiving the congratulations of their friends. The day was brought to
a close by a most agreeable entertainment, a description of which I
give in his own words.
"Soon after nine in the evening our company began to assemble,
consisting of all our neighbours as well as our own party. The wind
had been exceedingly high, almost too much for the lamps to keep
alight. Providence kindly allayed it, and the night was beautifully
calm. Our garden was splendidly illuminated; we had a band of
twenty-four performers on the lawn and another in the dining-room. All
our rooms were filled, many visitors strolling about the grounds to
witness the illumination. Before eleven the fireworks were displayed,
and exceeded our most sanguine expectations; the company was
delighted. This over, the tent-room was opened for supper; it made a
splendid appearance. All seemed happy and gratified; dancing was kept
up till about two o'clock. The gardens looked magnificent, nothing
could have added to the grandeur of the scene. I glory in the
occasion, and that the Almighty has most bountifully provided us with
the means. To my dear and much-valued wife I am indebted for the
success of the entertainment. We can never forget the two last days."
The next day his mother and the greater number of relatives and
friends left Ramsgate, and in the month of July we find Mr and Mrs
Montefiore again in London, Mr Montefiore following his usual
vocations, though only for a short time; for on the 13th of the same
month there is an entry in his diary dated East Cliff, which gives
striking evidence of the love and veneration he felt for the sacred
edifice he had raised to the honour and glory of God.
"We had the happiness," he writes, "of attending our Synagogue
morning, afternoon, and evening. Thanks to Heaven for a very happy
day. Our Synagogue looked like Paradise. I pointed out to my dear
Judith the spot, not more than ten or fifteen steps from the
Synagogue, in which I should like my mortal remains to rest when it
shall please the Almighty to take my soul to Eternal Glory, should I
depart this world at or near East Cliff." His wife consented. Their
love was great, and they did not wish even in death to be parted.
Mr Montefiore's attention having now been drawn to the urgency of
continued exertions in the furtherance of the Emancipation Bill, he
requested Mr G. R. Dawson to intercede with his brother-in-law, Sir
Robert Peel, to withdraw his opposition to the Bill, and also took
other steps in the interest of the cause.
A Bill was again brought before the Committee of the whole House of
Commons, "That it is expedient to remove all civil disabilities
affecting Her Majesty's subjects of the Jewish religion with the like
exceptions as are provided by the Catholic Emancipation Act of 1829,
with reference to Her Majesty's subjects professing the Roman Catholic
religion."
The second reading was carried by a majority of 137; it was also read
a third time, but in the Upper House, where the Duke of Sussex
presented a petition signed by 7000 inhabitants of Westminster in
favour of the Jews, the Bill was thrown out by a majority of 50.
Mr Montefiore continued to take the greatest interest in all important
meetings of various committees, especially in those of his own
community. Referring to one of the latter charged with the appointment
of a lecturer, Mr Montefiore says: "The committee recommended a salary
of L35 a year, but afterwards reduced it to L30. The resolution,
however, was amended, and only L20 was granted." The particulars of
this salary are interesting when compared with a salary to which a
competent lecturer of the present day may consider himself fully
entitled. It sounds strange to hear of fixing the salary for the
services of a gentleman who has completed a University education,
combined with special studies of theology, much lower than that which
is generally offered to an upper servant in a gentleman's house. It
can only be explained by the supposition that the candidate may have
been simultaneously filling another and more lucrative office, which
did not interfere with his duties as lecturer.