Memories of Lily Montagu
Lilian Helen Montagu was born in 1873. She was a British social worker, magistrate, writer, and religious organizer. In the early 1890s Lily Montagu met Claude Montefiore (1858 –1938), Jewish scholar and proponent of Liberal Judaism. Along with Claude Montefiore and Israel Mattuck she formed the Liberal Jewish movement in England. The Jewish Religious Union (JRU) was established in February, 1902. During the next few decades, Lily Montagu helped form Liberal synagogues throughout Great Britain, frequently serving as their Chairman or President, and became lay minister of the West Central Liberal Jewish Congregation in 1928. Following Montefiore’s death in 1938, she assumed the Presidency of the JRU, a position she held for twenty – three years.
Liberal Jews remember Lily and the legacy she has created. For some this is deeply personal; Lily was instrumental in bringing Jews from Germany to safety in England to flee Nazi persecution in the late 1930s. Others remember Lily, along with her sister Marian as the leader of the West Central Club. ‘Lily’s girls’ as they were called, received lessons at the club and the opportunity to worship and socialise. Others remember Lily attending or leading religious services. Participants pay tribute to Lily’s deep spirituality and dedication. Lily died in 1963, so many contributors to this exhibition did not meet her.
And yet as these stories show, Liberal Jews still feel indebted to her and are inspired by her pioneering work as a social reformer – even if they never met her in person.
Quote
“We knew Lily Montagu, both my wife Stella and myself knew Lily Montagu. As far as I can remember, she attended the youth club on most days. And you know, she was an old lady, and she took prayers, made announcements, each evening, very insistent on taking prayers in the evening before we all went off to our homes. And she was, as far as I’m concerned, a very overpowering kind of person. You could argue with her, and at the end of it, you were friends. There were no, I don’t think she knew what animosity was all about, the argument was there for the moment, and that was it. Once it was over, it was over.“
Stanley Freed
PODCAST
This episode explores the theme of memories of the hon. Lily Montagu
Lilian Helen Montagu was born in 1873. She was a British social worker, magistrate, writer, and religious organizer. Along with Claude Montefiore and Israel Mattuck she formed the Liberal Jewish movement in England. In this episode, Liberal Jews remember Lily and the legacy she has created. For some this is deeply personal; Lily was instrumental in bringing Jews from Germany to safety in England to flee Nazi persecution in the late 1930s. Some of the voices here speak of owing their very lives to her. Others remember Lily, along with her sister Marion as the leader of the West Central Club. ‘Lily’s girls’ as they were called, were working class Jewish girls. They received lessons at the club and the opportunity to worship and socialise.
Others remember Lily attending or leading religious services. Participants pay tribute to Lily’s deep spirituality and her innovative decision to move Sabbath services to the afternoon. Lily died in 1963, so many project participants did not meet her. And yet as these stories show, liberal Jews feel indebted to her and are inspired by her pioneering work as a social reformer- even if they never met her in person.
You can read a transcript of the podcast HERE
To download or share all the podcasts in this series go to lilyslegacy.transistor.fm/subscribe
Watch
Gallery
Quote
“ I was a very committed Liberal and Walter and I were invited by Miss Lily and Ms Marian to Chanukah dinner and we didn’t know why. So she asked Walter at that dinner, would he become a rabbi because Walter had been a leader of Wembley Liberal Youth Club and done it very well, senior youth club. There was junior youth club and senior, and I was a member of junior with my cousins, Derek and John Salter, who were Max Salter’s children, and Max founded the congregation. So I was very much involved with Wembley as well as Streatham. So, she knew my background and she knew Walter’s background, I should think, and Walter’s answer to her was, “Well, I’ve just started on my business career. I’ve just taken my exams.” I think we were just married. It was probably 1960 or ’61 when we went there. And he said, “I think it’s wrong, for people from university or school to go straight into the rabbinate. I would rather have a business life and take that experience into the rabbinate, if I ever do,” sort of thing. She said, “Okay, but Walter I would like you to be the chairman of WUPJ and Rosemary to be the publicity officer,” but she obviously knew I was in PR, in publicity, and so we said yes. “
Rosemary Goldsmith
Exhibition
Exhibition
Home
Follow
