Montefiore's family: want to transfer him to Israel for burial
Relatives of the Jewish lobbyist who died 127 years ago, require to burry him next to the Windmill in Jerusalem: "He wanted to be buried in Israel" • Ramsgate Mayor opposes: "This is the place he chose to be buried"
- Nachman Gur, Behadrey Haredim
- ט' תשרי התשע"ג
אתר הסוכנות היהודית
A serious argument regarding the last resting place of Sir Moses Montefiore z"l and his wife Lady Judith A"H erupted between the Mayor of Ramsgate, England and distant relatives of Jewish philanthropist, who died in 1885, before his 101st birthday.
Philanthropist and lobbyist Moses Montefiore, who devoted his life to help Jews in various countries, was buried alongside his wife in the mausoleum in Ramsgate, 127 years ago. But now, Montefiore's members of family argue that the Jewish lobbyist wanted to be buried in the land of Israel.
However, the mayor, who also heads the Montefiore Heritage Organization, denies that it was his will. "We protest strongly against any proposal relating to transfer Sir Moses' and Lady Judith's final resting place Ramsgate - the place chosen by them to be buried," he said. "Moses Montifiore often visited the land of Israel, but never tried to live there and did not declare that he wanted to be buried there. If he would have wanted to be buried in what was then Palestine, it probably would have been taken care of."
In contrast, the relatives of Montefiore, who did not leave descendants after him, want to bury him at the Windmill in Jerusalem, built by Montefiore to end the Arab control of flour and to provide work for Jews outside the Old City.
"Moses Montefiore loved Jerusalem, lived in Jerusalem, and even made it into our family's motto," says Simon Sebag Montefiore. "He was a Zionist before the word was invented. Saint is believed the idea of the return of Jews to the Holy Land. He arrived seven times in the Holy Land, and I think he should go back for the eighth and final time."
Philanthropist and lobbyist Moses Montefiore, who devoted his life to help Jews in various countries, was buried alongside his wife in the mausoleum in Ramsgate, 127 years ago. But now, Montefiore's members of family argue that the Jewish lobbyist wanted to be buried in the land of Israel.
However, the mayor, who also heads the Montefiore Heritage Organization, denies that it was his will. "We protest strongly against any proposal relating to transfer Sir Moses' and Lady Judith's final resting place Ramsgate - the place chosen by them to be buried," he said. "Moses Montifiore often visited the land of Israel, but never tried to live there and did not declare that he wanted to be buried there. If he would have wanted to be buried in what was then Palestine, it probably would have been taken care of."
In contrast, the relatives of Montefiore, who did not leave descendants after him, want to bury him at the Windmill in Jerusalem, built by Montefiore to end the Arab control of flour and to provide work for Jews outside the Old City.
"Moses Montefiore loved Jerusalem, lived in Jerusalem, and even made it into our family's motto," says Simon Sebag Montefiore. "He was a Zionist before the word was invented. Saint is believed the idea of the return of Jews to the Holy Land. He arrived seven times in the Holy Land, and I think he should go back for the eighth and final time."
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