A Few Words to the Jews

Abstract

Charlotte Montefiore (1818–1854) published A Few Words to the Jews anonymously in 1853. The volume is a collection of essays on Anglo-Jewish life, covering topics including the Sabbath, Jewish women, religious reform and practice, Jewish materialism, immortality, the idea of truth, and religious festivals. The essays, like Montefiore's collection of short stories, The Cheap Jewish Library, and her novel, Caleb Asher, carry a strong message of social justice. Montefiore, a wealthy, aristocratic and influential Jew, was deeply involved in social welfare and the education of young people within her community, establishing a number of foundations to aid underprivileged Jews, including the Jewish Emigration Society. In A Few Words Montefiore argued her case against inequality and economic exploitation within Jewish communities. The work offers a fascinating insight into the life and politics of Victorian Jews. For more information on this author, see http://orlando.cambridge.org/public/svPeople?person_id=montc2