Lilian or Lily Montagu CBE (22 December 1873 - 22 January 1963) was the first woman to play a major role in Reform Judaism. Although she grew up in an orthodox family, she was influenced by Claude Montefiore, a reform-oriented philanthropist and scholar.
She was daughter of Samuel Montagu, 1st Baron Swaythling; sister of Edwin Samuel Montagu and cousin to Herbert Samuel, 1st Viscount Samuel. Until the age of 15, she was educated at Doreck College...
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Lilian or Lily Montagu CBE (22 December 1873 - 22 January 1963) was the first woman to play a major role in Reform Judaism. Although she grew up in an orthodox family, she was influenced by Claude Montefiore, a reform-oriented philanthropist and scholar.
She was daughter of Samuel Montagu, 1st Baron Swaythling; sister of Edwin Samuel Montagu and cousin to Herbert Samuel, 1st Viscount Samuel. Until the age of 15, she was educated at Doreck College, being privately educated thereafter.
In 1893 she founded the West Central Jewish Girls Club (which subsequently merged into Jewish Girls' Brigade). She was active in social improvement; particularly in respect to unemployment, sweat shops and bad housing.
In 1901 and 1902, Montagu lay the groundwork for the establishment of the Jewish Religious Union in London. This Union set up the first synagogue in Liberal Judaism in the U.K. and helped found the World Union for Progressive Judaism. Following the retirement of Leo Baeck, Montagu served...
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