Moses Montefiore
1. He was a giant—financially and socially
• Montefiore was extraordinarily wealthy (hence “this Croesus,” meaning immensely rich).
• He moved comfortably among elites—British royalty, politicians, and major financiers like the Rothschilds.
2. But he used that wealth with purpose
• His mission wasn’t just status—it was lifting Jewish communities, especially in Jerusalem.
• He funded:
• The restoration of the Hurva Synagogue
• Early land purchases to allow Jews to settle and expand
👉 That’s a big deal: it’s part of the early foundations of Jewish resettlement and development in Jerusalem before modern Zionism fully formed.