Today in history, 1885: Death of philantropist Moses Haim Montefiore in Ramsgate, England, at age 100. Born in Leghorn, Italy, on 24 October 1784, where his parents were on a business journey, they returned to England afterwards. He devoted most of his life to philanthropy. 
In 1840, during the Damascus Blood Libel affair, he went to the sultan of the Ottoman Empire in order to liberate the ten Jews falsely accused of murder.
He started a movement considered as a precursor of Zionism by improving living conditions in the Holy Land.
He started a movement considered as a precursor of Zionism by improving living conditions in the Holy Land.
In 1860, the first neighborhood outside the Old City of Jerusalem was built at his initiative, Mishkenot Sha'ananim.
He built a windmill to provide cheap flour for the poor in a second neighborhood, later named Yemin Moshe in his honor, now a landmark of Jerusalem.
He built a windmill to provide cheap flour for the poor in a second neighborhood, later named Yemin Moshe in his honor, now a landmark of Jerusalem.
He attempted to acquire land for agriculture, but Ottomans did not allow land sales to non-Muslims, showing the limit of their tolerance to Jews.
Old Israel banknote of one shekel, from the 1980s, has a portrait of Montefiore. Many streets in Israel cities also bear his name.
Old Israel banknote of one shekel, from the 1980s, has a portrait of Montefiore. Many streets in Israel cities also bear his name.
