Israel Finestein Explained

Israel Finestein QC MA (1921–2009), an English barrister and Deputy High Court Judge, was a leader and historian of British Jewry.^[1] His writings analysed the history of divisions amongst the Jews of England; in varied roles he worked for communal change and reconciliation.^[2]

Early life

Israel "Shmuel" Finestein was the youngest of nine children of a Kingston upon Hull Jewish tailor, who had emigrated from Chervyen (near Minsk) around 1905.^{[3] [4]} He grew up speaking Yiddish as well as English.^[5] After Kingston High School, a Hull grammar school, at Trinity College Cambridge in 1943 he achieved Double 1st in History under G.M.Trevelyan.

Professional career

Finestein laboured in Churchill's war history team, then studied law, and in 1946 joined the chambers of Quintin Hogg, later Lord Hailsham, Lord Chancellor; specialising in family law, he was called to the Bar in 1953. He became a QC in 1970,^[6] County, Crown, and then deputy High Court Judge in the family division.

Among his many posts were Chairman of England's Mental Health Review Tribunal.^[7]

Historical work

As an amateur but scholarly historian, he interpreted and reassessed Anglo-Jewry in the Victorian and Edwardian period.^{[8] [9] [10] [11]} His works cover the Emancipation of British Jews,^{[12] [13] [14] [15]} key figures like Sir Moses Montefiore,^{[16] [17] [18]} Jewish education,^[19] and also recent leadership of the community.^[20]

He was twice President of the Jewish Historical Society of England, 1973-5.^[21]

Community leadership

Finestein studied and worked with the central institutions of British Jewry established in Victorian times; he was a member of Council of the United Synagogue, as well as the Council of Christians and Jews. After many years of service he became President of the Board of Deputies of British Jews 1991-94, with international roles including vice president of The World Jewish Congress. At the Board of Deputies he "used his presidency to institute reforms of its organisation and constitution while enhancing, through the force of his own personality, its gravitas and public status."^[22]

Charitable work

Finestein's interest in Jewish education brought him to be a charity trustee of The Jew's Free School, Jew's College and British ORT. Having been president of the Cambridge University Jewish Society and chairman of the Universities Zionist Council and the Inter University Jewish Federation, he was one of the founders in 1953 of the Hillel Foundation which supports Jewish students. As President of the Norwood learning disability and family charity he reviewed the history of its Royal patronage for HM Queen at the Guildhall.^{[23] [24]}

He was also a Trustee of Jewish Care, and Chair of the Jewish Museum 1989-92. He supported David Kessler and the Kessler Foundation in reviewing the history of the Jewish Chronicle.^{[25] [26]}

Personal life

Israel Finestein was predeceased by wife of almost 60 years Marion nee Oster, leaving no children. Two of Shmuel's Hull-born nephews also became Judges — John Finestein^[27] and Colin Lang.

Israel Finestein was the most important communal leader to emerge from the Jews of Kingston-upon-Hull. His long-researched "home town" essay on the Jews of Hull is definitive;^[28] Hull was the only local community about which he wrote. He received an honorary doctorate of laws from the University of Hull.

Notes and References

1. Book: The Palgrave dictionary of Anglo-Jewish history. 2011. Palgrave Macmillan. W. D. Rubinstein, Michael Jolles, Hilary L. Rubinstein. 978-1-4039-3910-4. Basingstoke. 278. 644655045.
2. Book: Lang, Colin. Divided we stand: a journey with Judge Israel Finestein QC. Vallentine Mitchell. Introduction by Todd M. Endelman. 2017. 978-1-910383-50-6. English. London. 995382563.
3. Alderman, G (2009). In Memoriam. His Honour Judge Israel Finestein. The Jewish Journal of Sociology,51,3-4. https://archive.jpr.org.uk/download?id=2784
4. News: 23 October 2009. Israel Finestein. law, history and communal service.. Jewish Chronicle.
5. Gartner. LP. 2011. Israel Finestein, historian of Anglo-Jewry. Jewish Historical Studies. 43. 1–6. 29780141.
6. ASSOCIATION OF JEWISH REFUGEES (1970). Home News: Appointments. p.3 https://ajr.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/1970_may.pdf
7. Finestein, I. (1988) The medical member. MHRT Members' News Sheet, 2.
8. Book: Finestein, Israel. Jewish Society in Victorian England: Collected Essays. Vallentine Mitchell. 1993. 9780853032441. London.
9. Book: Finestein, Israel. Anglo-Jewry in Changing Times: Studies in Diversity, 1840-1914. Vallentine Mitchell. 1999. 0853033552. London.
10. Book: Finestein, I.. Scenes and personalities in Anglo-Jewry, 1800-2000. 2002. Vallentine Mitchell. 0-85303-443-5. London. 50123510.
11. Book: Finestein, I.. Studies and profiles in Anglo-Jewish history : from Picciotto to Bermant. 2008. Vallentine Mitchell. 978-0-85303-577-0. London. 226281032.
12. Finestein. Israel. 1959. Anglo-Jewish opinion during the struggle for emancipation (1828—1858). Transactions (Jewish Historical Society of England). 20. 113–43.
13. Finestein. Israel. 1981. A modern examination of Macaulay's case for the civil emancipation of the Jews. Transactions & Miscellanies (Jewish Historical Society of England). 28. 39–59. 29778918. 0962-9688.
14. Book: Finestein, Israel. Tradition and transition: essays presented to Chief Rabbi Sir Immanuel Jakobovits to celebrate twenty years in office. Jews' College. 1986. 0-9512149-0-X. Sacks. Jonathan. London. Some Modern Themes in the Emancipation Debate in Early Victorian England. 19970105.
15. Book: Finestein, Israel. Assimilation and community: The Jews in nineteenth-century Europe. Cambridge University Press. 1992. 0521402840. Frankel. J. Cambridge and New York. 38–56. Jewish Emancipationists in Victorian England: Self-imposed Limits to Emancipation. Zipperstein.. S.
16. Finestein. Israel. 1978. The Anglo-Jewish Revolt of 1853. Jewish Quarterly. 26. 3–4. 103–113. 10.1080/0449010X.1978.10703533. 31 January 2024. 0449-010X.
17. Book: Finestein, Israel. The Century of Moses Montefiore. Oxford University Press. 1985. 0197100414. Lipman. S. Oxford. 45–70. The uneasy Victorian: Montefiore as a communal leader. Lipman. VD.
18. Finestein. Israel. 1982. Sir Moses Montefiore: a modern appreciation. Jewish Historical Studies. 29. 195–205. 29779816. 0962-9696.
19. Book: Finestein, Israel. Studies and proflies in Anglo-Jewish history from Picciotto to Bermant. Vallentine Mitchell. 2008. 978-0853035770. London. Educational minimalism in the ascendant, 1850-1914: profile of Jewish leadership at bay - James Picciotto, 1830-97.
20. Book: Finestein, Israel. Studies and proflies in Anglo-Jewish history from Picciotto to Bermant. 2008. 978-0853035770. London. 52–95. Anglo-Jewish attitudes to Jewish day school education 1850-1950.
21. Book: Rubinstein, D. Encyclopaedia Judaica. MacMillan. 2007. 978-0028659282. 2nd. London. Israel Finestein (1921-).
22. News: 21 October 2009. Israel Finestein: circuit judge. The Times.
23. News: 22 July 2015. Norwood's tale: 200-years of Royal patronage. Jewish News.
24. Web site: 1985. Norwood. Her Majesty The Queen..
25. Book: Cesarani, David. The Jewish chronicle and Anglo-Jewry, 1841-1991. Cambridge University Press. 1994. 0-521-43434-3. Cambridge [England]. xiii. 27146108.
26. Web site: 12 February 2020. Jewish Chronicle and Jewish News announce plans to merge. 2021-05-21. www.thejc.com.
27. News: 7 January 2005. Boy, 13, given four month sentence for drink driving. The Times. en. 2021-04-21. 0140-0460.
28. FINESTEIN. ISRAEL. 1996. The Jews in Hull, between 1766 and 1880. Jewish Historical Studies. 35. 33–91. 29779979. 0962-9696.