MS 320 Papers of Rabbi Morris Ginsberg

Rabbi Morris Ginsberg

Rabbi Morris Ginsberg was born in Vilnius, Lithuania, then part of Russia, in the late nineteenth century. He came to England with his parents at the age of nine. At an early age he entered the Yeshivah Eitz Chaim, an Ashkenazi Orthodox yeshiva in Golders Green, London. He was ordained as a rabbi and then studied for a MA and PhD at King’s College, London. 

Ginsberg was minister of Richmond and District Synagogue in Surrey, 1923-61; the founder of the Richmond Council of Social Service and twice Chaplain to the Mayor of Richmond. He was an active member of the Council of Christians and Jews and was a formative member of the Kashrus Commission, retiring from its executive committee in 1956. He was chaplain to the Jewish Lads Brigade for over forty years. He also served British Chaplain to the American forces stationed in Surrey and Middlesex in the 1930s.

Following his retirement from Richmond Synagogue, Ginsberg focused on literary work and Talmudic study. He married Anna Frieda Aucken in October 1927, who died in September 1950. Ginsberg married Fay Shapiro in March 1955. He died in January 1969.

About the collection

The collections includes papers relating to Richmond Synagogue, c.1934-48; correspondence of Morris Ginsberg, 1918-69, correspondence of Mrs Ginsberg, about and concerning the death of her husband, 1968-9; appointment diaries, 1923-66; papers from meeting, speeches and conferences, 1924-64, and papers from sermons and religious services, 1913-89; teaching papers from the 1930s including lectures, student assessments and University of London exam papers; research notes, working papers and translations for subjects including the Talmud and the Sifra, 1930s-60s; press cuttings and printed material, 1920s-70s; and printed memorabilia and ephemera including invitations, certificates and maps, 1950s-90s.

Date range:

1913-90s 

Former references:

A2003

Size:

17 boxes