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Professor Michael Berkowitz, the Professor of Modern Jewish History at University College London, has said that 'The Haham Moses Gaster (1856-1939) is one of the most significant figures in modern Jewish history but has not yet attracted a full-blown biographical study in either English or Hebrew.' Cecil Roth, the foremost Anglo-Jewish historian of his time, said 'If Moses Gaster fell short of unquestioned primacy in any of his multitudinous activities, it was for the very reason that his enormous ability was diverted through so many channels and brought him such high distinction in all.' Moses Gaster was, however, an unusual British spiritual leader. His heart remained in his native Romania, where he made a major contribution to the literary history of what was then a new country. He was fascinated by the ancient world: folk-lore, spells, Biblical archaeology, the relations between empires long forgotten. Moses Gaster held many offices in bodies like the Folk-Lore Society, which saw in a Jewish rabbi a man equally informed about their outlook and interests.
About the author
Derek Taylor, OBE, is the author of
British Chief Rabbis 1664-2006, Don Pacifico - The Acceptable Face of Gunboat Diplomacy, Solomon Schonfeld - A Purpose in Life, Jewish Parliamentarians (with Greville Janner
), Thank You For Your Business: The Jewish Contribution to the British Economy, Chief Rabbi Hertz: The Wars of the Lord, Defenders of the Faith: The History of Jews' College and the London School of Jewish Studies and
Chief Rabbi Nathan Marcus Adler (all published with Vallentine Mitchell), amongst other works.
