| AdminHistory | Susannah (Susie) Bentwich, born 1861, daughter of Joseph Solomon, leather dresser, sister of Solomon J. Solomon, painter; talented pianist; died 1915. Married Herbert Bentwich, 1880; nine daughters and two sons, including Norman de Mattos Bentwich (1883-1971), colonial official and exponent of Jewish ideals. Herbert Bentwich (originally Bentwitch), born London, the youngest of three children of Marks, or Mattos (Mattathias) Bentwitch, jeweller and rabbi, and his wife, Rosa, or Rose, 1856; Bachelor of Laws, University College London, 1872; completed his articles with Emmanuel and Simmons, and set up practice as a solicitor; became a specialist in copyright law; called to the Bar, 1902; admitted to the Inner Temple, 1903; editor of the Law Journal, 1907-1924; took an active part in the work of the Incorporated Law Society; arbitrator in the London Chamber of Arbitration; formed an English branch of the Society of Jewish Jurisprudence, 1926; voluntary work for the Jewish Board of Guardians, 1875; honorary secretary of a group which organized free lectures for Jewish working men, 1876; honorary secretary, Stepney Jewish schools, 1877; honorary secretary, education committee of Jews' College, 1878; launched an abortive campaign to establish Jewish denominational schools among the middle-class Jews of north London, 1880; elected to the board of St John's Wood Synagogue, 1883; one of the founders of the the order of Ancient Maccabeans, 1891, Grand Commander, 1905-1919; helped to found the Hampstead synagogue, 1892; vice-chief of the Chovevei Zion movement and commander of its Western Tent, 1894; led tour of Palestine, 1897; convened a conference of English Zionists in London, 1898; foundation chairman of the English Zionist Federation, 1898, but left in 1909; elected to the Board of Deputies of British Jews, 1901; investigated the status of Romanian Jewry, 1902; served on the Zionist political advisory committee, 1916-1918; had a prominent role in the negotiations leading to the Balfour Declaration in 1917; attended the Paris peace conference as a member of the committee of Jewish delegations; belonged to the Society of Wanderers; legal adviser for the Jewish Colonial Trust; Member of General Committee Palestine Exploration Fund; formed a London branch of B'nai B'rith; honorary president of the Zionist societies of London and Cambridge universities; moved to Palestine, 1929; died 1932. Publications include: 'Treatise on the Law of Copyright in Designs'; 'The Military Service Acts' Practice'; Pamphlets on Chambers of Arbitration, A Plea for a General School of Law, the Administration of the Aliens' Act, and Zionism; political and other articles in Nineteenth Century, Fortnightly, the English and other reviews. |