Lily Montagu's emergence as a transformative figure in Liberal Judaism reveals complex intellectual debts to both secular and Christian thinkers of Victorian Britain. Ellen Umansky's groundbreaking biographical study draws from newly discovered primary sources—including one hundred previously unknown sermons from London's Liberal Jewish Synagogue—and twenty personal interviews to illuminate Montagu's rise as founder of Liberal Judaism in Great Britain and the World Union for Progressive Judaism. The research demonstrates how writers like Matthew Arnold, Thomas Carlyle, and George Eliot profoundly shaped Montagu's religious thought, while positioning her leadership within the broader context of British Jewish emancipation and Anglicization. Rather than offering hagiography, Umansky's critical analysis examines the external forces and intellectual dependencies that defined Montagu's influence. In parallel, Geoffrey Wigoder's festschrift honoring Moshe Davis showcases how contemporary Jewish studies has evolved from its ancient-focused origins. Through contributions from international scholars, the volume celebrates Davis's pioneering role in establishing contemporary Jewish life as a legitimate field of academic inquiry, reflecting the discipline's current breadth and sophistication.